[thomen]

Hi All,
my beautiful wife is due on May 21st our wedding anniversary is the 23rd and her birthday is in the beginning of June. I'd love to arrange a special getaway to show her how proud I am of her once the baby comes and just as a birthday present surprise!

Just wondering if anyone had good suggestions for somewhere a few hours outside of sydney to go with the newborn? is flying out of the question? I really just want to give her an amazing holiday. Budget can be anything really i.e. all around australia.

Thanks for the help!
Tom

[Steggles]

Honestly I wouldn't book anything that early. She will still be recovering and bleeding and learning to feed. Also first babies are often late!

[Lishyfips]

Taking tiny babies on holiday is absolutely exhausting, I would not recommend it to my worst enemy. Show your wife you love her by taking her out for a flash dinner close to home! Or mind the baby so she can go out by herself. Or both! Or maybe book a holiday for when the baby is older, tell her on her birthday - give your wife something to look forward to.
(I took a one month old on holiday, I was too tired to enjoy it and the baby could sense the different environment and hardly slept at all. Knackering for everyone. Holidays are much easier when babies are a bit older.)

[The 7 Dwarfs]

I have taken 2 newborns overseas, one at 3 weeks, one at 5 weeks. I wouldn't do it any earlier than that though for a few reasons. Could have a C-section and you'd want to make sure the wound has healed and there are no complications. Even the healthiest baby inside can have unforseen problems during and soon after birth which could lead to a SCN admission such as aspiration pneumonia, jaundice etc etc. You'd also need to get the birth certificate and passport sorted, which can be done, but probably not in less than 2 weeks.

First time we went to Bali, was great, could book a nice resort, had someone to cook, clean, do our washing, room service etc etc and it was all very affordable.

Second time we went to the Philippines, which was pretty much the same as above.

If we ever have another child, I'd seriously look at doing the same again too. It's a great break and very refreshing to have a week or two break to do nothing but relax at such a very busy time of your life.


As for when to book. I'd take the EDD, add 10 days, then 4 weeks and I think then you'd be pretty safe. Or just wait until after the birth and book.

This post has been edited by The 7 Dwarfs: 31/01/2013, 09:14 AM

[MrsLexiK]

Hi Thomen, I am due 2nd May if my DH planned somewhere for us to go on a holiday in the middle of may to celebrate mothers day or something I think I would thump him. I'd probably look at giving her a holiday before the baby comes, say within the next few weeks or even taking advantage of the easter public holidays (though this will add $$ to the trip)

[Harmonica]

We went away with our kids when they were about 8 weeks old - I really enjoyed doing it at this time when we had done the initial settling in period and then to have a week of with my husband and family just relaxing on holidays.

Loved it so much with my first child, we did the same thing when number 2 came along.

[Tobias'smum]

i think maybe arrange something for before the baby to help her relax or wait for a while after like pp you will still be getting the hang of things.

I know i really enjoyed even going to get pampered at hair dresser getting my nails done - my MIL came with me so if i need to feed i could then i handed her my son while i got pampered.

[Therese]

Could you maybe do something a little early, just the two of you ? A few weeks after the birth she may be fine to travel or it may be her worst nightmare.

[Matthias' mum]

I really wouldn't have wanted to go anywhere that early. Plus I had c sections, so was still recovering from that. Add in trying to get breastfeeding sorted, bleeding and babies that don't know night from day, and I just wanted to be in my own space while I tried to get my head around it all.

It's a lovely gesture though. I went on a really nice trip to the mountains at about 35 weeks pregnant with DS. It was at a lovely luxury resort, but still close enough to sydney if need be. Maybe you could consider a pre baby trip away? Somewhere with room service so she doesn't have to do anything.

Otherwise, DH bought me a 6 month massage voucher after having baby number 2 (one massage a month for 6 months). Now THAT was a gift that I have truly appreciated!

[Zephie Chugger]

If money is not issue I would book a holiday for a belated gift to say you remembered the dates.(maybe for around 12 weeks) At the same time hire a chef and someone to come for a hour or two for a few weeks to help with the house and take time off to be just "family"