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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Am I mad to consider camping at 33 weeks pregnant?

30 replies

Aubergenie · 17/05/2008 20:30

We're looking at holiday options at the moment and I'm wondering whether it would be crazy to consider camping, which is what we normally do. I'm a teacher so we have to wait till the school holidays by which time I'll be 32-33 weeks pregnant. Obviously I think we'd have to make some adjustments like a comfier airbed rather than my trusty thermarest and some sort of toilet solution so I don't have to keep running to the toilet block in the night (any suggestions?), but I've no idea whether I'm being overly optimistic just because I'm feeling good at the moment. This is my first child so I've got no idea how I'm going to feel at that stage.

Has anyone tried it?

OP posts:

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DarthVader · 17/05/2008 20:32

go for it! how many weeks are you now and how old are you?

moominsmummy · 17/05/2008 20:33

yes i did - worked fine - definitely take the comfiest bed u can! enjoy your hol

FrannyandZooey · 17/05/2008 20:33

you could well be feeling quite physically uncomfortable by then
most women would probably be getting some backache etc, general aches and pains and finding it hard to get comfy at night even in their own bed
plus needing to get up for a wee in the night as you mention

however if you are not too bothered by stuff like this and are happy to just get on with things even when feeling a bit crap, then it could be fine

what's the back up plan? if you feel too rough to go have you another alternative? or do you lose your money and your chance of a holiday?

Original poster

Aubergenie · 17/05/2008 20:34

I'm 20 weeks at the moment and 40 years old (does that make a difference? I'm healthy and still have my own teeth...)

OP posts:

julen · 17/05/2008 20:35

If you feel good, go! Take bucket with lid (can be future nappy bucket) for nighttime toilet stops and wellies and go and enjoy.. (Went camping 2 weeks before dd1 was due and loved every minute of it apart from the waking up in the night ones, but would have done that anywhere else anyway..)

amner · 17/05/2008 20:38

Will you have to put the tent up ?

I did this once at 17 weeks and was knackered !

2point4kids · 17/05/2008 20:40

Go!
If you are used to camping and know what it entails then you will be fine I am sure.
My friend just came back from camping at 36 weeks pg, with a 2year old and SPD and she had a whale of a time

purpleflower · 17/05/2008 20:42

I went when 34 weeks pregnant with DS. It was great. In some ways it was more comfy on the airbed!

If you are going to the beach don't forget to dig a hole for your bump, its so nice to be able to lay on your front

Hope you have a good time.

jellyforbrains · 17/05/2008 20:42

I went camping for the first time when I was 33wks pg with DC2. DC1 was nearly 2 at the time and in hindsight we maybe didn't plan it too well. Had a tent with airbeds, but DS kept rolling off his and then I had to lie cuddled up to him all night. Obviously you won't have this problem if it's your first, but I did find our cheapo airbed really uncomfortable. Don't know what the other options are though.

I would ask for a space near the toilet block if poss. I needed a wee in the middle of the night and we were really far away from the toilet block - I was too scared to walk across the campsite alone in the night and so I held it in until the morning (and so slept v badly!).

I would go for it though if I were you. I was v tired, but mainly because I wasn't sleeping well - only went for a few nights though so was ok. Am pg with no 3 now and think we might put off starting up family camping holidays until this baby is old enough to sleep on an airbed without my help!

Fillyjonk · 17/05/2008 20:45

lol at franny

she has 7 weeks to go AND IS STILL GOING TO THE GYM

FrannyandZooey · 17/05/2008 22:07

ah I have had to have special routine devised for me though Filly which only involves using my upper body
due to being able to walk slowly but nothing else due to fricking pelvis coming apart
camping would be a NO for me

Original poster

Aubergenie · 17/05/2008 22:59

Well it's good to hear so many positive experiences. Thanks for all the replies. I think you're right that I need to have a back up plan Franny. I don't think I'll be able to get insurance at that stage so I think we'll be staying in the UK, so we won't be losing loads of money on flights etc if I decide I just can't do it.

I LOVE the idea of digging a hole in the sand for my bump purpleflower. I'm going to try it!

OP posts:

springerspaniel · 18/05/2008 16:09

I couldn't face it this time round as am so exhausted and grumpy. First time round I went at 36 weeks in tiny two many tent with Thermarest. Was lovely. Just lay in tent most of the time whilst other half brought my food. Distant toilet was a problem when you pee four times a night but quite happily peed in the bushes - no shame by that stage (or since).

Definitely take an extra pillow for between your knees and don't forget the Gaviscon.

Diege · 18/05/2008 17:37

I went at 36 weeks when pregnant with dd1. Quite good for a few nights, but then the aches and pains of lying in a new position took their toll, we debunked to a B&B for the rest of the week. And I wee'd in a plastic pint glass and tipped outside tent

FrannyandZooey · 18/05/2008 19:42

how the flipetty wotsit do you wee in a pint glass when you can't even see your fanjo

Thankyouandgoodnight · 18/05/2008 21:13

I would make sure that you take a chair of some sort with you - your pelvis may not thank you for lots of on the ground sitting

PussinWellies · 19/05/2008 22:09

I camped at 32-34 weeks with third child, and slept better on the airbed than at home!

Diege · 19/05/2008 22:22

Franny. From memory it was a case of 'lodging' it over the relevant area and hoping for the best. Quite satifying filling a pint glass...in fact we still have it in the cupboard and dh uses it on ocassion (oblivious, natch)

whomovedmychocolate · 19/05/2008 22:26

Ah there is so little chance of getting a decent night's sleep in the last trimester, you may as well be in a friggin' field!

F&Z - I can pee - standing up, into a specimen jar. It's an acquired skill

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 19/05/2008 22:36

If you have a small bump and/or long arms you could use a she-wee. You'd need slightly better accuracy than for a pint glass.

I didn't camp whilst pregnant but would still recommend a good airbed, a decent chair and a bag full of haemmoroid cream, iron tablets, etc.

And take your hospital bag. Just in case.

DforDiva · 19/05/2008 22:52

Go go go. You will love it. Take nice lounger chair with you. We are a bit of campers. I went last year when 34 weeks pg with dd over 2 year old for 2 weeks.
Mad, i know People seemed all worry about me. I have been asked million times how many weeks was
I was HUGE anyway. I loved single airbed, so cmfy. We wnet with double, dh complained he was shaken all night first night. And we went and bought two single (nor more rocking for dh)

You will love it, hope weather is better for you

DforDiva · 19/05/2008 22:57

Waves to Diege
reminds me, yes we bought porta-loo for me, as i needed to go wee at least once. and also we had hospital bag in the car. dh wanted me go boating[men]
could have given birth on our boat in the middle of anglesey, could ahve been on news, all amwualnce and helicopters, could have been celebrity baby

jem1969 · 20/05/2008 10:08

Think you are a bit mad. But I was huge at 33 weeks and then gave birth at 36 which I'm convinced was brought on by DH making me traipse up and down sand dunes for miles to find 'the perfect spot' a couple of days before.
Think would have found it impossible to get up and down off the mattress if it's on the floor.
But you will probably have a lovely time if you go- just take your bag with you, make sure your DH does EVERYTHING and make sure you know where the nearest hospital is...

belgo · 20/05/2008 10:12

If you're used to camping, then I say go.

As for a toilet - bucket?

minster · 20/05/2008 10:40

I did it at 32 weeks with my ds & it was fine. Was camping this weekend - 8 weeks - & it was much harder because I felt so ill.

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