Baby on the way? Have one last getaway with your spouse to relax before baby arrives! Here are 5 tips for an ideal babymoon!
If you follow me on Facebook, you should know by now that Baby Girl #3 was FINALLY born one week ago today–on Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 6:03 a.m.! I cannot WAIT to tell you her birth story! In fact, I was hoping to get it out today, but I didn’t want to rush to finish it. Instead, I’m sharing with you about a tradition my husband and I have taken in each of my pregnancies: a Babymoon.
Back in June, my husband and I took our third babymoon. We had not been on an overnight trip together since our second was born, and it was a much-needed, relaxing getaway for both of us!
Wikipedia describes a babymoon as “a vacation taken by a couple that is expecting a baby in order to allow the couple to enjoy a final trip together before the many sleepless nights that usually accompany a newborn.”
Like a post-wedding honeymoon, a babymoon is meant as a romantic time of bonding between a couple.
I had never heard of the term “babymoon” when we took our first pre-baby vacation in 2008. I just knew that I wanted to enjoy one last weekend together before the two of us became three. On our first babymoon, I was about 7 months pregnant, and we visited Atlanta. During that trip, we tried to pack in as much as possible–thinking we wouldn’t be able to trek a baby with us everywhere (boy, were we wrong!). We had a blast, but I do remember feeling some exhaustion after waddling my way through the aquarium, Coca-Cola museum and zoo!
For our second babymoon in 2010, we opted for a more relaxing trip. We left our firstborn with my parents and spent the weekend at a lovely bed and breakfast in Asheville, NC. I was only 6 months along at this point–in the pinnacle of the energetic second trimester. We relaxed at the inn, enjoyed the local shops and food and got a couples massage at a spa.
For our third babymoon, we traveled just an hour and a half away to Blowing Rock, NC. We stayed in a quaint hotel in the heart of the town, and we spent our days relaxing and visiting the local shops. We also enjoyed sampling the community’s food–from Kiwlin’s homemade fudge and ice cream to the Mellow Mushroom’s pizza and calzones to Ooh La La’s gourmet cupcakes. (How blessed I am not to have gestational diabetes this time around!)
With three babymoons under our belts, we’ve learned a few lessons on what makes the ideal pre-baby getaway:
Go during the mother’s second trimester
Our most relaxing babymoon was probably our second. Five to six months pregnant is an ideal time to travel because the mother is not yet in the uncomfortably-large stage, and she has the most stamina of the entire pregnancy.
I’ll be honest: I huffed and puffed my way through Blowing Rock! In fact, I had to keep stopping every few minutes to catch my breath as we made our way uphill from our hotel to downtown! I was eight months pregnant, and, besides getting winded, I heard…shall we say, interesting…remarks from strangers the entire weekend.
Oh, I expected to hear: “You look like you’re about to pop!” But, when the middle aged man told me he could see the outline of my belly button sticking out of my shirt, and the well-meaning woman told me I ought to opt for the handicapped restroom stall because I couldn’t fit in the regular one, I felt my cheeks burn a tad. I didn’t hear any of these things during my second-trimester babymoon!
By the way, here are ten things never to say to pregnant women!
Travel to a location with a moderate climate
For me, the mountains are perfect. We traveled when wasn’t too hot and wasn’t too cold. Pregnant women overheat very easily. Alternately, you can take your babymoon during the mild fall or spring seasons.
Rest!
As I mentioned above, we were on the go our entire first babymoon. Believe me, your baby will keep you plenty active after he or she arrives! The perfect babymoon includes lots of rest and relaxation, and you might need to be intentional about creating that.
Make plenty of memories
This may be the last time you and your spouse have time alone for a long time (maybe even years!). Make it count! Be gracious to each other and keep things positive.
Splurge a little
My husband and I can’t afford to get massages, stay in nice hotels or eat out often, but a babymoon is the perfect time to spend a little extra money–since your baby will be taking most of it the next 18 years anyway. 😉
Stacy @Stacy Makes Cents
I sorta tried to take one….but you know what happened. 😉
Erin
😉 You are so secretive! Congrats…!
Jami Leigh
How fun! I love seeing your babymoons 🙂 Hoping that hubby and I can take one soon. Guess I better start planning it!
Erin
Thank you!! I hope all enjoy yours!! 🙂
Anjanette
Congrats on baby 3! 😀 Hope you are loving all of your newborn snuggles and that you are recovering well! Can’t wait to read your birth story!
Erin
Thank you so much, Anjanette!! I hope to have it written up soon!!
Heather Bailey
My husband and I planned our babymoon for when I was 8 months pregnant because that was when I planned to quit my job and have time for a vacation. Our beautiful girl surprised us and arrived 5 weeks early, just the day before we were going to head out. Maybe for our next child we’ll actually get to go on a babymoon.
Erin
Oh wow! What a surprise! I hope you get one next time!
Betsy @ Romance on a Dime
We couldn’t afford to take a babymoon, plus my husband’s was working overtime during my second trimester. Instead, when I was overdue, we enjoyed a week “staycation” at home. It was a great way to cheaply enjoy our last week of a family of two.
Heartmamavi
We took baby moons for both pregnancies. It’s our tradition too. It’s so relaxing . 🙂
renae icard
Congrats on the new luttle one! Blowing Rock is a beautiful place I live in hickory and enjoy weekend getaways there when I can. I would like to suggest a place for a family get away. Beautiful Wilson Creek. My friend has a campground and a cabin and tipi for rent. Betsey’s ole country store and cabin rentals. Its a very family freindly place and I have taken my kids and grandkids for all of their lives. We are expecting another addition to our family and I will send my daughter and her husband there for a weekend before the new one comes. Enjoy the new baby!
Marky
That’s not a babymoon. A babymoon is the first couple of weeks after a mother has given birth, when she lies in her bed bonding with and nursing the baby. She doesn’t do chores. She doesn’t make meals. She just cuddles with baby. Typically we hippy homebirth mothers do this, but really it’s traditional to the way of women.
Erin
There are actually two definitions of “babymoon.” What you describe is one and this is another one. 🙂
Melinda Loustalot
Thanks, Marky, for trying to straighten this out. .it’s meant to be a protective time for mom and baby. .not a reason to go on another vacation.
Ali
Ha, a babymoon. I’m not even privileged to go out to dinner more than two or three times a year. The only kind of moon I get is the one that comes out at night.