Beach or no beach?

[EMandM]

Would you ladies feel ok driving 2 hrs to go to the beach for the day when you are 40 weeks?

I'm debating if I should go tomorow or just stay home and relax. I would be going with a few friends and their young boys. The temp should be hovering around mid 90's.

Thoughts?

[majazama]

I think you should! Just stay in the shade and drink lots of water. You will probably not have your baby for a week or something anyways, because you're a first time mom.

[Yaliina]

Yeah, I would. How many people go into labor in the middle of the day? I think most of us start at night/early morning. Have fun. DS & I were at the beach the day before I went into labor with this one & I'm glad we went.

[AmyKT]

Floating in the ocean sounds heavenly now! You could make it back in plenty of time should something start to happen.

[Baby_Cakes]

DDDC - sorry! I saw this in new posts!

I couldn't take the heat when I was pg. I wasn't able to stay on the beach long at all -- maybe 30 min -- before just feeling so hot, bothered, nauseous, the whole bit. I was in a tankini and felt like I was dressed head to toe in wool. And I was only 20 weeks! I passed on all beach trips for the rest of my pg.

Just wanted to offer another perspective. Not being able to get out of the heat in that situation might be really awful.

[SpuglyRoo]

I drove 1 1/2 hours to the beach two weeks ago at 38 weeks and it felt soo good to be in the water! If you are planning on going in the water, I'd say go for it (I mean REALLY going in, not just to the knee or something). It feels really relaxing to float in the waves (I kept joking it felt good to not be pregnant for a little while). Otherwise, you might hate being out in the heat and have driven 2 hours to be miserable. Bring TONS of water, and an umbrella/beach tent if you can. And LOTS of sunscreen (mine was apparently expired and I burned pretty bad even after three or four applications). Being burned is never fun, but I can't even imagine how miserable it would be to be sunburned AND in labor, ugh!

[YHannahh]

What's the temperature of the water where you're going?

I went to the beach over Memorial Day weekend and Lake Michigan was not warm enough for me to go swimming. The air temperature was hot, but I couldn't take advantage of the water.

It was still fun though! It was kind of nice showing off my pregnant belly in a bikini.

[MaerynPearl]

DDCC-

Im not quite as far along as you, but def. think going to the beach sounds heavenly.

Are you planning a homebirth or a hospital birth? If its a homebirth I would be 100% okay with a 2 hour drive from home... if its a hospital birth I would just take into account how far from the hospital the beach is (some ladies live 1-2 hours from their hospitals, I do not know how you are, but if it made it a 4 hour drive if you went into labor, I would probably skip out and find a nice local pool to go to for the day)

[NWmt_mama]

Ohh. go to the beach! Sounds lovely!

[Surfacing]

[EMandM]

Part of the problem, is that I don't EVER get into the water here. It's Galveston, TX, and while almost everyone else is comfortable with it, I don't get into water I can't see my feet in. I am having a home birth and know I'll have time to get home if things start happening, I'm just worried about being overheated on the beach with my lips tight zipped about being miserable because I don't want other people to miss out on a good time.

I think I've just decided while typing this out. I LOVE relaxing on the beach, and if I were going with my husband I'd go, but I think I'll skip out on this trip. I'm not sure I can handle the heat with no way to get relief.

Thanks for your replies ladies! Maybe I'll talk hubby in to a trip this weekend!

[CoBabyMaker]

I went to the beach for the LAST time last week. I was 38 and it was just too hard for me to get comfortable. The water at Lake Tahoe is too cold to enjoy. So I will be the grumpy person that agrees with you and says: sit it out!

[welsh]

EM - I read your post earlier and knew you meant Galveston but didn't want to be a kill joy and say don't go!!
Too hot and humid, not a nice enough ocean/beach experience to make it worth it...plus, you'd feel responsible for not spoiling anyone else's fun by wanting to leave!
Is there a pool you can visit instead? I used to swim at the outdoor one at the Y on Stella Link.

[EMandM]

Originally Posted by welsh

EM - I read your post earlier and knew you meant Galveston but didn't want to be a kill joy and say don't go!!
Too hot and humid, not a nice enough ocean/beach experience to make it worth it...plus, you'd feel responsible for not spoiling anyone else's fun by wanting to leave!
Is there a pool you can visit instead? I used to swim at the outdoor one at the Y on Stella Link.

I know, Galveston water...

We just sold our house and moved out last week and the pool is the biggest thing that I'm missing. We moved into an apartment complex with a pool, but I'm not sure I want the other residents gawking at me in my bikini (my maternity swimsuit has just never fit right). Looks like I'll have to settle for a cool bath instead. Maybe I can talk my husband into taking me to the lake this weekend. I'm not so afraid of that water!

[Amynf1]

I know you already decided not to go but I wanted to say I wouldn't be able to handle it. i can't take the heat and wouldn't get in the water either. I grew up 2 hrs from the Gulf and always hated the water. ICK.

[bohemama]

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker

I went to the beach for the LAST time last week. I was 38 and it was just too hard for me to get comfortable. The water at Lake Tahoe is too cold to enjoy. So I will be the grumpy person that agrees with you and says: sit it out!

DDDC...

We must live near each other...I was just at Tahoe today (and I thought the water felt heavenly lol). We go at least once a week, usually more

[craft_media_hero]

You had me til 'temp in mid-90s'---I don't think I could handle that personally. The heat is about the same here, and it about kills me to be out and about during the hot part of the day (which is pretty much the whole day).

Otherwise, I'd say go for it!

Are you driving, though? Coz you could make it back home in time, but not if you're contracting and driving? I dunno.

[craft_media_hero]

Originally Posted by EMandM

I know, Galveston water...

We just sold our house and moved out last week and the pool is the biggest thing that I'm missing. We moved into an apartment complex with a pool, but I'm not sure I want the other residents gawking at me in my bikini (my maternity swimsuit has just never fit right). Looks like I'll have to settle for a cool bath instead. Maybe I can talk my husband into taking me to the lake this weekend. I'm not so afraid of that water!

Oh, I love that bikini-bump look! You only get to rock it for such a short time period--yeah it takes some serious ovaries to don the bikini with full term bump, but it's so awesome! And if they gawk it's just because of how magnificent you are in all your fertile glory.

[thebigfam]

DDCC, I am due in January and you totally made me want to go to my Lake Michigan beach when I am close to due....but that is a no I went polar bear swimming once but not while pg that is for sure. I too would take to the pool....who cares what ppl think?

Big Momma

[slgt]

I vote, rock the bikini! I haven't even thought twice about the other people around - then again, I live in a pretty crunchy state - all I get are happy comments about the belly!

We went to a swimming hole on the local river yesterday, lots of kids & parents & families. Even brought the dog. DD loved it, and it felt sooooo good to be floating in the water...

Of course, I had the thought, "If my water breaks while I"m in the water, will I know?"