Help! Wimbledon while heavily pregnant?!

[ThatBrightFinch]

Hi I've been very lucky and got tickets in the ballot to the Wimbledon final on centre court for this year - however, I'm now pregnant and by then will be within a couple of weeks of my due date... I've never been before and if I cancel the tickets can never apply for the ballot again, but am a bit concerned about going so heavily pregnant (with my first)!
Has anyone been and got any tips or think it would be a terrible idea to go? It's very expensive so want to make the most of it! Thank you

If you've had a healthy pregnancy there's no reason why you should cancel. I was very lucky & was able to carry kn as normal throughout both of my pregnancies

Depends really..
do you have to travel far?
is someone going with you? Could you get back easily and quickly enough?
if so I’d go if I was feeling up to it and it was due to be cloudy and with lots of water, Sunhat etc.

but I would be very much prepared to cancel at the last minute and certainly wouldn’t sit there in the blazing heat with no shade etc x

Where are the seats? We can advise if likely to be in full sunshine. And are you far from the club?

Also that’s not true about the ballot, if you reject then it means you are not entitled to apply for ballot resales this year. Nothing to stop you reapplying next year (but you may be busy with other things!)

also you are unlikely to get men’s final again, that’s a lucky draw!

I think I’d buy them and be prepared to cancel last minute. They are excellent at refunding.

Is it a long way for you to travel?

I'm not sure how the ballot works. Can you sell the tickets if the baby comes early or you're not feeling up to it? If you can never do the ballot again anyway, then I would go for it if it's possible to pass the tickets on.

I know with my pregnancies, I was fine up to about 37 weeks then I was really uncomfortable, huge and just wanted the darn thing OUT. It's a bit hard to gauge for someone else. I was totally fine apart from those last couple weeks.

Do you live in London? If so I think you will get plenty of notice for needing to get home / to hospital depending on your birth plan. First babies are often a bit late.

Sounds fab, drink plenty of water go for it and enjoy it

I was at work (not WFH!) until 2 weeks before my due date. I would have been as happy sitting watching the tennis as at work or at home.

I went to the football at 38, 39, and 40 weeks pregnant and stood all the way through. But I was lucky to have a healthy pregnancy and a small bump. The heat would be my main concern but decent hat, electric fan and plenty of water and I’d have been fine with that too! I’m not saying this to be complacent, but to show that things can be perfectly possible at the end of pregnancy, if you’re lucky and things are simple for you :)

if last minute you don’t want to go, you can return them. You don’t lose your ballot rights at all. I returned mine 2 years ago and went again last year. Where are the tickets? It was very hot during semis last year and people fainted. If you are under the roof you should be fine.

You can return them without problems! People who don’t win the ballot can access a website and try and buy the returned tickets. It’s not legal to sell them on.
you can return them until 24 hours before start of match. OP: just decide that week, how you feel, who is in the final 😅 and check the weather forecast.

You can’t sell the tickets. They require identification to match the tickets to the purchaser

Congratulations on your pregnancy AND these amazing tickets! I'm 39 weeks tomorrow and I would go today if I could 😂

It gets HOT. You're fully exposed in the sun in most seats, and they're hard plastic. When players change ends it's pretty common that everyone stands up to take a break from sitting and to cool their legs down. Definitely slap on factor 50 and have light, loose clothing, a hat, sunglasses and a (manual) fan (or very quiet electric one or only use it while play isn't in progress). Bring lots of water. You're allowed to bring your own drinks and snacks, and the good thing about tickets (as opposed to a grounds pass) is that you can come back to the same seat so you can go out to the bathroom as often as you need or get out of the sunshine, get something to eat...

People have pointed out that you'd want to consider how long it might take you to get home afterwards as the tube is busy, traffic is heavy, etc. But if you're having a good pregnancy and are only around 35/36 weeks or so, I'd do it!

Thanks so much everyone, that's all really reassuring!! Yes we are super lucky to have got these tickets in the ballot so would be a shame to miss out. We're high up in the 500s somewhere so hopefully under the roof shade and London based for an easy escape. That's put my and DH minds at rest somewhat.

And I misread the email, if you get a refund you can't enter the ballot again this year - not a permanent ban!

If you are in the 500s, you are under the roof and in the shade. Enjoy!

Top tip.. you will be allowed to use the lift to go up to the 5th floor to get to your seat. There are 2 lifts that can be used at Centre Court but most people take the stairs. You will have no problem if you want to use the lift.

You also will have toilets up on the 5th floor. When I was there a couple of years ago, there was also a hidden little shop for sandwiches, soft drinks etc.

Also, as it’s a final, play will not go late into the evening like it might do in week one. If you are feeling fine on the day, go.

Enjoy the final fling of freedom before baby arrives. Take it steady and slow. Stay hydrated and enjoy. :-)