Camping while pregnant - tips?

foreversomeday

Just seen the camping with a 6-month-old thread and I was reminded of my OH's desire to go camping this summer...

As you can see from my sig I am due at the end of September with our first, so far the pregnancy has been relatively trouble-free, and I am not one who will really miss home comforts although I haven't actually been camping in years. OH has asked me when I think it would be best to plan a camping trip if we do go, but I have no idea - I just don't know how uncomfortable I will get and what effect it will have on my ability to camp.

The thing I am most worried about is there being a heatwave as I can cope with cold by bundling up but in a tent there is not really anywhere to escape from the sun, and I don't have a high tolerance for heat anyway so I'm not expecting to enjoy this summer very much.

I don't know whether we will go camping but if we do, any tips? Experiences? Words of wisdom on when will be too late (Apart from past about 33 weeks obviously, I don't want to give birth in a field!!) bearing in mind it will be getting hotter soon.

beccabee_2

I went camping in June last year at 6 months pregnant, it rained pretty much the whole time which doesn't help you much with the sun element. however it was really cold at night, I took a duvet and used that as well as a sleeping bag, I also had an airbed.

vixarooni

Well if it were me, i would say to my OH, "are you having a laugh!"

Sounds like youre not keen so tell him you would prefer to do something that doesnt require squatting in a field, having to climb in and out of a tent whilst doing your back in and freezing to death at night!

bestpud

In my experinece, tents get pretty chilly at night, even when it us quite hot during the day. So as long as you found shade during the day, you should be ok on that score.

However, I don't think it will be much fun trekking to the toilet block several times every night!! Plus squatting over a bucket in the dark will be great fun when your balance starts to go later in the pregnancy!!

Those are my immediate thoughts. I can think of more but they are less constructive!!! :rolleyes:

Mum_of_Boys

Not sure you should go camping at 33 weeks :think:

I'm 36 weeks at the moment but for the last 4 weeks I've found it incredibly hard to get to sleep because I feel so uncomfortable.

I appreciate all pregnancies are different but if it were me, I wouldn't do it.

Good luck on your decision.

shelley_crow

I can't help with the camping aspect i'm afraid but Mum of Boys is spot on. I had terrible trouble sleeping in the last few weeks kept getting cramp that would only go away by walking it off.

Whatever you decide to do, just make sure that you take your notes from the midwife x

Savvy_Sue

It's the getting up and down from an airbed that would have defeated me ... or caused mass hysteria!

Baileys_Babe

I went camping at 37 weeks with out problems. Even though I had severe SPD.

hayleyc_2

I had a really easy pregnancy compared to a lot of people. However, there's no way i would have enjoyed a camping holiday at 33 weeks. By that stage I would have found it difficult to get down to sleep on the floor, hard to get comfy and exhausting/frustrating having to walk any distance to go to the loo. Yes, it may be physically possible if you're fit and healthy but will you enjoy it?

Agutka

What happens at 33 weeks?
I don't think you should plan any camping trips this summer. You just don't know how you'll be coping later on. You can go on a spur of the moment trip one weekend or something - when you know the weather, know what your weaknesses are... I would have been okay up to 37 weeks, after that I couldn't cope with much at all. Stairs and shoelaces became my enemies .
Or just go really early on. Apparently you're not sick or anything (:rolleyes: - personally I see nothing natural about the process :eek:)

Becles

I wouldn't make any definite plans.

I had two easy pregnancies, but my last one was a nightmare. From about 28 weeks, I was very poorly which came out of the blue and shocked me. It was hard enough living at home, never mind camping!

Also, my first two babies arrived at 37 weeks and my third came at 36 weeks. I'd be very wary of early babies!