Rex Features
Dumped when pregnant and facing motherhood alone, follow mum to be Farah Ishaq's bumpy journey to motherhood...
I finally had a one of those doctor's appointments that you think are only found in dreams last week.
The midwife said that my low mood and general pregnancy anxiety - fuelled in part by future fears about the hardship of solo parenting - would be greatly improved by getting away from London for a bit.
Getting away for a bit, leaving the mooching surrounds of my house and bed? Yes please! Doctor's orders? Even better.
I've been pretty lucky so far, bump and I have already been to Germany and Spain - two easy short journeys, flights in the region of 2 hours a piece - however my distant dream is to get to New York, one of my favourite places in the world, for one last adventure while I'm still responsible for just me. I don't imagine, based on previous visits, that the Big Apple is the most baby-forgiving city on earth.
Unfortunately lack of funds has meant a bit of research and I think I've hit upon the PERFECT getaway. A compromise of sorts.
For less than the price of a New York flight, my heart is now set on flying halfway to the States, on spending a few days in the geothermal wonder of the world that is the Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik, Iceland. Consisting of 2/3 saltwater and 1/3 freshwater, the naturally heated seawater comes from springs 6000 feet underground, and is renowned for its healing and restorative powers.
In addition to their usual mud wraps and purifying treatments, for around £60 (11,000 Kronor) the clinic also offer a special in-water "relaxing and nourishing" pregnancy massage too. Promising to "relieve some of the normal discomforts during pregnancy, such as fatigue, backaches, and swollen feet," it sounds idyllic to me.
Unable to yet remove the music journalist part of my brain, Reykjavik also hosts the Airwaves festival of new music - so I am hatching a plan. Autonomous pampering and exploring by day, same old (pre-pregnancy) me by night.
It's the symbolism of travelling alone or with friends before the arrival of the little person more than thinking I won't travel after. I was carted to France at just a few months old and I plan the same for my child. I value travelling a great deal and want my child to see as much, if not more of the world than I've already been lucky enough to see and experience. However, I don't relish the idea of airports and the extra baggage (carry cot, pram, sterilised bottles, baby!) as a single parent...I want to enjoy every last second of carrying hand-luggage only.
I wonder where I else I can go before I get too big to sit comfortably in cheap aeroplane seats?
Have you been anywhere inspiring whilst pregnant?
How old was your baby before you took them travelling with you? What was the experience like?