Bump-friendly trips

An expectant mother is the right ‘victim’ very often to be hailstormed head-to-toe with dos and don’ts. This being the grace phase in a woman's life, all avuncular affection let loose as pieces of advice — on everything from the tiny morsel of meal to be on her platter to re-engineering her thoughts and actions. Why pull all the blame on people? Even Internet guides prove no bad at suggesting pre-natal care — necessary and unnecessary.

An eons-old theory, still existing, points at holding back the mommies-to-be from travel. But a young crop of parents-to-be are rewriting the codes, in a slow-paced manner though, giving babymoon, a western travel trend, a red-carpet welcome.
It’s a period when both the husband and wife take out a trip and set aside quality time to relax before the arrival of the baby.

Coupled with a visit to her husband Girish Kumar’s place in Kollam, Jyotsna Ramachandran took a daring train journey in her second trimester from Chennai to Kovalam that too with her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Advika in December last year. The three-member team had a whale of a time at the seaside splendor for three days.

“In my first pregnancy itself wanted to go for a babymoon trip, but everyone kept on scaring us until the plan got dropped. Then for another two years we hardly journeyed anywhere. In Kovalam, we got a wonderful accommodation in one of the best resorts in the South and the weather was really nice. My gynaecologist okayed my plan and allowed me to go on a trip but not indulge in anything 'too adventurous'. We enjoyed a speedboat trip at the sea. On our visit to husband's home, again we got a nice stay in a resort there,” says Jyotsna, founder of Happy Self Publishing, an online publishing venture.

From her experience, Jyotsna feels babymoon a fascinating episode and suggests avoiding travel in the first trimester to stay away from the complications of morning sickness and initial challenges. The last leg too is unfair because of tiredness and weight gain.

Six-and-a-half-years ago, actor/RJ Mithun Ramesh and blogger wife Lakshmi Menon had a comfy stay in the super-luxe seven-star Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. They were celebrating a wonderful first-wedding-anniversary cum a feel-good-time together just two months ahead of little Tanvi’s birth. Settled in Dubai, a 30-kilometre drive to the nearest heavenly place and a stay was their choice. “It was fabulous, real luxury. We got a private butler, personal waiters and breakfast served in the room with all luxury in place — Jacuzzi, remote controlled doors and windows, Hermes kit and pillow menu. They gave us a bottle of champagne, which obviously she couldn't drink,” says Mithun.

The fear-factor is not at all scary it seems. Given a chance, couples are ready to go many ‘extra miles’ and catch some precious memorable moments for a lifetime from the bestest of the days. Event manager-cum-techie Sooraj Sukumar and wife Gopika V.B. are looking forward for the auspicious day approaching.

“Why not? My wife is in the initial days of the second trimester. But nobody in my knowledge have dared to travel with their expecting wives. In our case, I have a promised honeymoon trip pending. Only thing left to be considered is the doctor's approval. Anyway we are not going abroad. The wish list has Manali, Mysore, Bengaluru, Ootty, Kodaikanal and Dhanushkodi. Most likely we would fix a date in early April,” says Sooraj.The growing trend has rightly been sensed by the tourism industry in Kerala. It indicates a prosperous time ahead for the resort/backwater tourism sectors. Special packages for babymoon clients are on offer, taking into account the physical well-being of the pregnant woman. Vivanta by Taj- Green Cove, Kovalam has chalked out an enriched package for babymooning couple. According to Mathew C. Thomas, general manager, “Consulting with the couples, our chefs prepare dishes to suit their diet. Arrangements are in place to consult doctor and access a doctor-on-call. They can also take the service of our Ayurveda physician. The reception will keep in touch with the couple, so as to assure they get all services required,” he explains.