November 12, 2020

Having a baby changes everything. And we mean everything, including the relationship dynamic with your partner. Instead of making your needs as a couple your priority, you both have a little bundle of joy who demands constant care. Suddenly, it’s not about you or even your partner – it’s about your baby.

What is a babymoon?

Similar to a honeymoon, a babymoon is a vacation in which a couple enjoys some quality time before entering the next major phase of their lives: parenthood. Babymoons can be as diverse and personalized as honeymoons – they can be extravagant and luxurious or short, sweet, and simple. It’s all up to the couple. Or the mom. After all, who says a single mom can’t enjoy a babymoon, too?

How Babymoons Benefit Expecting Parents

Just as a honeymoon can help couples focus on their connection to each other as they begin their marriage, a babymoon can help soon-to-be-parents enjoy a bit of grown-up time before baby arrives. Likewise, singles who are about to become parents can find just as many benefits from taking time to relax and reflect.

Here are just a few ways in which a babymoon can help couples, and singles, before they take on the life-changing role of parenthood:

• Rest. Being well-rested is something you may not experience again for quite a while once your baby arrives. Use this time to really relax and rejuvenate, either on your own or as a couple, remembering that rest is essential for your overall well-being.
• Quality Time. For many couples, quality time is an absolute necessity to maintain romance and intimacy. Whether you spend it doing something fun and exciting or just hanging out together and talking for hours, the exchange of undivided attention is priceless. For singles, this can be an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with yourself. Do things you enjoy. Journal your thoughts and experiences. Treat yourself!
• Reflection. Planning for a baby usually involves a lot of looking ahead. But don’t let yourself or your partner get stuck in future-mode. It’s just as important to reflect on your past, both as individuals and as a couple. Think and talk about how you’ve grown, what you’ve learned, and how your priorities have changed. Self-reflection isn’t just good for you as an individual; it can be very healthy in a relationship. A babymoon can offer time to do this without the constant distractions of planning and prepping.
• Communication. Having some downtime can help foster great discussions and intimate, honest conversations. Use this time to sort out any issues, big or small, that need to be discussed. We’re not advising you to pick a fight or use your partner as an emotional punching bag, but sometimes you need to just talk things out. It’s easy to let relationship issues go unresolved when life has revolved around your pregnancy for months. Practice keeping the communication lines open, so resentment doesn’t build and cause problems down the road.

Low-Budget Babymoon Ideas

Let’s face it: traveling isn’t cheap, and when you’re about to add to your family, it can seem irresponsible to spend thousands of dollars on a vacation. Spending quality time with your partner (or yourself) pre-baby doesn’t have to be detrimental to your bank account. Here are a few ideas:

• Plan a “staycation” at your own home. Get creative with it! Pick a theme like tropical oasis and decorate your home as if it were a deserted island. Unplug the TV and put the smartphones away. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, and boss that you’ll be unreachable for the next few days.
• Be tourists in your own town. Book a room at a local bed and breakfast, take your partner to see the sights, book a couple’s massage, and make dinner reservations at the nicest nearby restaurant. Just remember to practice social distancing and follow the recommended COVID-19 restrictions for your state.
• Plan a one-tank trip. Figure out roughly how far your car can travel on a single tank of gas and see where that could lead you. (Use a gas mileage calculator to avoid doing the math yourself.) For example, if your car can go about 500 miles on a tank of gas, figure out which destinations are within a 500-mile radius of your home and choose the one that is most appealing.

Traveling in the Time of COVID-19

Expecting moms and their partners should be especially cautious when it comes to traveling. With COVID-19 remaining a threat, it may make more sense for expecting parents to plan babymoon “staycations” or travel to low-risk destinations that also encourage or require a 14-day quarantine, social distancing, face coverings, and frequent hand-washing.

Traveling internationally? Remember, not every country is welcoming U.S. citizens due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in our country. However, some places are allowing American tourists who test negative for COVID-19 (and meet other travel restriction requirements1), including…

• Mexico
• St. Lucia
• Aruba
• Croatia
• Puerto Rico
• Jamaica
• Dominican Republic
• Bermuda
• Barbados
• U.S. Virgin Islands

If you are planning to travel internationally, be sure to discuss it with your healthcare provider. Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, it may be safer to stick to destinations you can reach by car. Most airlines will only allow pregnant passengers to fly with them until 36 weeks; however, some airlines may have earlier cutoffs.²

 

Prenate^® Vitamin Family
This post is sponsored by the Prenate^® Vitamin Family, a line of prescription prenatal supplements designed to enhance preconception, prenatal, and postpartum nutrition in women. Talk with your doctor about how taking a daily prescription prenatal or postnatal vitamin could help support a healthy pregnancy and postpartum wellness.