Is 36 weeks too late to go on a glamping weekend?

[gertrudestein]

Sorry, quite a trivial question but I need some advice!

I'm currently pg and due on 7th July. About 6 weeks later I'm going to be a bridesmaid for one of my best friends. The issue is her hen do, which was due to be a 'glamping' (luxury camping - I think there are beds) wkend in July.

I was hoping we could rearrange for for 7th/ 8th June instead, when I will be 36 wks. Am I being over ambitious? I don't want to make everyone change their plans and then decide at the last minute that I can't go, but obvs want to go to my friend's hen do.

We'll be about 1.5 hrs' drive from home and I don't drive. There will be about 15 people, and I only know two of them well. I'm worried about:

Being uncomfrotable/ too cold/ too hot
Disturbing people I'm sharing a tent with in the night
Being too tired to join in, etc
Possibly early labour?

But this is one of my oldest friends and I would be gutted to miss out!

I'd really appreciate any advice from people who are 30wks + - how do you feel? Can you imagine doing it?

This is quite a tricky one as, like you said, she's one of your oldest friends and you don't want to miss out, but personally the thought of camping is enough to make me crawl back into my bed with a hot water bottle and the duvet pulled up over me. I'm currently 31+6 and even now I get so uncomfortable at night in bed that I wouldn't want to attempt sleeping in a tent as I don't think I'd get much sleep and would definitely disturb others. That might just be how I feel as I'm not keen on camping anyway!

Could you not go for a meal or something with your friend before the glamping weekend as a sort of pre-hen do?

What is it with camping and pregnancy at the moment? There is another thread in camping about it.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/camping/1650658-Camping-whilst-pregnant

I'm 36 weeks pregnant at the moment and I would be happy enough to go camping. I have quite a small bump, am not to uncomfortable, only real problem is evil indigestion so would take loads of rennies with me.

What's the toilet situation like? By that point I needed to wee every 1.5h. I was really uncomfortable by then so I couldn't have done it - indigestion, restless legs, braxton hicks.

I wouldn't do it, I'm 36 + 5 and there is no way is want to be under obligation to do something like this now. You might feel fantastic, you might feel terrible(I'm somewhere in the middle), but it's impossible to predict.

Not sure about the toilets - perhaps if I make sure I'm sleeping somewhere very near the toilets it will be doable ...

I think it's all down to individuals. I would've been fine "glamping" at 36 weeks if there was a bed and "proper" toilet/showers etc.

If you're generally a "have a go" kinda gal then do get them to change the date and go if you can. If, in your heart of hearts, think it's not going to be something you want to attempt then I say go with *somethingbeginningwith's suggestion of a pre-hen-do meal.

I'm currently 36 weeks and I don't feel like doing much at all! I can get out of the house and do stuff but I need lots of sit downs and I'm very tired all the time as I am sleeping very badly so am relying on naps and lying down on the sofa a lot. So I could go, but I'd be worried about cramping their style and not being very good company.

I would also go with the suggestion of a meal out and not commit to anything more.

Hmm .. thanks noblegiraffe, I have a feeling that you're right. I think I am just feeling ambitious because I have just got over morning sickness and feel almost back to my normal self. But I'm only 14wks so I'm aware that there is a very very long way to go!

I love camping, but in both pregnancies would not have really had the energy to enjoy it at 36 weeks, especially with a largish group of people I mostly didn't know.

Maybe arrange to do something nice with your friend a few months earlier? a 'just the 2 of you' pre hen do! Then you get to spend some quality time with her, pre marriage and pre you having a baby. If you only know 2 of the others at the hen do then it's not like you'll be missing out on a massive reunion.

(i should note that I'm not a big hen party fan, would always rather spend 1 to 1 time with friends, so I may be biased!)

Good point! No, me neither .... I think I will take all of your excellent advice and do a pre-hen do thing instead. Perhaps I can get involved in organising some presents or something, so that I'm still there in spirit. The more I think about it the more I think it's probably not a good idea. Especially since I'm meant to be moving house before the baby is born as well ... might be a bit stressed out by June!

I personally wouldn't do it my last pregnancy I ended up in hospital with bleeding at 36 weeks no previous complications. I travelled for 2 hrs at 34 weeks and was very uncomfortable in the car.
I did a similar camping in luxury holiday when I was 24 weeks but was so unsociable took myself off to bed so needn't have bothered going.
You don't know how you will be and everyone is different but I wouldnt risk it.
Good points is it is in summer so travel may be better but that late on I wouldn't want to be too far from my hospital.
My sisters wedding is when I am 36 weeks this time it is a 4 hr drive and doctor has warned me not to go (although I do have complications this time)
I agree with above a nice meal or spa treat with your friend as a hen celebration would be nice and you'll probably actually get to speak to her more rather than at a big hen do where everyone is fighting for the brides attention
The choice is yours at the end of the day and if you have an easy pregnancy you will probably be fine and may enjoy it but you will probably be very big by 36 weeks and uncomfortable x

I would and have done, not even glamping jyst regular camping on my own with my other children to look after. It was fine, but i have easy pregnancies. Depends on how your preg goes tbh
You can always speak to your frirnd and see what she thinks.

It depends on the facilities. I went glamping somewhere (in a yurt) which was very nice and comfortable. But the loos were a good 2-3 minute walk away (in the night I just peed outside in the bushes). Although the place was great, I don't think I'd do it in my third trimester.

Depends entirely on your pregnancy. I am >32 wks and honestly hardly feel like i am pregnant. Likewise, in my first pregnancy I would have been fine at 36 weeks. However, if you are having a rough time of it, then think carefully as could be awful.

I'm 32 weeks now, and can safely say I'd definitely not go at 36 weeks, not because I couldn't cope, but because having me there would ruin it for everyone else. I am restless at night, tossing and turning and getting up to pee several times. I'd keep everyone awake. I can't eat any later than 6pm due to killer heart burn, but I can't miss a meal, so either the whole group would have to eat at silly early o'clock, or a fuss would have to be made to get me something earlier. I don't drink, and get tired in the evening - v boring really.

I think your friends will have more fun without you, and the day is supposed to be all about the bride, not all about the heavily pregnant bridesmaid.

Personally I wouldn't, I'm 31 weeks and wouldn't do it now, mainly because I'm ridiculously tired due to not sleeping because of hip pain and loo trips every hour minimum.
I'm usually a very healthy person and never make a fuss and was convinced I'd sail thru pregnancy but had no idea how much it would wipe me out.

Another thing that has happened which I didn't expect is that I feel very antisocial now, I love my friends dearly but just want to hibernate and avoid people.