To not overly understand the idea of a ‘babymoon’

[Firsttimemama98]

We’ve had friends and family tell us we should definitely do one last sunshine holiday before baby.

I just can’t see how it would be a relaxing experience. I would be anxious (country dependent) on if I needed any care relating to pregnancy whilst over there, I wouldn’t be able to drink nor eat things I’d usually like on holiday plus it’s a huge chunk of a few thousand pounds that we could use to buy me more time off work for maternity leave - or better, put towards baby’s first holiday. I am under no illusion that holidays aren’t very different with a baby, I’m sure they are, especially as they get mobile!

AIBU - did you have a babymoon and are you glad you did?

They didn't exist in my day alongside baby showers, gender reveals, bridesmaid announcing parties, the list goes on....

I wouldn't bother. Going on holiday pregnant is no fun - unless you hate alcohol anyway.

YANBU, it's one of those things that's basically just a holiday with a twee name given to it. I eyeroll when I read about 'babymoons', when it's pretty much a holiday where you can't fly far, drink, eat certain things, use jacuzzis or steamrooms, do certain activities etc.

We’re going on our usual summer holiday in June, baby due October. Not drinking doesn’t bother me and I’m not that strict about food. But I am not thinking of it as a ‘baby moon’ just a holiday! We will appreciate it as last time just us two

That’s what I’m thinking. All my favourite things - especially jacuzzis & the food! Surely better to go when I can just use them, even if it means baby coming? We wondered about taking baby when they are 4-6 months ish, my parents may come too which would mean we could have the occasional evening for dinner baby free

Thank you. I thought this. The things you enjoy, you can’t have.

It's just a last holiday before the baby comes. We went for a weekend away at a lovely hotel a couple of hours away. You don't have to go abroad or anything - but it took us five years to get another night away just the two of us so I'm glad we did it!

Taking time out to relax and spend some time together before the baby comes is a good idea.

Great idea, thanks. We will definitely go somewhere in the UK!

Never heard of a baby moon. Just go on holiday if you want. I don’t drink anyway, so not drinking wouldn’t bother me. I don’t see why it has to cost a lot.

We went on holiday while I was pregnant. It was lovely. Didn't call it a babymoon though!

We had a holiday when I was six months pregnant. It was more relaxing than any holiday we had in the years post babies. It was in Italy, so no fear of dodgy water or bad healthcare. Just lots of lovely food and scenery. Yes no wine, but everything else was fine.

Yes we did. We went away for a week when I was about 26 weeks pregnant (and feeling very fit and healthy) to the Canaries for winter sun.

We stayed in a lovely adults only hotel, swam, relaxed, read books, napped, had sex, ate nice meals, drank non-alcoholic cocktails and gorgeous fresh fruit juices, and appreciated that it would be the last holiday of that type for a long, long time.

Granted we'd probably have had a winter sun holiday whether I was pregnant or not, but it was nice knowing that it was the last one just us, and making the most of it.

I had planned to but didn't get round to it (though I'd never have referred to it as a "babymoon" because that is a bit cringe.)

We were planning a weekend at centre parks, I really wish we had done it because our holidays now are totally different and far more expensive. It was really our last opportunity for a quiet weekend away just the two of us. Ah well.

It is nice to look back on that last holiday when you could go out for dinner, have lie-ins, had no nap schedule or bedtimes and actually liked each other. We didn't go abroad as I was too anxious to fly, but we did have a lovely holiday in Norfolk.

But if you have parents who'll go on holiday with you and look after your baby so you can go out, it's perhaps less necessary.

(We've had one trip away for one night without our child in the six years since, so lie-ins are a dim and distant lovely memory.)

No because no one had come up with the concept to try and part you from you money (see also baby shower, gender reveal party, baby naming ceremony - yes all same family!)

I didn’t think of it as a “baby moon”, but we did go on a city break holiday just before I got too far along to fly and had a lovely time just relaxing and enjoying each other’s company - two kids later it still makes me smile to think of it. Yes drinking was off the table but I still ate plenty of nice food and explored a lovely place, and it’s a type of holiday we can’t do again for a while. If it’s not your thing then obviously don’t do it - but I loved it, am glad I did it (and it didn’t cost much so wouldn’t have made a difference to maternity leave or first baby holiday plans).

I've heard of the term, but assumed it referred to going away with a newborn, which I couldn't understand. 😂

It's just a holiday then, strange. I do think it makes sense to go out for a few meals, go to the cinema, go to a hotel before the baby arrives. You are right that the money of a big holiday will be far better spent to make easier after the baby arrives.

Some words and expressions should be consigned to history. This is one.

We had a weekend at a country spa hotel just to relax and have some last child free time

A few nights away in the UK still counts.

No, the latest insta trend is unnecessarily spending £1000000000s on a just-conceived moon

I remember going on holiday to France when I was pregnant. You can basically have nothing that you would go to France to eat or drink.

I went to Jamaica whilst I was pregnant with my first. It was lovely and relaxing. Really helped with the pregnancy fatigue.

I didn’t want to go abroad but I did want to have a couple of nights away with DH before our first baby as I knew we wouldn’t have that kind of time for a long time afterwards. Same for before we had a second DC.

It wasn't termed a babymoon but DH and I did go for a week away in the UK before first baby arrived, and a weekend before second. Just nice to have a last holiday together before the whirlwind of parenting descended. I would never have gone abroad beyond 23 weeks due to concerns about NICU availablity if I went into early labour.

It’s just one of those things, if you’ve had the opportunity for plenty of holidays together pre kids then you probably don’t feel you need it. It won’t be a huge thing for you and more stress if causing money worries too. For some they want to take this last opportunity (and sometimes first
opportunity) for a long time to do a kid free holiday together