Glastonbury while pregnant

[thomasina1]

This is my first pregnancy and we have tickets for Glastonbury. I am still keen to go but dh is not so sure! Does anyone have any experience of festivals while pregnant? I'll be about 20 wks by the way.
Thanks!

[schneebly]

as long as you are not 'moshing' in the crowd I am sure you will be fine Never been to Glasto but am a T in the park veteran - you can just sit on the grass and chill if you feel like it and soak up the atmosphere! If Glasto is like T in the park then there are big screens further back that you can see the bands on without getting squished in the crowd.

[Servalan]

I haven't been to a festival when pregnant. Not sure I would have enjoyed the camping myself.

In terms of hanging out at the festival, you can have a quite chilled out time around the greenfields bit (healing field, children's field, greenpeace field, lost vagueness etc) which is a lot more quirky and less crowded.

I personally wouldn't have wanted to be hanging around the big stages in the more commercialised bit of the festival seeing the big bands whilst pregnant (I don't enjoy the crowds in that bit of it generally).

It really depends what you are going to the festival for.

My main reservation would be the camping. I'm not sure if anyone can advise on getting a pitch? When I've gone it has generally be for the day. The one time I did camp I got a nice pitch because DP was performing (not in a big famous way I hasten to add )

[Fullmoonfiend]

I have done a festival at 7 months but Glasto is very full-on....have you been before? Do you know what to expect?

My baby got very excited by the bass line (I stood at the very back) and it was very very hot so I did sufffer a bit, but overall was a good experience. But we were in a 'quiet' family field. I would not have coped if I'd been kept awake all night by revellers.
I had a prob with the loos too, as I had t sit fully down (such a big bump, could not 'hovver' and this is not always desirable at festies...I did use disabled loo though.

[Peachy]

Dh worked Glastonbury (catering and security) for many years, I trained to do so but dh did my shifts for avrious reasons.

Did you know Glastonbury actually ahs midwives on site? so help is available if you should need it.

I asked Dh and he really can't see why not what with the hospital provisons etc, indeed 20 weeks in a pregnancy is probably a good time if you are going to do something ike this- past (for most poeple) the sicky part but before you get big and uncomfortable.

[Fullmoonfiend]

also, there is a lot of walking at glasto - because of the sheer size of it all. If yu're up for it, I'm sure you'll have a great time.

[beforesunrise]

i say totally go for it! it's exactly the sort of thing you won't be able to do for a long time afterwards so make the most of it.

20 weeks is the best possible time for such a thing, as you will not feel too knackered, you will not be too big, but you will already show so they should let you jump the queue for the loo

have never been, and i wish i had...

[gillythekid]

I've been going to Glasto for 13 years but my baby is due on 14/07 so have reluctantly decided to give it a miss. Have you been before? It's MASSIVE compared to other festivals and unless you get there on Wednesday it's really difficult to camp in the quieter fields. Here are my tips for surviving it.
THESE THINGS ARE ESSENTIAL!!!!!
Bring a blow up bed and a quilt, much cosier in the cold nights than a bag, you can store it in a bin bag in the day so it's not damp when you roll it out at night.
Use wax earplugs and an eye mask to sleep at night, it's soooo noisy.
A 5 litre empty bottle and a P Mate means you can wee in the tent without having to get up in the night. There are loads of contraptions to pee through you can buy on the net.
A hot water bottle will help any bladder pain that sometimes hits as the temperature plummets at night, a camping stove will heat water but stall holders will take pity if you stick out your belly and beg for hot water!!
Wet wipes in abundance to wipe unsightly toilet seats and to keep clean.
A trolley with wheels to get all the stuff onsite as it's sometimes a LONG walk to the car/train/coach.
Factor 15 or above sunscreen and a hat

BAD WEATHER FORECAST

2 pairs of wellies
Waterproofs and spray
extra groundsheet/tarpaulin
bin bags galore (for muddy bags, wellies etc)

As long as you go prepared you'll be fine, I'm sure most of this you probably know already but rain or shine, you need to be kitted out and ready for anything.
Do you know anyone who fancies wheeling me round in a barrow? If so, I'll register now.

[KSal]

I've had this same dilemma - I've been to Glasto a few times and have decided not to for a couple of reasons... its quite difficult to get decent pitch these days unless you turn up extremely early (mind you its not sold out yet!). We arrived wednesday lunchtime and struggled to find space for our tents (obv if you don't mind being miles away you won't have a prob, but that increases your walking). Another reason is the risk of rain; because Glasto is a bit earlier, the likelihood of a wash out is a bit higher. I was there last year (had a great time) but the amount of mud makes it harder to just sit and chill out. I am planning to go to latitude as its smaller, later and easier for us to get to, so i will still have the probs with the loos (yuck) as i will be 7 months by then.

If you do go, and it rains, get a mate to carry round a folding chair for you... as the one thing that knackered me last year was dragging myself through all the mud and not being able to sit on the floor!!

[Flum]

Yeah, but only Big Chill. Been pregnant, with 4 month old, with 3 yr old and 1 yr old, and hopefully this year with 4 yr old, 2 yr old and a bun in the oven.

