Over The (Baby) Moon

I wanted to take a moment to review an experience, rather than a specific product, as this has definitely been one of the best things we’ve done during our pregnancy: I’m talking about the Babymoon.

A Babymoon is a vacation or getaway taken by an expecting couple as a sort of ‘last hurrah’ before the baby is born. (The phrased was coined by renowned author/activist Sheila Kitzinger in her 1996 book The Year After Childbirth.)  I’ve never really considered taking a week or two to escape before the baby’s due (there’s still so much to get done!) and with the economy the way it is at the moment we couldn’t afford a big trip so I am all about the City Break.

To me the perfect long weekend away would involve a sumptuous hotel, exploring a new city, a couple of galleries or museums, some fabulous food and maybe some live music (jazz would be perfect).  All the sorts of things we used to do when we were first courting each other. I wanted a chance to reconnect and strengthen our feelings for each other before the reality of sleepless nights and not showering for days gets in the way.

We ended up deciding to head to Portland, Oregon for three days (it’s within a five hour drive so was far enough away without being next door IYKWIM).  As we were able to drive, we didn’t need to worry about flying restrictions, which is definitely something to keep in mind if you intend to travel a distance (some airlines restrict travel from as early as 32 weeks). Then we used the fabulous HotWire site to book a five star hotel at three star prices. (Usually you aren’t entirely sure of which *exact* hotel you’re getting with HotWire, but as Portland only has one five star hotel it was pretty easy for me to figure out!)

We had a fantastic time and it was a fabulous opportunity for the two of us to really connect and discuss our impending parenthood.

Now that we’re back and refreshed, I thought I’d share a few tips to take into consideration when planning your own break.

Consider when you want to go.
I am 33 weeks and to be honest I wouldn’t want to go much later than that. As it happened the baby moved down earlier in the week so at times walking was uncomfortable. Also, don’t plan to go too early or you’ll be able to undo all of your relaxation. 30 – 36 weeks would be best depending on how your body is adapting.

Be aware of your capabilities.
We usually try to see as much as possible when we head to a new city, but went into this trip knowing that rushing around was probably not the best idea. We basically had one thing each day we wanted to achieve, which gave us a focus and a sense of achievement without feeling overwhelmed or tired.

Pick a Preggo Friendly Location.
We chose a hotel that was central to our “must see” list, but also to public transport. In fact, one of the reasons we chose Portland is that we had heard it was a very easy place to get around (and we weren’t disappointed). You are probably not going to be wanting to be taking long journeys crammed in with loads of people or having to walk for hours to get from A to B. Also, check on taxi regulations – some cities allow taxis to “troll” for customers by driving around, others only have specific points or places where you can get a cab.

Carry Supplies.
One of the best parts of traveling is having an outing evolve from one event into an adventure, but often this means not necessarily being on schedule. Carrying water and a couple of easy snacks in your bag can make the difference between having a fabulous adventure or a grueling epic disaster.

Relax.
Remember that this trip is for you to get some very much-deserved R&R. It’s not easy growing a human and getting away from the distractions of everyday life to take the time to relax. If this means naps everyday at 3 pm, sleeping until11am, or even booking that long massage, then do it. Your body (and your sanity) will thank you.

All about: Emily: Emily is very proud to be one of the Spilt Milk Moms ‘founding mothers’ as well as being Mama to “Little Miss” (who was born in August 2009) and Wifelet to her Husbando. She spent seven years living in London which helped her to develop a keen eye for amazing products from around the world. As an actress and producer, Emily ensured her place in hell with over 3 years in children’s advertising (her job was “to create want where there is no need!”) but looks to undo the damage by finding the best things around for mamas and little ones. Emily is always ready with fresh baking, a silly song, or a glass of chardonnay and is renowned for always being overdressed and having a killer collection of heels that she’s not afraid to wear (even whilst babywearing!). You can also find her on her personal blog Aprons & Heels ~ emily (at) SpiltMilkMoms (dot) com