Festival and heavily pregnant

[NewFreshStarts]

I booked tickets to go a festival known for its heavy metal next year, the only issue is I'm going to be heavily pregnant - around a month from my due date!
Would you go or would you try to cancel the tickets (they haven't yet been posted as I bought them very early).
I really want to go as it's a really good bands last ever uk appearance but I also don't want to risk baby.

If it's any consolation big festivals often have midwives working there.

I'd be concerned about the sleeping and weeing issue tbh. I'd cancel. You'd be exhausted!

As long as you aren't planning on getting stuck into the mosh pits then im sure it'll be fine! Maybe email the organisers to ask for info on medical staff etc on site and then take it from therr?

I went to Green Man a couple of years ago when I was 8 months pregnant. That is a very family friendly festival and I enjoyed it. The thing I really hated was going to the loo every single bloody hour of the night. Dh referred to it as The Dance of the 12 Zips as that’s how many fucking zips I had to unzip then rezip just to get out of the pissing tent.

Are the loos normally ok at this festival? Are you planning on trying to get right in with the crowds to watch bands? I was worried I’d get bumped or knocked so sat down and watched bands from a distance.

Everybody's different, but I went to a festival at about 5 months and it wasn't much fun.

I found it difficult to be around wasted people all the time, a night in the pub is one thing, but 3/4 days of drinking is much harder.

Going to the toilet was a pain, especially at night, and my back was really sore from sleeping on an airbed.

I didn't really enjoy it, and was counting down the days to go home. I swore never again!

And I'm a pretty experienced festival goer fwiw.

I'd still go if it's Download - there was loads of space last year to sit and watch, and the women only loos to the left of the main stage stayed pretty good all weekend.

It is a lot of walking around, but if you get one of those loungers that you inflate (we bought one there, brand name was Laze) you can set up with that and put your feet up.

Can you stay nearby and join in for the day but go to a Hotel to sleep? That would definately make it more comfortable, if you really want to go.

Oh, and we stayed at the Holiday Inn one junction up the M1 and it was a v nice experience to stay in a hotel then spend the day at the festival. DH and DS are doing it again this year

If it's Download I'd still go. There's usually plenty of space, people are lovely so will give you the space you want, and its not a massive arena for walking. You'll want something to sit on at some point though! Maybe pay for the VIP area?

If you stand just in front of the seated area of the main stage, you'll be well protected from being bumped by anyone with a great view and sound for the headliners. Not so great for loo access though...

Have you got weekend tickets? Have a look around for B&Bs doing shuttle runs rather than do camping. Camping would be miserable.

RIP camping and hotel packages have sold out already.

If camping get a bucket toilet from go outdoors and have it in your tent porch.

RIP camping and hotel packages have sold out already.

Some extreme festival goers this year then

Can u hire a campervan? So much better for sleep and if its converted you get your own toilet so night wee's are easier. I'd also invest in a few tenna lady pads as I have several oops moments when at a festival whilst pregnant. Also don't forget your chair is essential as you'll be knackered. The baby will love it. Mine I swear danced all day long then slept at night so I had a better night sleep. All that base. Have fun.

@AnchorDownDeepBreath yup! That's the real name for VIP camping at Download! Rest In Peace!

It is download.
I almost bought rip tickets but changed my mind to normal camping with access to the rip areas.
I think I will just have to call the organisers and explain and see if they can offer any advice - I don't really want to have my expensive tickets go to waste 😭

Take a plastic jug and wee in your tent then lift up the edge of the tent and pour it into the grass that’s what I always do at festivals

It's the peeing and sleeping thing that would bother me. At that stage I was rolling out or bed a load of times a night. There was no way I could have done camping.

I am worried about sleeping more. What if I took an air bed, two duvets, and a few blankets to pad it out? I know it still wouldn't be super comfortable but could possibly help?

I camped on an air bed at 36 weeks last time. King size for me and dp was fine. Nice and bouyant as long as he was lying down! Think we had a duvet and nice pillows. Also worth taking a tent you can roll out of onto all fours. Would have struggled to get up otherwise!

@NewFreshStarts tbh, that sounds like my normal camping level... Its a long trek from the usual camping to the arena. I tend to do well over 10 miles on my fitbit from Black camp, dancing all day (moving foot to foot really), pottering about and staggering back to Black. It's still a lot of time on your feet.

Is there a RIP waiting list?

Can you play it by ear and perhaps sell the tickets on nearer the time if you can't make it? (I haven't been to download for a few years so not sure what they've done re touts etc).

I could have coped during my first pregnancy but there's absolutely no way I could do download (or even a gig where I'm standing) with my current pregnancy.

The one thing that would put me off download when heavily pregnant is that huge walk from the campsite to the arena.

Actually, some of the hotels have released more rooms:
downloadrip.frontgatetickets.com/#

Might be worth booking via booking.com etc in case you want to cancel closer to the timr?

I think the RIP tickets have totally sold out, and I couldn't really justify the price then so don't think I could now 😬
I think I shall invest in a blow up chair/lounger though as they sound amazing just in general!

Thank you @MotorcycleMayhem !! I can't navigate the website at all 😂

Just had a look on booking.com, there are still a few places within about 5 miles. IIRC, a lot of them put on shuttles for free, but you may want to speak to the hotel or B&B directly. Some are around £330 for 2 people sharing a room Fri-Mon B&B.

I’ve worked festivals before and, as a result of overhearing some really tragic conversations on the walkie talkies, I would never ever camp at a festival if I thought I was pregnant. I might consider going to one during the day/evening though if it is a friendly one without too much pushing/ott drunkenness. Also wouldn’t recconend working festivals if you enjoy them. Don’t think I’ll ever be able to think of them the same way again.