Pamper myself? I sure did:My Babymoon diaries» Shilpa Reddy Shilpa Reddy

Romantic walks on the beach, long lazy hours in the pool, cozy afternoon naps and indulgent massages – that’s what great holidays are made of. Especially when you’re more than halfway through your pregnancy. Traveling during pregnancy is not something to be afraid of. Instead, it’s highly recommended that you just take off from the hustle-bustle of the city life to get some peace and quiet. Any parent will vouch for the fact that this time before the arrival of the baby is precious too. It’s a perfect opportunity for expecting moms to pamper themselves and for couples to strengthen their bond. So all I had to do was trust my husband to plan the best vacation! He booked a beautiful beach resort in Mauritius and before the start of my final trimester, we were on our way.

The location was so dreamy, almost like living in a picture postcard. We had a pool villa on a sprawling beach property. All the houses were so well spread out that it almost felt like we had the island to ourselves. Hotel rooms can feel pretty cramped up even when they are large, but this place had such an open and free feeling. The open-air yet very private outdoor showers were just an icing on the cake. The place was nothing shy of just perfect.

In terms of timing as well, the second trimester felt like the best time to travel. I was feeling a lot more upbeat about the changes in my body. I can’t deny though that this was also the time I was starting to get a bit edgy about the arrival of another member in our little family. My husband and I had such a beautiful marriage at the time we got pregnant. Our 7 years of traveling like crazy, being together almost felt like growing up with each other. I wasn’t willing to let it change unless it was only going to get better. One of the most important things I did was to ensure that my husband was fully involved in the pregnancy – right from the doctor’s appointments to planning the baby’s nursery. The communication between us was always very open. Men can be real darlings if we just openly share our expectations and fears. Also, having great positive influences around us makes such a difference. We took this trip along with a few married friends who had children a few years back. To see them making their marriages work beautifully was also a great reassurance.

This holiday was such a great way for me to even connect with myself and just feel good. As I reflect on that time, being pregnant felt more like a privilege than a responsibility. Everyone around me was going the extra mile to make me comfortable and even perfect strangers at that. I also enjoyed some of the second glances I got, presumably for my unique maternity wardrobe. I was soaking it all in and enjoying every minute. I’d like to believe that pregnant women have an aura around them, evoking love from all around. It was undeniably a great feeling being pampered by one and all.

Speaking of pampering, the best part of this holiday was definitely the spa menu. At that time, there were hardly any spas that catered to pregnant women in Hyderabad. I suppose for fear of triggering premature contractions if not done correctly. So obviously seeing the maternity spa menu at our resort really made me jump in joy. I remember trying out all their treatments and feeling so relaxed and rejuvenated. When I wasn’t at the spa or taking my afternoon naps, I was enjoying hearty conversations with my husband and friends or spending long hours in and by the pool.

I also very vividly remember the day we spent sailing away in a catamaran. We spent half the day passing through the beautiful landscape of mountains and endless skies. Soaking in the beauty around us really brings out such a strong connection with nature. Almost like a realisation that even though we are only a small spec in this gigantic setting, we are one with nature. In just half a day, the skies also showed their different moods by alternating between sun and rain. That image still lingers in my mind – the amalgamation of the beautiful colours of nature. It brought about a deep sense of calm.

Such a beautiful holiday it was, we didn’t want it to end at all. But we were so glad to have created such beautiful memories. It also helped that we had a stopover planned in Dubai to shop for the baby and of course for the soon to be Mommy. The variety of things available out there was just mind boggling. From organic creams and linen to fancy gadgets like baby monitors, automatic diaper dispensers, and the list went on and on. At that time there was hardly any variety in baby stuff available back at home so seeing all of this was quite thrilling.

It was time to head back home with bags full and more importantly hearts full of contentment. Traveling really stimulates your senses and heightens your perception of things around you. This, in turn, will stimulate your baby too. If you are pregnant, do plan that holiday to indulge in yourself and your baby. As they say, we travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us.