Heading off for a romantic break during pregnancy is becoming far more common, with parents-to-be looking to take some timeaway fromplanning nurseries and maternity leave. Its a great time to travel; you can slow down, treat yourself and make the most of your time as a twosome. To make it a truly relaxing experience, take heed of these top tips when choosing when and where to go.
1.Plan when to go around your pregnancy, not the time of year. The best time to head off is in your second trimester, when youre likely to feel less nauseous and more invigorated without too much of a bump. Many travel insurers wont cover you after 28 weeks, so between 20 weeks and 28 weeks is the golden time to go.
2.Think about food. You probably already think about it quite a lot during pregnancy, but make sure you plan well ahead when it comes to eating on holiday. Remember that there are certain foods that are no-nos now, so its a good idea to find out what these are in the local language before you go and steer clear of them.
3.You might want to use this time to do that thing you always wanted to do before you had kids, which is great, but diving the Great Barrier Reef or climbing Kilimanjaro is not going to happen. Think of this babymoon as a chance to do things you wont be able to do again for a few years see the sights, stay up late in a rooftop bar or book a spa trip.
4.Bear in mind that your feet will swell, increasing the risk of DVT. Stick to short haul destinations, which will also prevent you from becoming too uncomfortable on the journey. It will also mean far less trips to the tiny airplane toilet with a bump to negotiate.
5.There are some places that youll want to steer clear of. Taking malaria tablets and having travel vaccinations isnt really advised during pregnancy unless it is unavoidable. Try to stay away from malaria zones you can find information on the WHO website here.
6. Plan around things you CAN do. Walking is great, but make sure you have plenty of opportunities to stop and rest. Hot tubs and saunas are also not advised during pregnancy as they can cause baby to overheat, which is dangerous. Look out for spas with babymoon packages, which cater for mums-to-be.
7. Think about how your body has changed and will continue to change now youre expecting. Youll probably tire more easily, so prepare for lots of stops and starts and make them part of your plan. You may also find your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so it might not be a good time to plan a holiday of sunbathing and topping up the tan. Stick to city breaks, relaxing weekends and grown-up destinations for an unforgettable, romantic getaway.
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