Info about Camping
Camping Equipment Considerations for Pregnancy
All of us have camping rituals that make us really savor the camping experi¬ence and treasure it like no other occasion. Everyone has their own definition of essential gear for their camping trip. It may include a set of spices for sea¬soning the camp food, a guitar, an old multipurpose bandanna, woolly moc¬casins, or a portable espresso maker. During pregnancy, you'll discover a few more essentials, like a good flashlight and convenient flip-flops.
Drinking water is at the top of the list. You'll need to bring a specialized water filter or a pot for boiling water to make it potable, just in case no safe water can be found. Identifying safe water in the woods can be tricky, but I use this rule of thumb: if the park service has labeled a fountain "potable water," you can drink it. If not, you need to assume it is not safe. This doesn't mean that brushing your teeth with stream water will harm your baby, but it could make you sick to your stomach and pretty dehydrated as a result of vomiting and diarrhea.
If you happen to be looking for new gear, you'll be lucky enough to be able to take your pregnancy into consideration when choosing equipment. Make sure you get in there and test everything. I mean it: crawl in the bag and the tent and move around to see how they feel. Will that mummy bag be roomy enough for a big belly? Does the tent have enough space for you to comfortably change clothes? Does your backpack distribute the load on your hips so that your back is protected? Will these hiking shoes be easy to put on and take off when you can't bend over so easily? Keep in mind that you're also buying gear to last many years and it should meet your long term needs as well.
You don't need fancy gear to have a good time. Just make sure you pack warm layers and are prepared for unexpected weather changes. Don't get caught in a freak summer hailstorm without raingear (although in that event you might decide to bundle up and enjoy a game of cards in the tent).