Going camping for a week at 39 wks

[Ravin]

Am I out of my mind?

I'll be going to Estrella War. I'm on the volunteer staff, as Youth Center Coordinator. Which means actually taking it easy, because I won't be doing overnight shifts volunteering at Chirugeon's Point (the first aid station).

[MamaPhD]

Wow that looks like sooooooo much fun!!!! I think you should plan on going & let the baby decide when the time comes. It looks like you won't be that far away from civilization & medical care if something does happen while you are camping.

[Ellen Griswold]

Also, you'll need to be sure that your being there is not completely necessary - as in, if you personally are not there, will there be someone there that can fill your role.

I think this might also be something that you need to decide at the last minute (I understand that you would probably have to register for something like this beforehand). I would evaluate how you are feeling about 24 hours before and then deciding for sure that you still want to go. My personal feeling is that there is no way on Earth that I would go camping at 39 weeks, but everybody feels differently at that point. Granted, none of my pregnancies have ever lastest to 39 weeks either.

[Galatea]

What are your sleeping accommodations? I tried to camp at 27 weeks in a tent with an air mattress and was so freaking uncomfortable. I slept maybe 2 hours total and we left early. So if you had a bed right by a toilet that didn't involve getting up off the ground and unzipping a tent to walk to an outhouse to pee 6 times a night, that might be okay, but otherwise, I wouldn't do it.

[RedOakMomma]

Originally Posted by Galatea

What are your sleeping accommodations? I tried to camp at 27 weeks in a tent with an air mattress and was so freaking uncomfortable. I slept maybe 2 hours total and we left early. So if you had a bed right by a toilet that didn't involve getting up off the ground and unzipping a tent to walk to an outhouse to pee 6 times a night, that might be okay, but otherwise, I wouldn't do it.

Yup. At that point you'll probably need a very comfy bed, pillows, and an easy (short) walk to a bathroom. Is this your first? Honestly...I wouldn't go camping at 39 weeks, and I'm known for doing lots of travel/outdoorsy stuff during pregnancy.

[philomom]

Originally Posted by RedOakMomma

Yup. At that point you'll probably need a very comfy bed, pillows, and an easy (short) walk to a bathroom. Is this your first? Honestly...I wouldn't go camping at 39 weeks, and I'm known for doing lots of travel/outdoorsy stuff during pregnancy.

My babies are always early.. so there's no way I could go. My kids were born at 36 and 38 weeks gestation.

[MaerynPearl]

My first was past 40 weeks... my second was at the beginning of 39 weeks.

I would not do it!

[BlackSheepPDX]

Welll...It's totally the sort of thing I'd do (in fact I went to Estrella in 1992...but I wasn't pregnant!). BUT, only if I had my medical records, a distinct plan about what to do in all sorts of different "if" situations (water breaks, labor starts, body says no f'n way to camping sleeping situation, etc) and a designated person (or tag team of persons) 24 hours a day who would be available to assist me "if," AND I was comfortable having my baby in the nearest facility to the site. You don't mention how far from home you'll be, or who else will be in your party/camp, or if you're staying in a modern tent or a more equipped pavilion.

[goldingoddess]

I went camping at 36 weeks, and it was so uncomfortable. I would never do it again. I had to pee 3 times at night and I was so god-awfully uncomfortable.

[MacKinnon]

I went camping at about 30 weeks this summer. That was my limit. I was still getting up to pee in the middle of the night and the air mattress was awful. Now I'm almost 37 weeks and there is no way in the WORLD I would go camping right now! I won't even sleep anywhere else but home. I'm tired, and sore and grumpy. I would also be worried about going into labor or already having had the baby, 39 weeks seems really late for this sort of thing!

[Aliy]

Personally NO FRAKIN WAY. but my babies come about that time so being away would not be an option.

Like PP said what are your accomindations and can you be replaced casue if baby's coming it don't care what mommy has planned.

I personally was't happy camping at 27 weeks with my first, I was uncomfy and sick. But who knows you maybe able to do it

[gradstudentmommy]

Oh man, there's NO WAY I'd do that, for all the reasons mentioned. But if you want to, more power to you!

[Baby~Braatens~Mama]

Originally Posted by MamaPhD

Wow that looks like sooooooo much fun!!!! I think you should plan on going & let the baby decide when the time comes. It looks like you won't be that far away from civilization & medical care if something does happen while you are camping.

This! But I may be just a little unstable . I have actually been thinking about doing some camping this weekend, but it will only be 30 miles out of town and I will be "camping" in a camper with a real-ish bed and an accessible bathroom. I agree with the pp, it depends on how you feel at 39 weeks.

[Ravin]

Originally Posted by Galatea

What are your sleeping accommodations? I tried to camp at 27 weeks in a tent with an air mattress and was so freaking uncomfortable. I slept maybe 2 hours total and we left early. So if you had a bed right by a toilet that didn't involve getting up off the ground and unzipping a tent to walk to an outhouse to pee 6 times a night, that might be okay, but otherwise, I wouldn't do it.

Our tent is a good-sized canvas wall tent. We've used cots the last few years, but I plan on getting a queen sized airbed cot--it's up on feet and several people I've talked to say it's comfortable. Or, I might possibly bring a full-sized regular mattress and a frame, haven't decided. Also, last year we had a bucket of kitty-litter for a nighttime porta potty. This year I might try and add an actual seat, just to not have to squat. No mid-of-the-night portapotty trips for me!

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by Ravin

Our tent is a good-sized canvas wall tent. We've used cots the last few years, but I plan on getting a queen sized airbed cot--it's up on feet and several people I've talked to say it's comfortable. Or, I might possibly bring a full-sized regular mattress and a frame, haven't decided. Also, last year we had a bucket of kitty-litter for a nighttime porta potty. This year I might try and add an actual seat, just to not have to squat. No mid-of-the-night portapotty trips for me!

Kitty litter. That is funny.

[Ravin]

The kitty litter thing is kind of funny, but it's a lot less expensive than doody bags (which are what's found in the camping section for the purpose and have that gel stuff that's in disposable diapers), and was recommended by all my friends.

[lyterae]

I personally wouldn't, DD was born at 38 weeks though so I'm trying not to make any definite plans for that point in pregnancy. It does look like fun though, can they hinge it on whether or not you're up to it at that point?

[southernmommie]

Oooooooh. No way I would do that. I've gone over to almost 41 weeks and the very next baby came at 35 weeks. I just wouldn't do it. You never know when baby decides to make their appearance. Plus, and air mattress just doesn't sound that comfy to this pregnant lady. Not being pregnant, it might be really comfy, but as a pregnant woman, things are more sensitive. You may want to chance it. I wouldn't if it was me. A weekend closer to home would be a test for me. But a whole week... no way.

[honeybee]

ds1:41 w, 6 days, 23 1/2 hours
ds2: 41 w, 5 days
ds3: 38 w, 3 days !!

And my births are fast, so I do not travel too far away from home and my mw around that time. I might be willing to camp if it was close to home, and I thought I could get comfortable w/ an indoor potty nearby. But... a group of friends is going camping close to home at 36 weeks, and I'm just going to hang out at the campsite during the day and then drive home to sleep in my bed, while dh stays in the tent with the boys. So, no, I wouldn't do it... even though in general I don't follow too many of the pg restrictions.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Jumping with another idea for peeing in the night. I just bring a wide mouthed plastic container with a lid (like a yogurt container) and empty it in the am.