Camping

enigmasara · May 2014

If any of you are delusional like I guess I was about wanting to go camping, take my advice and don't go! My H has really wanted to go this spring before I got too big & uncomfortable and I decided to go with it. To be honest the daytime part wasn't too bad. We went on a really nice hike, and even though going up the hills definitely were harder on me than they were before, it was nice to be out moving around. Then we set up camp and made dinner, which wasn't bad either. Unfortunately the next part of camping is sitting around the campfire drinking beer. Not so fun when you are drinking water & your H is drinking away!

But the sleeping part....OMG did that suck! We have those small bed rolls/super thin camping mattresses, and our sleeping bags. Usually I'm fine sleeping like this, but not last night. First of all I struggled with wanting to vomit when I was laying down until I put a bag of clothes underneath my head. Then the lack of support/softness under my hips/back was horrible. I only slept about 30 min the whole night. I was laying there wishing for morning & I usually love my sleep & sleep really well.

H is trying to convince me to try again, but with a real air mattress next time. No thanks.

dogperson11 · May 2014

We're going camping when I'm 36 weeks. Hopefully a few times before that, too. I'm insisting on a new air mattress (we usually use ThermaRest pads - sounds like what you described). I'm not a beer drinker, so that won't bother me, but I am nervous about sleeping well.

NSAbby · May 2014

We have air-foam mattresses. They are amazing to sleep on, but I have no clue where we got them. And I think they were expensive (They may have been a gift)

But its going to be way too warm to go camping when I get back, unless we go in the mountains, and I'm not up for an 8hr drive so far along in pregnancy.

enigmasara · May 2014

dogperson11 said:

We're going camping when I'm 36 weeks. Hopefully a few times before that, too. I'm insisting on a new air mattress (we usually use ThermaRest pads - sounds like what you described). I'm not a beer drinker, so that won't bother me, but I am nervous about sleeping well.

Yes, that's it, ThermaRest. Pregnancy brain couldn't come up with the name! Do not give in on requiring the new air mattress!

The other thing that surprised me a bit was that I was kind of uncomfortable in our camp chairs. I didn't think I was big enough yet for them to make me uncomfortable, but it felt like baby was sitting so heavy on me.

Jolaine83 · May 2014

Yeah, there are some changes you have to make to be comfortable camping while pregnant. I tried it once on my second pregnancy without anything more than a sleeping bag and it didn't go very well. We ended up bunking in my ILs camper on their hideabed couch.

We are going to be camping in a few weeks for memorial day weekend. It's always cooler for that camping weekend in Iowa, so that I'm not worried about. I'm insisting that we invest in a separate twin air mattress for me since I know that sharing with DH won't work as well either - that's why we'd tried no air mattress that last time I was pregnant. I'm hoping that by being prepared, that'll make it easier. This will be our only camping weekend this summer, as I'm refusing to even try for the 4th of July. lol It'll be way to hot to tent camp that far along even if we hauled a normal mattress to sleep on.

poofwok · May 2014

We will go camping with SIL and family this summer but I'm well decided on the fact that we will not be sleeping overnight. We will just go for the day. Probably to swim, relax and enjoy a good BBQ. I can't picture myself sleeping in an air mattress at 8 + months pregnant.

Sarafar4 · May 2014

We went camping two weekends ago and I had a great time. We have foldable cots ($50 at Walmart) thick foam mattresses and then I brought an extra sleeping bag just to lie in top of. I will admit that on the way up, it started to pour, so I made my husband turn around even though we were over half way there. He was annoyed but it was the smart choice, my friends who roughed out the rain said they were miserable and they were drunk! We got up early the next morning and I drove up while DH slept. By the time everyone else crawled out of bed we already had the fire going and bacon grilling!

RyeRye444 · May 2014

We are going next weekend. I'm a bit nervous about the sleeping, but we have an air mattress, so I'm hopeful.

ShadowsRainFalls · May 2014

Going camping at 30 weeks. Sleeping in an RV on a gel foam mattress though, so I'm not too concerned.

+RBL+ · May 2014

My siblings always go camping (in tents) for 4th of July. My brother asked if I was going this year and I looked at him like he had 5 heads. No way!!! If he still had his RV, I would consider it, but no way am I sleeping on the ground, in the heat while that pregnant.

