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Pregnancy

Centre parcs at 34 weeks. Trike or mobility scooter??

52 replies

Lucinda15 · 27/03/2017 10:55

I'll be going to centre parcs in a month and will be 34 weeks pregnant. As I'm getting bigger ive been getting very breathless and tired. Was initially planning on booking a trike (one of the bikes with two rear wheels as easier to balance) but someone mentioned that a mobility scooter might actually be a good idea. I thought it was daft at first, but more I think about it, more I realise it cld be a good option. After swimming, wandering around the village etc I think I could well be a bit knackered (if current energy levels anything to go by!) and although we have booked a lodge close to centre, thought perhaps a mobility scooter would be a good idea and prevent me holding my DH and DS back if they want to whiz along on bikes.

Am I daft for considering it? Part of me thinks it's a bit indulgent and unnecessary (particularly if someone less able bodied needs one!) but then I am beginning to struggle, even the school run is tiring me out at the moment. Has anyone done similar or have any experience/advice?

Thanks.

OP posts:
WhisperedLoudest · 27/03/2017 10:57

Erm think you're being a bit precious. I get that you might not want to ride a bike but a mobility scooter seems a little extreme

Allthebestnamesareused · 27/03/2017 10:59

I know its each to their own bu I commuted on the train (no seats offered) and tube until I was week 38 in my first pregnancy and went on holiday abroad week 34 in second pregnancy. I managed to walk albeit a bit slower than when not pregnant.

You may find your bump has repositioned itself and that things are easier by then but I'd definitely go the trike route rather than the mobility scooter as you are not an invalid.

SheepyFun · 27/03/2017 11:04

See if you can try a trike before you hire it - we have one (a traditional one with two wheels at the back) which I alternate with a normal bike. Because a trike has 3 wheels, it leans over when the road isn't flat, unlike a bike. It feels like you're falling off. It took about two weeks practice until I stopped cycling into kerbs. It's really strange to start with!

I happily road a normal bike until I was admitted to hospital with DD (over 37 weeks) - would you consider a normal bike? Having said that, I was a keen(ish) cyclist to start with; if you haven't been cycling during pregnancy, probably best not to get on a normal bike now.

Oysterbabe · 27/03/2017 11:05

It does depend on your personal situation but i was still walking 4 miles a day up and down big hills at 34 weeks.

Lucinda15 · 27/03/2017 11:07

No, I didn't mean to sound precious. This is my second pregnancy and just so different from first. With DS I commuted to London until 8 months then went on a walking holiday to newforest, walked 4 hours a day over a long weekend with him (was hard work and shattered but did it!). So I know I am not an invalid and am capable of managing. But like I say this is a very different pregnancy, and where I could managed with him I'm just not sure with this one. I've had sciatica and SPD which seems manageable at the moment but has been pretty bad. And I've not felt quite this tired before (perhaps cos I wasn't looking after another child during that pregnancy!)

Anyhow. I hadn't considered it until someone mentioned it and did initially laugh at the thought, then started wondering if it was such an absurd idea. Which it probably is!

Trike it is! X

OP posts:
kel1493 · 27/03/2017 11:07

I agree. I travelled on London Underground until past my due date and stood up (again no one offered me a seat, and it was summer so had a light summer dress on, so could clearly tell I was pregnant). I even travelled on the same train AFTER my due date and again stood. Also in the hot sun I walked to the shops with my mum, a good half hour there and back, plus walking around the shops, at 40+2.
On my due date I did a pile of ironing as well.
I wasn't one of those women who sat with their feet up refusing to do anything. I did washing, ironing, shopping, cleaning until after my due date.
But each to their own and all that

upforathird · 27/03/2017 11:07

Do you have SPD or other medical needs that make it difficult to walk? I just can't imagine needing this as have felt fine at 34 weeks but obviously everyone is different!

upforathird · 27/03/2017 11:09

Sorry cross posted - you do have SPD.

happy2bhomely · 27/03/2017 11:23

It doesn't really matter what anyone else was doing when they were 34 weeks pregnant, does it?

I mean, I ran for a bus on my due date with my second! Fit as a fiddle and back in size 10 jeans within days. But with my 4th I was pretty much disabled by SPD and sciatica by 16 weeks. I cried myself to sleep on the sofa most nights because I physically couldn't get up the stairs to bed.

I hate when people do the whole, 'pregnancy isn't an illness' thing. Lucky them. Between morning sickness, mobility problems, gynae problems and hormones, pregnancy can make some people feel horrendous. It can be debilitating.

If you think you might need the mobility scooter, then hire it OP. I hope you enjoy your holiday.

countingdown2gin · 27/03/2017 11:57

Which one are you going to? We've just come back from longleat and they had a land train which we caught a lot of the time. I have also heard that if you tell them you're pregnant they'll move you to a closer villa (but I didn't need to do that as only 27 weeks)

SuperUnicorn · 27/03/2017 12:11

Do you have to book and choose in advance? I would leave it as late as possible as you would have a better idea how you are feeling.

Have you ever ridden a tricycle before? They are very different from a bicycle and you may not take to it at all.

