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Reading festival at 35 weeks pregnant

89 replies

amieeb · 12/02/2019 01:14

So I am currently 8 weeks pregnant and 19 years old. The baby wasn’t planned but wasn’t stopped either. We decided that if it happened that’s great and if not that’s also fine. Well now I am pregnant and I am over the moon I have realised that at the time of reading festival I will be 35 weeks pregnant. I go to reading festival every year and now I’m not sure what to do. I go every year with my partner and all of our close friends and of course we spend most of our time sat around drinking and laughing. I have obviously cut out the drink and would never touch it while pregnant but being sober at a festival doesn’t bother me. I usually camp in one of the usual campsites in a tent with lots of pillows, a duvet and an air bed. I know that reading also offer a service where they will take your stuff to the camp for you and take you to your spot so that is definitely what I would be doing. If camping with my mates wouldn’t be possible I am open to the idea of luxury camping although that would involve a lot more walking. I just want to know whether people think it’s completely out of the question or whether anyone has ever done it. Please let me know as I’m just not sure what to do.

OP posts:
Hubblebubbletripletrouble · 12/02/2019 01:17

I would say totally bonkers. But maybe others will say different!

readytodropnow · 12/02/2019 01:20

Having done Leeds festival pregnant, and actually being 35 weeks pregnant currently, I can safely say it's a firm no from me!

MrsTerryPratcett · 12/02/2019 01:21

One year I went there was a riot, which I understand isn't that rare at Reading.

Camper van? Or hotel in town and walk in. Longer walk, nicer place.

I wouldn't actually go, but that's me.

EekThreek · 12/02/2019 01:24

A friend of mine did glasto at 39 weeks. Went into labour there, gave birth at local hospital and went back to to the festival with her 1 day old baby. She managed, not everyone would (or would want to).

Your choice. Decide closer to the time when you know how easy your pg has been, would be my advice.

wireswireswires · 12/02/2019 01:24

Nope. I've been there 9 times. Wouldn't dream of going that pregnant for many reasons.

bubblegumbottles · 12/02/2019 01:26

Currently 30 weeks pregnant and just about to head home from a long weekend in Berlin. That was 5 star luxury hotels and even that wasn't comfortable enough for me, I've just wanted to be at home the whole time.
You have absolutely no idea what your pregnancy is going to bring, I can't go to gigs because the vibration from the speakers makes me throw up instantly.
Although you might be lucky and breeze through pregnancy right up to the end, I can guarantee you will not be comfortable at 35 weeks. I would be more worried though about pissed up idiots bumping into you all the time and getting squashed in the crowds. And what if you actually went into labour? Do you really want to be rushed to hospital in your festival gear in an emergency situation without your hospital bag etc?

Having a baby doesn't mean the fun stuff has to stop, you could even take your baby next year! But 35 weeks is such an important and unpredictable time, you must put yourself and your comfort first.

anxiousbundle · 12/02/2019 01:45

I wouldn't go OP, you'll probably be extra tired by then and may even go into labour (extreme, but it could happen!), and being heavily pregnant I can assure you you'll most likely detest drunk idiots by that pointGrin

Just take the time to rest, nest up for the baby and watch some Netflix in the quiet. Sleep too... if your partners any good he'll stay with you to make you feel comfortable and allow you guys to spend some time together before the baby arrives.

Myfoolishboatisleaning · 12/02/2019 02:23

You’re 19, why wouldn’t you? Also not using contraception is trying for a baby 😂

Poppins2016 · 12/02/2019 02:35

I think you'll probably have to make a last minute decision based on how you feel at the time. I camped for a week at 34 weeks pregnant, went for long walks, etc. with no issues (OK, so it wasn't a festival, but I think I could have managed if it was). Just ensure you have a comfy air bed (a mat just won't do) and extra pillows!

Mummylife2018 · 12/02/2019 04:53

@EekThreek Omg! How bloody cruel

MaverickSnoopy · 12/02/2019 05:08

I have been pregnant 3 times and have suffered from pgp and sciatica since 20 weeks, 8 weeks and 4 weeks respectively. At 35 weeks there is no way I'd have been able to get down on the floor and even if I had managed there would have been no way I would have been able to get back up! A hotel might have been feasible for me except I was involuntary asleep by 8pm every night. I never would have managed to stay awake for it and would have been sloping off early.

Of course some people will manage it and if you're keen your only option would be to get a ticket and decide closer to the time. You can't possibly know now what challenges you might be facing at 35 weeks pregnant.

PRoseLegend · 12/02/2019 05:18

I went camping at 32 weeks pregnant in northern Australia, where it's hot.
I just requested that we had an air mattress, and were close to showers and toilets.
It's up to what you find comfortable, everyone is different.