Russiandea12 · May 2014

We're going when I'm 32 weeks. While I'm sure others will be drinking, my fellow campers, other than my hubby, are not big drinkers, so I think it will be okay. Biggest issue will be sleeping, even though we have an inflatable mattress and the fact they want to go canoeing.

enigmasara · May 2014

I'm really regretting not having the forethought to bring a real air mattress. I haven't been having any real trouble sleeping during this pregnancy & haven't had much trouble sleeping while camping in the past, so I didn't even think about it.

@russiandea12 Canoeing sounds like fun! But I could also picture trying to get into the boat with my giant belly, not understanding my weight distribution, and tipping the boat with me in it! So, be careful with that part!

BlytheMac · May 2014

I'm considering going at 34 weeks... I love sitting down by the river and and relaxing. I'm dreading the sleeping the most. Worst case scenario, I drive home to sleep and pick DH up the next day.... If anyone else has pregnancy camping tips, please share!

meggyski · May 2014

We've been camping a few times this pregnancy and will go a few more times before the end of the trip. I love it and I've been really comfortable so far.

Our secret is an inflatable Coleman mattress like this one: https://www.coleman.com/product/single-high-quickbedreg-air-bed-twin/2000010284?contextCategory=10079#.U3D8QPldWzs

If it is at all chilly where you're going, put your therma-rests on top of the air mattress, they will add just a bit more insulation (the air in the Coleman can get cold). Also, bring actual bedding rather than sleeping bags- real pillows, a down comforter, sheets, etc.

We do this set up in the back of our pickup and I swear it's as comfortable (or more comfortable) than my mattress at home.

Also, summer camping means lounging by a lake or a river, right? That sounds heavenly to me- I plan on spending most of late July/ early August in a lake, period. If you are camping by a lake, bring a water floaty of some kind and you'll be loving life!

jgilesslp · May 2014

We are going soon...did it with my last 2 pregnancies...should have learned my lesson those times!

sarahg8r · May 2014

trawas01 said:

Camping for me is the holiday inn.

This is me. DH loves to camp and be outdoors in general. I like to say that I'm outdoorsy in that I like getting drunk on patios!

We usually do one or two "camping" trips a year with his kayak fishing club. But we bring an air mattress and there's a port-a-potty, a big crowd with good food (usually a seafood boil or pig roast one night) and lots of alcohol. I skipped DH's spring trip this year because there was no way I wanted to be navigating my way to the port-a-potty two times a night. And that was in March, when I was only 17 or 18 weeks along. I can't imagine going now!

You guys are amazing!

shaylagirl · May 2014

DH wants to go camping in the pop-up. I've told him I'm not going.

I love camping, and grew up camping (my family graduated from a tent, to a pop-up with no a/c to a 5th wheel, to a nicer 5th wheel). Camping is a staple in my life.

But I'm not interested in being away from my creature comforts of home when I'm pregnant. I need to pee all the time, and DH's pop-up doesn't have a toilet. He has one of those little toilets, and, I'm not using it when he and SS use it (their aim is BAD!). The A/C unit kinda-sorta keeps the pop-up cool in the summer (we went camping last 4th of July [rather, I did with my horses, he had to work for most of it]). There's no hot water in the pop-up. The beds are sucky. There's no fridge.

I told him he needs to take SS camping and leave my happy ass at home.

Honestly, I sleep better when he's not home lately. I can hog the bed to myself, leave the TV on all night, snuggle with my cat or my dog, and not check the damn toilet at night to see if it's up or down before I sit.

Okay, so I want him to go camping for purely selfish reasons.

abirdd9 · May 2014

I camp at least twice a month in the summer. I went that often when I was pregnant with Stella. I think out last trip was when I was 34 ish weeks and she was born July 7th. A couple secrets for my comfort is a double high queen sized air mattress, we don't use sleeping bags, we just bring sheets and blankets, and my battery operated fan in the tent.

We have our first trip planned for Memorial Day weekend and I'm stoked

Carolina Blue Skies · May 2014

I am planning to go camping in a month or so - we have an air mattress & I'll be bringing my big pillow. My only request - we have to get a site near the bathroom!

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