What to do
Received wisdom would have it that you should be reclining on a sun lounger in a five star hotel, waited on at hand and foot and having gentle pregnancy massages and beauty treatments. While you certainly can have babymoons like this – as many hotels will prove – it’s not the only way to spend your last bit of downtime as a couple. The key thing to remember is that it’s all about you – what do you want to do and what will make you happy? If that’s people-watching in a city square, drinking (non-alcoholic) cocktails in a Hong Kong skyscraper bar, browsing Italian art galleries or swimming in tropical seas, why not? It makes sense to do some of the things you love and that you won’t be able to do for a while once the baby arrives.

Where to go
Being pregnant does not bring out the globetrotter in everyone. In fact, it’s legendary for bringing out the nesting instinct in most people. There’s no reason why you can’t have a babymoon in your own country – driving is less stressful than flying in general – if that’s what you want to do. If you are planning to go abroad, bear a few health issues in mind: will you have access to good quality medical treatment if you need it? Will you be able to speak the language to any medical staff? Can you get hold of the foods you need/want/crave where you’re going?

It makes sense to hold off on fully intrepid adventures for a little further down the line; high impact sports, bungee jumping and scuba diving are off the menu of course. There are a few specific things that you need when you’re pregnant: a really good night’s sleep and lots of healthy food being two of them, so focus on them to begin with. If you can book a hotel or apartment in the heart of a city rather than a walk from it, your poor tired body will thank you for it. And a hotel with a pool is a real boon – the water makes you feel a little less heavy. Just watch out for the hot tub – they can make you feel too hot, and faint.

When to go
The overall best time to travel with a bump is in your second trimester. Most airlines won’t allow you to fly once you’re past 36 weeks and in any case you may want to be at home yourself them; in the first 12 weeks it’s often the case that tiredness and morning sickness make any thought of travel a daft idea.

Staying healthy
If you’re going abroad, be sure to have travel insurance and to carry your notes with you. If you have specific medical needs, including gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, check with your doctor what to do if you have problems while you’re away. If you can, locate a doctor or midwife service in your destination before you travel so you know what to do in an emergency. Check if you will need travel vaccinations before booking flights, and ask your midwife if they are fine in pregnancy. There’s no reason why anything would happen, but being prepared is the best way to make sure you stay healthy and happy while you’re away.

Babymoon check list
Choose somewhere where you can relax, sleep and eat well
Check with your doctor/midwife before travel and get a fit to fly note if needed
Buy adequate travel insurance
Pack your medical notes
Check your airline’s flight restrictions in pregnancy

Laura Hall is a mother of two and the Communications Director of Kid & Coe (www.kidandcoe.com). While pregnant, she saw an erupting volcano in Iceland, took a long weekend in Marrakesh and embarked on a week-long solo cruise down the Nile to see the Valley of the Kings. She’s living proof that pregnancy doesn’t have to curtail your travel ambitions.