We discovered that this July a place in our area will be offering a young paleontologist day camp for my son's age group. My husband can't take him, because it's during the day. Here's the description: "Participants take fossil collecting field trips to a local quarry, and an adult must participate with the child throughout the program."
I will be almost 7 months pregnant at the time. Does this sound like a bad idea? I *really* want him to go, but it's gonna be awfully hot and will involve being on my feet/outside in the weather for about 6 hours 3 days in a row. I've never been pregnant before during the summer, so I'm not sure how much it will bother me. Any ideas?
space opera
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Sounds like a rough time at that stage (not knowing from experience, of course ) and fossils aren't known to congregate in the most conveniently accessible places, so a bit of climbing might be involved.
Could you get a trusted adult friend to take him?
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
I went on a vacation with a girlfriend to the Outer Banks when I was 7 months pregnant. It was awesome. Just make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks. Maybe pick up one of those portable camping chairs and sit down when you can. Also, dress for the weather, wear sunglasses and sunscreen. You'll probably be hot, but if this event is really important to you, go for it!
You'll find that people will be quite kind and accomodating for a pregnant woman. It's only for 3 days. You strike me as the adventurous type, Space Opera, so have a good time!
On my vacation, we went to gardens, hiked the dunes, did the lighthouse trip (smelling the diesel fuel on the ferries did make me feel ill), and went deep-sea fishing. I didn't go hang-gliding, but that was really the only thing my big belly prevented me from doing.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Are you fairly active generally? If so, I don't foresee a problem.
If it were me, I'd call them and find out exactly what is likely to be entailed, and then consult with my OB.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
A good hat with everything else suggested.
Of course, how mobile are you now? And would you be comfortable slogging through the trails carrying water, some snacks and a small bowling ball?
-Trevor
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
If it's something you would be able to handle with ease when you're not pregnant, then you can probably do it if you have lots of water, nutritious snacks, and take frequent rest breaks. I would, however, inquire ahead if there will be places you can rest in the shade. If it's going to be out in the sun with no place to take a rest, then you might re-consider. You really don't want to get overheated, and it's much easier to get overheated when you're pregnant and carrying all that extra weight and have so much more blood volume.
If it's something that would have taxed you pre-pregnant, don't even try it.
My $.02
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
As long as you can leave if there's an emergency, and are healthy otherwise, I don't see a problem; after all, women who live in the desert have had to walk, work, and do their normal duties to feed their families while pregnant for thousands of years. Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Walk, walk, walk before hand, up and down hills if you can. That should help prevent painful leg cramps.
Posted by Miriya (Member # 7822) on :
quote:If it's something you would be able to handle with ease when you're not pregnant, then you can probably do it if you have lots of water, nutritious snacks, and take frequent rest breaks. I would, however, inquire ahead if there will be places you can rest in the shade.
I agree with Belle. I will add the practical consideration that would be important to me at 7 months along: will there be a practical place for you to go to the washroom? If you need to supervise your son constantly and have to take him along for a long walk back to the washrooms everytime you need that could be really annoying!
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Depends on you, really.
I did many such things while I was pregnant -- all the way up to delivery. I was even known to have climbed trees with chain saw in hand and cut limbs while 7 months pregnant.
But everbody is different. You are pretty tiny and have a small frame -- I don't know if you consider yourself to be in physically fit condition or not.
Can you go on some shorter outings beforehand on your own and see how you feel?
Farmgirl
Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
Ok, so we finally reached the guy running the program. He said that really the parents are there for safety reasons and that if all I want to do is sit in a chair the entire time then it's fine with him. I doubt I'll sit the entire time, but it makes me feel better to know I'll get breaks when I need them. Boy Opera is all registered now...yay! It's going to be so cool. Now I'll just hope for decent temperatures.
space opera
Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
When I'm 7 months pregnant, whatever is going on around me can do very little to make me less comfortable.
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
Hydration would definately be the biggest concern. Dehydration can actually cause preterm labor.
I found out the hard way with my first, but they were able to stop things simply by hooking me up to an IV and pumping fluids into me. I didn't realize I'd been dehydrated, but I sucked down three bags of fluids. It can sneak up on you, especially when you are sweating a lot.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Amka's right, both times when I went into pre-term labor with the twins, the labor stopped once they got an IV on me and got me hydrated.
Being so big, I was so uncomfortable all the time that I just didn't eat or drink much, and when I got dehydrated, labor would try to start.
So definitely drink a lot. It's good that there will be a place for you to sit down. I second (or third, or fourth) the suggestion for a good sun-hat. Try to have fun!
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Glad to hear you got him signed up!
I think you will find these trips to be lots of fun too! My oldest did these types of trips when in 4-H geology -- we collected fossils from all over the state, going in whole groups to areas to fossil hunt. It was really lots of fun except for the days that were over 100 degrees.
They are still some of our fondest memories of family time together.
Farmgirl
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I've done the fossil collecting thing in the North West Territories. We had to hike down a hill, paddle a few miles across a lake, hike a couple of miles across muskeg (and that takes talent, coordination, and know-how, let me tell ya!), and hiked another mile or three up a dry creek bed.
Did I mention I'm really really out of shape? I don't even have pregnancy as an excuse.
It wasn't a big deal in terms of physical fitness, but then I also don't know what pregnancy is like, so I can't comment on that specifically.
It was a load of fun. Follow the sound advice you got from everyone else, go, and have a blast!
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
) and fossils aren't known to congregate in the most conveniently accessible places, so a bit of climbing might be involved.![[Smile]](smile.gif)