Romantic couples-only escapes called babymoons are becoming an important part of pregnancy but they often involve travel. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends expectant mothers restrict travel to the second trimester. That’s when pregnancy is the most comfortable for most women, but Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day of the year. Cupid did not schedule his day of love accordingly.

If Valentine’s Day falls at the wrong time for travel during your pregnancy or if the date just slipped up, there’s no reason for despair. Borrow ideas from the pros to create your own Valentine’s Day romance at home.

• Got Kids?: There’s no time like the present to send them off to grandma’s house for the night or to a sleep-over with friends, cousins, or a professional sitter. Make sure the kids are picked up or dropped off with plenty of time for relaxing preparations and plenty of alone time for personal pampering, before and during babymoon romancing.
• Make It a Hands-On Affair: Many babymoon packages sold at hotels and B&Bs feature special couples massages. Hire a local masseuse or masseur to provide this intimate luxury in the privacy of your own home.
• Dress for the Occasion: Special moments require special touches. Step into the moment in style. You’ll feel more in the mood and so will the love of your life.
• Caterer to the Rescue: Take-out and delivery dinners may work OK most of the year but, for Valentine’s Day, ask a local caterer to deliver a romantic dinner for two right to your door. Order something special. Don’t bother with the dishes. Most caterers will come back the next day to retrieve the dirties.
• Romance the Ambience: Turn off the phones. Unplug the TV. Forget the clock. Leave everyday worries for another day. Turn on the soft, sexy music you listened to when falling in love. Dim the lights, light the candles. Share intimate conversations about fun and carefree things. Draw hearts on mirrors in red lipstick. Leave lipstick kisses on them, too. Share a bubble bath. Hold hands. Dance slow. Touch. Cuddle. Smooch. A lot.
• Gifts of Love: Forget about furnishing the nursery for this one night. Share gifts adults enjoy. Jewelry. Lingerie. Flowers. Candy. Anything that says “I love you” in a personal and private way is perfectly divine.
• Beguile the Bedroom: Many women love clean fragrant linens and big fluffy pillows. Turn down the covers early to set the stage. Sprinkle rose petals along the pillows. Hide love notes under them. Add a small, exquisite box of chocolates. Candlelight. Soft music. Make bedtime an indulgent part of the evening. Sleep late.

You can create all this intimacy and passion at home, without ringing up a big hotel bill. What’s not to love about that?

Source: Larmoyeux, Mary May. “25 Valentine’s Day Ideas for Couples.” FamilyLife. FamilyLife. n.d. Web. Feb 7, 2014.