10 Pregnancy-Safe Family Activities to Do with Your Intended Parents
Well, hello there my surrogate ladies! While we have many guides for pregnant surrogates, this one in particular focuses on your full-term last weeks. As you approach the end of your journey, you will most likely be spending some quality time with your intended parents.
It is typical for the intended parents to travel to the city where the surrogates lives to prepare for labor and delivery. Intended parents are typically advised by the surrogacy agency to come no later than 2 weeks before the due date, which is around 38 weeks pregnant. This gives the surrogate and intended parents a couple weeks to hang out and get to know each other better. Typically the surrogate does some light city guide hosting, showing the intended parents around her city. But of course she will be very pregnant and not able to major excursions.
This guide is filled with pregnancy-safe bonding activities that a surrogate can do with her intended parents during those last few weeks of the journey. All surrogates are already mothers, many of them with young children, so all the ideas listed are family-friendly and give your kids plenty of opportunity to run around, be creative, and overall entertained.
10 Fun Things to Do When You’re Nearly Due!
Take a Walk in Nature
Walking is a great way to stay active during pregnancy, and taking a stroll in nature can be a calming and relaxing experience for the whole family. Show your Intended Parents some cool local parks that have unique natural features and plant life.
Leisurely strolling along paved trails is a great way to get outside and enjoy the fresh air while spending time with your loved ones. And who knows, all this bouncing around will help speed up that labor process. One can only hope!
Go Shopping for Baby
Your intended parents may be brand new parents, or they could possibly be on a sibling journey with a second baby. Either way, they are likely to be needing some baby supplies for the soon to be born newborn. All surrogates are experienced mothers, and you surely have some valuable parenting advice to give. You also most likely have some favorite baby products and brands to show them. Take your intended parents to your local baby supply store to stock up on diapers, bottles, formula and all the other provisions needed for caring for a newborn baby. Since your intended parents are traveling with the baby, they may also need very portable gear like lightweight strollers with a built-in carseat.
Play Some Board Games
While physical activity may be limited, board games provide a fun and engaging way to bond with your intended parents. The laughter, conversation, and friendly competition all create a warm and inviting atmosphere that helps you forget about the discomfort and challenges of pregnancy.
And as you sit around the table with your kids and intended parents, you can’t help but feel grateful for these moments that you’ll treasure forever. Surrogacy truly does create friendships and bonds that last a lifetime.
Let’s Get Crafty!
Crafting with kids can be a blast, and it can be even more fun with visiting guests. Many of the intended parents I know have very impressive artistic talents, and they can make a beautiful gift for your children. Likewise, you can make a gift to send home with them and the baby.
Not to mention that crafting is a great way to keep the kids entertained and occupied while you take a break from running around after them. So grab some construction paper, paint, and glue, and let your imagination run wild!
Organize a Family Picnic
Ah, the joys of picnicking while waiting for baby to arrive! The fresh air, the sunshine, the delicious snacks – what’s not to love? Spread out your blanket on the grassy patch and get comfy with some portable seat cushions.
When finding your ideal picnic spot, look for a park with an active duck pond for the kids. Or if you live on the coast, you can make it a sandy beach picnic. The kids can splash in the low tide waves and collect sea shells. And don’t forget to pack your camera! Take plenty of photos that the parents can share with the baby when they grow up.
Go Swimming on a Hot Day
If you’re pregnant during the summer season, you can get hot and overheated very quickly. If your community has a local pool or waterhole, you can spend an afternoon cooling down in the water. A pool day is also a great way to entertain the kids and get their energy out.
As you shuffle your way into the pool with your little ones, you can feel the weight of your belly magically lift as you float in the water. Swimming is known for helping pregnant alleviate a lot of aches and pains. Your buoyancy in the water will make you feel weightless, which is especially nice when we tend to feel so heavy in the third trimester. Most OBGYNs will say that swimming is safe up until the end of pregnancy, as long there’s no slippery conditions and your water has not broken.
When packing your pool bag, don’t forget to bring bottled water, sunscreen and snacks. Swimming makes you hungry!
Visit a Museum or Art Gallery
Going to a museum or art gallery while pregnant can be a great way to bond over culture with your intended parents and explore without having to leave your city.
As you stroll through the exhibits and enjoy the beautiful art and artifacts on display, your group members can take turns pointing out their favorite pieces. As recommended by OBGYN doctors, you can safely work on naturally inducing labor by walking around the buildings and gardens.
And if you need a break, there’s usually a cozy bench or comfy chair where you can rest and admire the stunning surroundings. So whether you’re a history buff or an art enthusiast, visiting a museum or gallery while pregnant is a great way to spend time with your intended parents.
Cook a Meal Together
Cook your specialty meal with your kids and intended parents to spend time together while enjoying a delicious meal. It’s also an excellent opportunity to teach your children about healthy eating habits and cooking skills. You can choose a recipe that’s easy and fun to make together, such as homemade pizza or tacos. Or you can have your intended parents teach you how to cook their favorite meals. If you have international intended parents, they can whip up a popular dish from their home country.
Have a Movie Night
With a big bowl of buttery popcorn on your lap and a cozy blanket to snuggle under, get ready for some cinema magic. We all know as parents that the little ones control the remote and always seem to have their own opinions about which movie to watch. Do we go for a classic Disney flick or something more action-packed? Either way, you’ll be happy to be relaxing and off your feet. So dim the lights, press play, and prepare for a night of laughs, tears, and everything in between!
Visit a Local Pumpkin Patch
If your due date is in the month of October, you’ll be lucky enough to partake in some fall traditions with your intended parents. By far a favorite autumn pastime is heading to the farm and finding that perfect pumpkin in the patch. As you waddle your way through the pumpkin patch and haystacks, you’ll see plenty of big pumpkins as big as your belly. Talk about cute photo opportunities! And when you’re feeling tired, you can take a break and relax on a hay bale while the kids go on a pony ride or play the farm games.
After you bring your pumpkins home, you can enjoy a restful afternoon of pumpkin painting and carving. And finally, I can’t mention the fall season without talking about the favorite fall treats such as apple cider, caramel apples, cider donuts and pumpkin spice everything. You can’t deprive a pregnant woman of all that deliciousness!
Holiday Activities with Your Intended Parents
If your due date lands at the end of the year, you’ll be lucky enough to enjoy holiday fun with your intended parents. If they’re visiting during November, you can host a Friendsgiving with your intended parents and friends. Or if you feel close enough to have them mingle with your close and extended family, invite them to your traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
During the month of December you can plan crafty activities like decorating gingerbread houses, making a hot chocolate bar, cutting out snowflakes and decorating cookies. In the evenings you can have hot chocolate and go out to see Christmas lights and hear holiday music.
Wrapping Up!
In conclusion, being pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t have an enjoyable couple weeks with your intended parents in town. There are plenty of safe and enjoyable family activities that you can do while expecting. So get out there, have fun, and make lasting memories with your intended parents. Remember to take breaks, stay hydrated, and keep your sense of humor intact.
Note: Always check with your healthcare provider before engaging in any physical activity during pregnancy to ensure it is safe for you and the baby.
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