Preparing for a new baby can be all-consuming, and so finding time for a vacation or "babymoon" provides an important time-out. Discover how, when and where to babymoon.
The term “babymoon” describes a vacation taken by parents before the birth of their child. With escalating birth rates and the trend towards older parents with more disposable income, the babymoon industry is becoming a lucrative part of the travel industry.
Why Babymoon?
The life of a new parent is a life turned sideways, and the journey through pregnancy can seem a whirlwind ride of advice, planning and appointments.
Babymoons are more than a chance to rest before sleepless nights set in, they are a time to step off the pregnancy merry-go-round and take a breath. They allow expectant parents to re-connect with themselves and each other in a relaxing and fun environment. It is a break filled with selfish pleasures before a period of intense change.
When To Babymoon?
According to Babymoonguide.com the perfect time to babymoon is in the second trimester, and especially from 18-24 weeks. There are a number of reasons for this; the worst of the morning sickness and nausea has usually passed, energy levels have often returned, but belly size is not big enough to limit activity and mobility. This can mean more babymoon options as far as destinations and activities are concerned. Tour operators and airlines become (unnecessarily) nervous about increasingly pregnant travellers.
For some couples, however, the third trimester is their preferred time for a babymoon, especially if the mother-to-be has commenced maternity leave and wants to wind down after a frantic work period.
Where Now?
The perfect babymoon destination is different for every couple and depends on budget, energy, health and personal preference. Many babymoon packages are geared towards peace and relaxation, but if candlelit massages and walks along the beach are not for you, then look for something with a little more pizzazz. There is no reason why pregnancy must equal inactivity and finding the perfect vacation for an expectant couple is the job of any good travel agent.
Travelling long distances whilst pregnant can be a deal-breaker for some women, so discuss how comfortable you are sitting for long periods of time, and then look for destinations within those time limits. The greatest babymoons are found across the globe, within the state, or simply around the corner at a plush city hotel. It doesn’t have to be exotic and far-flung to be the perfect trip and many couples feel more secure not roaming too far from home.
Limitations
Some of the limitations of travelling with a baby bump are dictated by the babymooning couple themselves. If a couple strays outside their comfort zone of familiarity or of distance from medical care, it can neutralise the purpose of the babymoon. For example, travelling to Fiji may seem tropical and romantic, but what happens if premature labour occurs and medical evacuation is required? Couples should think about what they want and what they want to avoid in a babymoon and plan accordingly.
A couple’s doctor or midwife should approve all travel plans. Women with low-risk pregnancies should be free to travel as they wish, but any women with special requirements such as gestational diabetes or high blood pressure may need to make allowances in their travel plans. Often, all that is required is simple planning in conjunction with their doctor.
Check with travel insurance companies prior to booking any babymoon as some may list pregnancy as an exclusion to insurance coverage or may specify a gestational age after which coverage will be limited or not issued.
Similarly, check with different airlines about any limitations they may have on flying during pregnancy. If flying late in the third trimester some airlines will require a doctor's note before boarding.
It Shouldn’t Stop With One
The babymoon concept should not stop with the birth of a baby. The first six months of a baby’s life can be tough on a couple’s relationship, so finding time far a weekend alone after 3 months can help a couple debrief and reconnect.
The commonest time for a babymoon is before a couple’s first child, and while organising a vacation for two before 2nd, 3rd or 4th babies is more challenging, it is probably more important as well. The ideals at the centre of the babymoon concept are never more pertinent than for those couples who are already distracted by other children and need to take a breath before it all begins again with the birth of a new baby.
Beyond this, call it what you want, but taking time away from children to spend time together can become an annual event and may turn out to be the best investment a couple can make in their family.
