6 tips for a third trimester babymoon

My husband and I recently took a weekend-long babymoon to Galveston, Texas, while I was 37 weeks pregnant. We learned a lot about the do’s and don’ts of a having a successful trip. Our lessons are here for you so that you might get the most out of your third trimester babymoon…

1. Vacation somewhere close to home

This one seems pretty obvious, but I’d thought I’d address it anyway. Because I was in my third trimester, and only three weeks away from my due date, trips to distant lands were out. Galveston is only an hour away from Houston so if something were to happen, we could be home in a very short time.

2. Think about the kind of vacation you really want and choose your city and hotel accordingly

Do you want it to be more about relaxing or exploring? For us, we wanted a relaxing babymoon so that we could rest and reconnect before our little one’s arrival. If it’s relaxing that you want, then it might be best to choose a smaller town with only minimal attractions and more relaxing activities. If you’re looking for a more exciting and exploratory babymoon where you can share some new experiences, a bigger city might be a better fit.

3. You don’t need to spend a lot of money for it to be nice — value is what matters

We, foolishly, did not follow this one. We ended up spending quite a bit on a historic hotel and, in the end, it wasn’t worth it. The hotel was catered more towards the party go-ers of Galveston. Not getting great sleep makes for a cranky, pregnant wife.

4. When planning your day, take into account your limits and needs

This includes things like:

• Is there a restroom that I can get to in under five minutes?
• Can I get snack and water within five minutes?
• Make sure to carry a large, filled water bottle, and snacks, everywhere.
• Are you more sensitive to heat and sun exposure during the pregnancy?
• Also, take into account the level of physical activity that will be required. My little one dropped the day before we were scheduled to leave so walking far distances became something I couldn’t do.
• Schedule time for more naps and rests.

5. Plan your food ahead of time if you can

This was one of the best parts of the trip — eating yummy, yummy food. So go ahead and get excited about it by planning ahead. And don’t try and drive around to find a good food place when you’re already hungry — have a place in mind to eat and get there. Be okay with some disappointments — there are always risks in trying new places, even with good online reviews. And if you’re not up for disappointment, it’s okay to go to some chain restaurant that is familiar. Also, try to plan ahead for some healthy food options. During my pregnancy, I’ve become accustomed to eating quite healthfully and was disappointed by the choices at most restaurants. By the end of the weekend, my body was seriously craving some collard greens.

6. Lastly, ask for what you want

I had a great day on the first day of our trip because we ended up cuddled up in the hotel room watching Sherlock Holmes. I didn’t care if it seemed lame, it was what we wanted to do, so we did it!