Only thing I would say is steer clear of the Es.

And you will get fed up with all the mash heads patting your tummy and getting weepy eyes.

other than that no different really. true is harder to sleep as no booze to slow you down!

[RainyWednesday]

I'll be there at about 28 weeks! I was slightly anxious about it but am a regular poster on myfests (am I allowed to say that here?) and did some searches on threads from there and everyone's experiences seemed very positive, so we're going for it. Having said that, we have booked in to posh camping off site - nicer loos and means we can park the car next to our tent, so no carrying. A lot of camping spaces did get full early last year but I've heard that the new camping fields to the north and slightly west of the park were pretty empty and presumably a bit quieter - you're also quite close to a medical centre there. Or they should let you in family camping I would have thought (which I believe is moving this year).

Have an amazing festival and see you in the NCT tent

[ScubaSarah]

Resurrecting the thread?

we got tickets before I knew I was pregnant. I will be 34 weeks and still want to go - we have a camper van so sleeping will be comfortable. Am I mad? I know there was someone on here who went at 35weeks - are you still on here and would you do it again? Anyone else who went in 3rd trimester?
(emphasising 3rd try as I (started to) read another thread on Glasto forum about someone freaking out about going at 10 weeks ffhs)

thx

[Mawgatron]

I'd go. I wish I wasn't due in June otherwise I would be off to some festivals this summer as well! Have a lovely time on my behalf!

[CareerGirl01]

Have been to Glastonbury a few times and have to say you are brave. It's a big festival and everything takes ages to get to. I'm pregnant with my second and a smaller festival might be a better idea. Been to Glastonbury three times and each time I came away with a tummy bug. But it was muddy all those years!

[Supershiv1]

Hmmmm. I would be 35 wks and even though I have been to Glasto and others loads of times I really don't think I'd like it.
That's not saying that you shouldn't go, just personally it's such a massive festival and varies so much weatherwise........plus i wouldn't be on the pear cider.....
I see you are ScubaSarah, I suppose I could be Scubashiv. Was at the dive show at the NEC in October and nearly purchased some equipment - good job I didn't!

[ScubaSarah]

Thanks everyone - I have been to glasto about 9 times (from 1992 when it was small and lovelier) including 2 years ago so I do know what I'm getting myself into what I don't know is what being 34 weeks PG is like? I'm happy to pick a stage and sit on comfy chairs but if it's peeing it down I might chose a single day and go then (I live in Somerset)
Will decide in April when we have to pay the balance but any other experience anyone can share would be fab :-)

[ScubaSarah]

PS - Shiv, the scuba thing is tough - I've been diving for >10 years and dive in the UK too - I'm gonna miss it, a lot DH has agreed to give me 1 whole day a month after DC is old enough for me to go dive

[MakeTeaNotWar]

I've been to Glastonbury at 34 weeks and it was very very hot (2010). We had a camper van, I sat down at every opportunity and stayed as rested & hydrated as possible. Had an absolute ball but it was tiring so chilled out in the Healing Fields a lot. We were v lucky weather-wise, not sure I could have coped in the mud

[TheAccidentalExhibitionist]

I went to Glastonbury festival a week off full term, and yes I went into labour with him there. No problems, I saw the midwife. Went off site to a local hospital and had him there. I had a campervan, I could not have done it otherwise.
Perhaps for the Glastonbury hard core only though!

There is more risk during the first trimester.

[ScubaSarah]

Thank you ladies!!
Would you do it again?

[TheAccidentalExhibitionist]

Definitely worth going this year, Micheal Eavis has taken back the license on the festival. He intends to make it more like the old days hopefully with less crime though

If you decide to go, make yourself known to the medical team at the main hospital -Ivymead, at the top of the hill by the farmhouse, as soon as you arrive.

[TheAccidentalExhibitionist]

Course I'd do it again! My DS gets to celebrate his birthday there every year! I'd go pregnant anyday.
There is excellent healthcare there.

[blondieminx]

I went to glasto in 2007 and one of the girls on the coach was 2nd trimester. She said there were MW's on site and she'd been told to take her notes with her and an extra "overnight" kit in case anything happened while she was there. She was on the return coach having had a great (albeit tiring and muddy) time.

I think there is a "family" field at glasto and that pg women are allowed to camp there (prob best to check that via one of the festival chat websites though!).

Fairy fabric softener bottles (the largest size) have a VERY wide neck and avoid the need for middle-of-the-night trips to the grim portaloos for a wee! .

It is a HUGE site though and the crowds at the 2 main stages can be hectic - which with a large bump might not be a great experience.

[LeChatRouge]

You'll be ok if you take it easy, don't plan too much. Maybe try and focus on spending lots of time at The Park, it has a lovely stage with a natural auditorium so you can stand well back and still hear and feel the music. Lots of different food stalls and places to sit. I would avoid Lost Vagueness or the Dance Fields at night, very crowded and unpredictable.

As mentioned, there are lots of Welfare places on site so you can get any sort of care you need, if overwhelmed or needing a quick chat with a midwife.