Info about Camping
How Safe is Camping during Second Trimester
Your growing belly shouldn't get in the way of your enjoying a great camping trip with your family and friends this trimester. And you probably have the appetite and extra energy to really get a kick out of all the fun around camp and the surrounding wilderness.
If you are longing to get away from it all for weekend and need to get a lit¬tle wilderness back in your life, go camping. You'll notice that your sleeping pad isn't as kind to your back as your bed, crouching over a toilet isn't as easy when you're front-heavy and the cold showers (or no showers) may even make your fetus kick, but you'll feel revitalized and refreshed anyway. Throw in some of your favorite outdoor activities while you're out there or just stretch out on your sleeping pad and watch the clouds. Camping is a great way to get back in touch with yourself—and with the remarkable natural process your body is going through.
To protect your back and to stick closer to help, stay away from challeng¬ing overnight backpacking trips where you have to carry all your gear and water in to a remote camp. And never camp alone. Instead, indulge in some safe car or tent camping. A camper or a good tent offers reassuring protection from the elements, especially if the weather turns.
When packing for a camping trip this trimester, don't hesitate to bring a few extras: snacks, a comfortable, thick sleeping pad, and cozy clothes for cool evenings. Don't forget sunscreen, pregnancy-safe mosquito repellent, and sup¬portive shoes. Get some help carrying the gear, though, since lugging large cool¬ers and heavy tents yourself can injure your back.
If you've been pretty active this trimester, camping opens up a world of possible activities, from kayaking to making s'mores to exploring new trails. If you haven't managed to get out of the house much yet, camping may help revi¬talize your love of the outdoors and help you get in better shape for your third trimester and delivery.
In my fourth month, I gamely planned a camping trip to Yellowstone and Glacier national parks with my husband. Our meandering road trip would culminate in four days in the wilderness—well, in a campground with run¬ning water and toilets, in the wilderness.
While packing my gear as I had done a hundred times before, I was suddenly overcome by strange thoughts. Would I be comfortable enough on my Thermarest? Would I be able to get out of the tent fast enough to pee in the middle of the night? Could campfire smoke harm the baby? What about grizzlies?!
I began to recognize an unusual and startling emotion: fear. Never before had I been anxious when going camping. The idea of seeing bears in the wilderness normally excited me—instead of filling me with trepi¬dation. I wondered, was this my protective maternal instinct or just crazy hormones?
But my husband's enthusiasm was contagious and this was our vacation, after all. Binoculars in hand, I was ready to see some wildlife— from a safe distance. Our car was stuffed, since we brought along some things we wouldn't normally have worried about, like a water filter, extra pillows, extra sleeping pads, and slip-on shoes for nighttime emergencies. And our focus was a little different than usual: we didn't do a monster hike, instead, we took a creekside trail near camp and spent hours bird-watching. The scenery was spectacular and the campfire dinner as cozy and satisfying as always. It was exactly the break we both needed.
The trip turned out fine—no bears attacked and I became a pro at the midnight quick exit from the tent (even in the rain). And in the spirit of compromise and comfort, we spent one night in a hotel.