McBaby · 27/03/2017 12:30

With spd I would not be riding a bike or walking far so a mobility scooter may be your only option if you are too far from pool, restaurants etc

NerrSnerr · 27/03/2017 12:38

I am 37 weeks and there's no way I could have ridden any bike at 34 weeks. I have been so poorly this pregnancy I couldn't do what the others have spoken about on this thread (I am typing this from bed). I'd probably start the holiday thinking I'd walk or use the train thing, but concede after a day and get the scooter.

Just because some can iron on their due date or whatever doesn't mean everyone can.

harleysmammy · 27/03/2017 12:46

Im 35 weeks and i walk everywhere, i do get the bus but i normally walk and i have spd. I live in wales so mountains are inevitable, i walked up one a few days ago to get into town (an actual mountain, not a hill). I wouldnt get a mobility scooter because you're pregnant not disabled. Its one less scooter for a less able bodied person. I understand its hard to walk, but just take it slow x

mummy2pickle · 27/03/2017 12:51

I went to center parcs at 31 weeks pregnant and bad spd with my first dd. We had a good positioned lodge and I used the land train a lot but I am aware it is only at long leat center parcs. The thought of getting my leg over a trike would make me cringe! So maybe if the option of a mobility scooter is there might be a better option. But enjoy

Lucinda15 · 27/03/2017 12:54

Thanks for the useful tips re. trains and trikes, will try and test one out before we go (we go to Elvedon, not sure if land train there! will check). Or maybe I'll start with a regular bike and move to a trike if it doesn't work out (or vice versa!)

And thanks for your kind comments happy2bhomely ; It's a shame how some people seem to think pregnancy is a competition to see who can stand/walk/travel/do ironing/not be one of 'those women' as close to due date as possible. Every pregnancy is different, every woman is different. My first pregnancy was a breeze compared to this one. Each to their own experiences, yes, and I'm not going to feel bad about it. Just interested to hear what others did at Centre Parcs, with trikes/scooters.

Good to know that there are still supportive women out there, thank you to those who have been x

OP posts:
Waitingonasmile · 27/03/2017 12:55

Oh god I don't think you should even consider any sort of bike with SPD. I was told just to stop attempting excercise by the end. I would say you might just need to rest and not participate much.

Lucinda15 · 27/03/2017 12:58

nerrsnerr I think that's good advice. Perhaps I'll start the holiday walking/attempting the trike or bike, and if I cant manage it, will take a scooter if they are available (as any disabled/less able bodied people would have all started their holiday by then and rented what they need!).

OP posts:
Raaaaaah · 27/03/2017 13:00

Do whatever you think will help you enjoy your time there. It's supposed to be a holiday not an endurance exercise Flowers.

Lucinda15 · 27/03/2017 13:02

...and thanks for the comments re. SPD. It's really not too bad at the moment. I had 2-3 very painful weeks with it, was in tears with it. Couldn't get in and out of car or bath, rolling over in bed was agony etc etc. But have been having regular osteopathy, acupuncture and pilates which really seem to have worked wonders! I am so much better now, but just planning ahead as obviously will keep getting bigger and so just being cautious as it could get worse again. If I cant use a trike/bike by the time we get there, I will walk and perhaps enquire if scooter available once the holiday underway.

OP posts:
waitingitout · 27/03/2017 13:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nursebickypegs · 27/03/2017 13:04

Do what you think feels best and is good for you. I have Perths disease and SPD, and I'm 31 weeks. I don't think I could cope with a holiday. I hate people who are "well I was jogging up stairs and going to work when I was practically crowning!" Well good for you. That doesn't help me who has a dislocating hip and feels like crap for letting her team down at work.

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Lucinda15 · 27/03/2017 13:20

Thanks waitingitout Flowers glad u had a lovely holiday, hope ur feeling more comfortable soon. You too nursebickypegs xxxxx wishing u both well xxxxx

OP posts:
Lemondrop09 · 27/03/2017 14:37

I really don't understand the objections here? Presumably it is Centre Parc's responsibility to ensure enough mobility scooters for their guests? It's not like the OP is shoving little old ladies off their scooters so she can nick it?! Also you don't need to be on a list of preapproved disabilities to use a mobility scooter - they are simply for people struggling with mobility. Being heavily pregnant and with hip pain qualifies as a potential mobility issue in my book! OP isn't just being lazy, she's looking for a way to enjoy her holiday without an unnecessary struggle - and why shouldn't she?

People cope with pregnancy in different ways. Some people manage very well, others have different struggles. Each woman's experience is different and you shouldn't be made to look bad for accepting help if you personally need it. I don't understand why pregnant woman are expected to soldier on (as any sign of struggling will cause the world to judge all pregnant women as being weak!), where as any non pregnant person displaying half the symptoms would be signed off. Pregnancy can be bloody hard and it's ok to recognise that.

OP, rent a scooter if it'll make you more comfortable and enjoy your holiday. As long as you don't start commiting disability benefit fraud and ramming kids in wheelchairs out of disabled bays at the supermarket, you're probably ok Wink

Chosenbyyou · 27/03/2017 15:17

Hi

I went when I was 36 weeks and had an awful chest infection :(

You can pay for a lodge closer to the centre and there are little trains at some of them?

I wouldn't have felt comfortable on a mobility scooter but that is just me being self conscious xx

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