BABY MOON

"I just wanted a back rub"

We went for our baby moon to Florida for 8 days. You might be wondering, baby moon??? A baby moon is your last vacation before the baby is born. I personally think it is where you go on the beach in a bikini and show your "moon" aka baby belly to the world. :) I guess it is supposed to be a celebration similar to a honeymoon, but without the ability to drink champagne..

We normally would have gone to the Carribean or other island, but to be safe, we decided on Florida. The doctor said it would be the better option. It actually turned out to be the better option with the hurricanes and storms throughout the Carribean. We had also thought about Miami, but that was hit just as bad. We went to Tampa for a few days to see friends, and Sea World, Sarasota for a few, and Clearwater as well. It only rained a few times and it was sunny and 88 -90. I saw that NY had rubbish weather while we were gone, and rubbish weather when we got back so I was tempted to tell Jet Blue that I was going into Labor just so I could stay in Florida and have the baby here. :) :) :) They key to having baby moon is to make sure you are still able to fly. Most domestic airlines will let you fly up to 32 weeks, and International are 28-30, but both have the option to not let you fly if they feel you are at risk. Cruises are worse where they don't let you cruise in your 3rd trimester, but I suppose that is because they are farther away from shore in case of emergency.

Traveling in 3rd trimester:

• Must have a pillow, wedge, boppy, something to shove behind your back because the airplane seats are horrible for pregos! Unless of course you are flying first class/business class and have reclining seats. But for the rest of us in the back, get that pillow! I used a boppy wedge and it helped a lot...it is still uncomfy, but you are in the 3rd tri, when is it comfy????
• Be aware your feet are going to swell up like tomatoes and your calves are going to ache. Not to mention if you have sciatica like I do, sitting in those seats for 3 hours is torture. So get up occasionally and go pee, you know you are going to have to go anyway! The trick is fitting your whalish self into the bathroom. And of course walking down the aisle when someone insists on trying to squeeze by you at the same time!! They just don't get that we can't "suck" it in!! If you are lucky they will let you cut in line to pee though, which is a bonus. I also got double scooby snacks as well!: chips and cookies :) There are a few perks to being preggo, so might as well enjoy it!
• you have to have a lounge chair for the beach/pool. There is no laying flat on concrete or sand, and def. no laying on your belly. If you do manage, my hats off to you. Dan did offer to hollow out the sand for the baby belly to see if it would work, but luckily we had access to lounge chair on beach. It still gives you a funny tan lines when you cant lay on tummy, but you make do and lay on side. The sun feels wonderful and the ocean/pool feels AMAZING! I could live in water right now if I had a raft and a floating fridge.
• Bring lots of sunscreen... you have more coverage needed now with extra belly skin.. haha. Oh and if you need help, get Dan or significant other to help rub lotion on legs and feet since it is harder to reach, and your legs/feet ache anyway so a rub is always nice. :)

• Don't forget your camera!! You can get some cool shots of the belly if you can get used to everyone staring at you. Some probably think that I shouldn't be in a bikini, but flaunt that belly! The only problem is, you have to see all the skinny chics in their bikinis showing off their skinny legs, bum, and tiny waist. It can give you a complex! Just make sure your partner knows that crazy psycho pregasaurus lady will come out if he stares at them in any way and he won't want that! He should know by 3rd tri , that pregnant ladies can be crazy!!
• Just try to enjoy yourself!!! Yes it may not be as much "fun" as if you are not pregnant. You can't scuba dive, jetski, ride roller coasters, drink alcohol, etc etc. But you can still have fun! You can always get a pregnancy massage and most hotels with spas have this option. Enjoy the sun, water, food, ICE CREAM... don't forget the ice cream.
• and spend that last quality alone time with your partner before baby comes! and take care of yourself. Take walks with him on the beach, take a drive to another beach and see the sunset, do whatever you want to do. Yes, it may be uncomfy, but you can't beat the views!
  
  "People are giving birth underwater now. They say it's less traumatic for the baby because it's in water. But certainly more traumatic for the other people in the pool. "