Lauraelizabeth26 · 12/02/2019 05:44

I've been to reading festival about five times in total and I would not recommend it at 35 weeks pregnant. Like a pp said, the Sunday night riots can be dangerous and I wouldn't have fancied being in the middle of that when I was pregnant.

The last time I went to Reading was about five years ago and some drunk person completely fell on my tent, collapsing it, with me and my friend inside it. Luckily neither of us were hurt, but can you imagine that happening whilst heavily involved pregnant? Not worth the risk imo.

Also, if the weather is bad, and the entire place is bogged down it's hard enough trying to keep your footing whilst walking through the slippery mud even when you can see your feet.

Not only that when I was 35 weeks pregnant there is no way in hell I could have camped, but everyone's pregnancy is different and you could be feeling great.

weaselwords · 12/02/2019 06:07

This is the sort of thing I’d have done at your age. It will make a great story!

MsTSwift · 12/02/2019 06:11

Went into labour at 35 weeks so it’s a no from me

OneOfTheGrundys · 12/02/2019 06:17

Not Reading.
Smaller more peaceful festival maybe. Not that one...
I went to Green Man at 35 weeks (long time ago when it was a couple of fields and a radical midwives tee pee) and it was manageable but only just!
Not Reading. Waaaay too wild/violent.

SoaringSwallow · 12/02/2019 06:21

I went on a girls weekend away to Germany when I was 35 weeks pregnant. I enjoyed being with them, but I wasn't able to walk as fast, I needed the toilet (to pee) a lot more than was straightforward out and about, I got much more tired much more quickly and I was (TMI) constipated for the first time in my life (probably in part because I couldn't drink too much or I'd need the toilet!).

The thought of queuing for portaloos really wouldn't excite me.

I'm not sure sleeping on an air bed would be significantly more uncomfortable than I felt sleeping on a mattress but I didn't try!

The thought of drunk people knocking into me repeatedly would have been horrible. It was bad enough on public transport at busy times.

It'd be a great story, but I'm not sure you'd actually enough of a great time to make the story worth it.

Also, you don't get any badges for suffering in pregnancy. Nobody will really be that interested in the fact you "did Reading pregnant". So there's nothing to prove.

flumpybear · 12/02/2019 06:23

No way! Perhaps get a local hotel and pop down there but tent, too uncomfortable and dangerous if somebody falls in your tent - happens a lot! You'll be tired too - give it a miss this year

As for Glasto baby ... seriously! 1 day old baby at a loud, booze fuelled festival - your friend is an idiot

user1493413286 · 12/02/2019 06:35

I wouldn’t to be honest due to the potential for people to push/shove into my bump. Things like needing the toilet constantly and the horror of portaloos, the tiredness at that stage, the discomfort of sleeping would also put me off. Plus being around lots of drunk people while sober used to really piss me off while pregnant in a way that it doesn’t normally

HedgePlastic · 12/02/2019 06:39

No.

Therighthonourable · 12/02/2019 06:40

I admire your positivity and I think it would be a great way to spend sometime before the baby comes.

However, you don't get know how often you are going to need the toliet and festival toilets have long queues and are disgusting. You will be spending most of the festival at the toliets at 35 weeks.
Also the walking, your ankles would likely swell up and that would be very uncomfortable. But even more uncomfortable will be your sleep, or lack of!!

If I was you, and I am someone who has been many festivals, I wouldn't go.

Ethel80 · 12/02/2019 06:56

There's some festivals I'd probably go to pregnant but Reading isn't one of them. The only benefit to it is it's fairly flat for walking but it's a bit feral and not very chilled.

I wouldn't be planning to go to any festival that heavily pregnant, you're going to be really uncomfortable by then and a load of drunk and annoying twats are really going to piss you off when you're struggling to sleep and can't have a drink.

FaultInMyStars · 12/02/2019 07:05

Whether you will feel up to camping at 35 weeks is anyone's guess and a very individual decision.
But 35 weeks is pushing it from a safety point of view in my opinion. What if you went into labour early and couldn't access help as quickly as you needed it?
A festival site is also not the most hygienic of places - dirty loos, mud, other people's vomit (and maybe other waste), food cooked in vans by people you don't know.... any germ could bring on premature labour - I absolutely wouldn't chance it.

OnTheHop · 12/02/2019 07:12

Congratulations!

My main concern would be queuing for the loo. With a baby pressing in your bladder when you need to go, you need to go!

(Wear a big full skirt Wink)

I can see the problem, it’s a lot of money for the ticket if you aren’t up to it in the day.

Day ticket?

explodingkitten · 12/02/2019 07:33

I wouldn't because it would be too uncomfortable but it kind of depends on how you feel. I could never sleep well at festivals and got sick too easily.

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