Reading festival at 35 weeks pregnant

[amieeb]

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.

I went to a daytime festival at 32 weeks and was often waved ahead in the queue for the loos. I was paranoid about drinking too much liquid though.

I wouldn't have wanted to camp at that point. Sleeping in a bed was uncomfortable enough. And as others have said, Reading crowds can be a bit "exuberant".

I used to do download festival and can't imagine doing it pregnant.
As much as the festival is fun, the toilets are disgusting and you'd need to queue for ages which isn't a great thing in pregnancy desperation! Also incredibly uncomfortable to get down on the floor to sleep, people being drunk around you and falling into you, if you get knocked over it could be bad.
Hate to sound like a party pooper but it sounds like a bad idea to me!
Congratulations though!

I went to a much gentler festival when I was about 20 wks and hated it, I was literally counting down till I could go home.
I couldn't get comfortable, my back was agony from sleeping on an airbed. Going to the toilet at night is shit and I didn't trust most of the food. Plus I had proper sleep deprivation from constant noise all the time. I didn't normally mind being around my friends at parties, but the constant wastedness really got to me and I felt very lonely.
Im a pretty seasoned festival goer and swore never again!

I wouldn't tbh

I went to Bearded Theory when I was 25 weeks and that was pretty tough going. By the time I was 35 weeks I couldn't have managed it, let alone at a massive rowdy festival like Reading

I went to Camp Bestival at 32 weeks pregnant with twins, my consultant was a bit , but said as long as I took all my paperwork and knew how to get medical attention, he wouldn't stop me.

It wasn't the best idea I've ever had. I was uncomfortable, it was hot, everything seemed so far away from my bed! But nothing bad happened, and the twins were born fine at 37 weeks. Everyone at the festival was very considerate and caring. But it's a very different festival to Reading. I went to Reading once as a teenager (so a very long time ago!!) and swore never ever ever to go back!

Personally, I'd save the ticket price, or consider going to a smaller, less frenetic festival. Whatever you decide, have fun, enjoy your pregnancy and good luck!

I am doing Truck this year at 38 weeks pregnant 😊 with my husband, 3 year old and lots of other family members. I’m a little worried but if I struggle I will just come home an go for the day. I’ve done Reading several times and I wouldn’t do that one heavily pregnant, but then your a lot younger than me an probably would be able to cope with the late nights and being more physically tired than I would.

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.

Are you serious? that IS a planned baby.

Christ no. I've done Reading many times (admittedly not since the early/mid 2000s, but it doesn't sound like it's changed), and I'm 37 weeks pregnant now. Even if you have the easiest pregnancy in the world, at 35 weeks you'll be uncomfortable. Your bump will be becoming unwieldy, you might be getting Braxton Hicks, and you'll need to pee far more regularly than festival portaloos will allow. You will be tired, and there's a lot of walking at festivals. Sitting on the floor will be tricky. Getting up will be harder. You'll feel super protective of your baby and hate all the drunk people. I regularly go to gigs, but stopped at about 28 weeks because the vibrations made me feel weird and I was worried about how they were affecting the baby. Plus if it rains and becomes a mud bath, you'll feel very unsafe walking on slippy ground.

If you really must do it, get a decent hotel room in Reading and buy day tickets. That way you have a safe haven to go back to if it's all too much, and you'll get a better night's sleep. But honestly... leave it for next year. Your life isn't over, you're just taking a year off.

Absolutely not Reading. Another, smaller, family friendly festival.... maybe. Or even Glasto with decent sleeping arrangements. Depending on your pregnancy. But NOT Reading. And definitely not the campsite. The risk of falls/fights/fires etc.

If you were really insistent then day tickets and careful planning/support. Someone I know came when she much earlier on and still had to make major adjustments. Definitely wasn't worth it. Reading costs so much now (I weep for the cost of festivals as they used to be) it would be a complete waste of your money. Skip a year and go next year when you can properly enjoy the carnage.

This is why most women have at least 5 years pleasing ourselves and going to festivals unencumbered, working travelling. Trying not to judge but really - a baby at 19? Why?

Um, no. You won’t want anything other than a comfy bed at that stage. My 1st was born at 35 weeks, no risk factors for preterm labour. I just wouldn’t risk it at that late stage.

I'm 35 weeks now and I wouldn't consider it OP. Until you're at that stage you won't know how you feel but I'm tired and achy, my baby's in my pelvis and walking for more than 20/30 mins is painful! I pee 4/5 times a night and can't get comfy in my own bed, let alone camping!

It's my first and I know I didn't realise how tough the last few weeks would be but they are!

Agree with @Tinyteatime also. Have been having on/off contractions for the last week or so!

I could barely get through centre Parcs at 35 weeks with the walking lol. I probably wouldn't, just go next year.

As someone who has worked festivals I would strongly advise against this.

You could maybe get a day ticket so you don’t miss out but I agree with PPs don’t go when you’re heavily pregnant! X

@MsTSwift because she will be able to enjoy her thirties and forties when she has more money to do fun things unencumbered unlike the rest of you women who apparently wait for the sake of enjoying your early twenties who will be stuck with children at the best point in your lives. Not trying to judge or anything but really? Giving up care free thirties and forties for your early twenties?

Personally rather have my care free years being young fit and gorgeous can’t think of much worse than a baby at 19 myself. Seems to be dawning on op that fun things her peers will be doing won’t be possible for her.

Don’t think the OP asked to be age shamed for her pregnancy. 🤔

‘Young, fit and gorgeous’

😂😂

@anxiousbundle the vast majority of Brits force the government to pay for for their child’s upbringing. Do you also send your kids to private school like I (19 when I started a family btw) do or do you live off state funds irresponsibly? Wouldn’t want to be a kettle calling a pot black would you?

It's great when these sorts of 'support threads' turn into a middle aged, middle class mums group

Sorry but the vast majority of Brits do not 'force the state to pay for their children' 😂 that would mean that a majority (over 50% of people) claim benefits which isn't at all true. When you have children you are entitled to certain, helpful but small benefits such as £80 p/m child benefit from a system which you've likely paid into. Same for schooling, NHS etc. 'The states' money doesn't grow on trees, it is paid via taxes by the majority of people in the country.

What wonky said. However, if you decide to go and it all gets too much, I'll come and get you till it's over, I live fairly close to the festival site