Take a babymoon!

We've all heard of a honeymoon...it's the chance for a newly married couple to take some time for themselves, get used to their new relationship and all that it entails, go away, connect, relax, explore...but what is a babymoon?

'Traditionally' the babymoon was the time after a baby was born, when the parents and baby spent some quality time together, bonding and learning their new roles. However, these days its usually considered as a chance during pregnancy, before baby comes along and the fun begins, for couples to take some time for themselves, be it away or at home...away from the everyday stresses that can surround us.

As our family holiday approaches next month, I cannot wait! I'm filled with joy and expectation. It's a chance for a change of scenery, to learn something new, to show the children a bit of the world they've yet to see, and explore. It's also a chance to relax and get away from the everyday distractions that can take us away from spending precious time as a family, to reconnect and recharge.

And that's just what a babymoon can do for an expectant couple.

When Paul and I were expecting Imogen, we had a bunch of nearly expired Tesco vouchers and about 6 weeks until our Estimated Due Date. So, with a spur of inspiration, we ran away for the weekend to exotic...Ipswich. OK, so it wasn't the most exciting destination, but boy, what a fabulous weekend - in fact, one of the best! And here's why:

1) No agenda - we went with nothing planned, nothing to do, nothing booked, which meant we could just mooch about at our leisure and spend our time pottering with no intent. Fabulous. We found stuff to do; last minute early Christmas shopping mostly, the odd coffee, meals out and a lot of wandering about exploring a new place.

2) Relaxation - I spent a lot of time reading and laying about, just chilling out. I wish I'd taken the chance to go to a spa and enjoy a bit of swimming or time in a jacuzzi too, but reading and laying did me good. It was a chance to slow down, pretend the outside world didn't exist and go at our own pace, a pace that, at 34 weeks pregnant, was a bit slower than usual!

3) Bonding - as well as on our honeymoon, our babymoon gave us the chance to reconnect as a couple. We spent a lot of time talking and laughing, away from the distractions of our everyday lives...no work, no internet, no phones; just us. We took our hypnobirthing techniques and resources with us and spent a lot of time practising too; lots of soothing strokes, plenty of calm breathing and surge breathing, relaxation and cuddles. We also spent time connecting with Imogen.; chatting with her, stroking her, making time for her and ourselves, thinking about her arrival, thinking about how she would be and talking about her.

4) Preparation - as well as our birth preparation and practice, we also had a chance, away from home, to think more about the changes our beautiful girl would bring to our lives. It gave us the time to talk it through, to assess any of our anxieties and talk them through and really get to the bottom of ideals for our impending job as parents. And to plan any jobs and things we needed to get organised before she arrived!

5) Cherishing - it gave us time to cherish our pregnancy, enjoy those few private days, away from prying eyes, away from rushing around, to just savour that precious time that is all too fleeting. And it gave us time to cherish each other, enjoy each other's company and the silence.

We both often say that the happiest time in our nearly 12 years together was the time when we were pregnant with Imogen, becuase before that it was just us, but with her on the way we had hope, love and pleasure in our expectancy and the joy she would bring, and afterwards we had the children and life changed beyond compare. We have less time these days for each other...but always remember those two blissful nights in Ipswich as cherished time, and look forward to a chance to get maybe one night away in the not too distant future!

(No, the image isn't from sunny Ipswich, this was from our whole family - parents, sis and all - holiday when the same amount of pregnant with Elliott, which was a bit of a different experience!)