Is it advisable to do the Camino de Santiago while pregnant?
Some women plan to do the Camino de Santiago when they receive the news that they are expecting a child. Quickly, they are overtaken by doubts about whether doing the Camino de Santiago is advisable if pregnant.
We assume that if you have arrived at this article it is because it is your case. So, first of all, we would like to congratulate you.
The answer to the question is that, in principle, yes. Being pregnant doesn’t mean being sick. However, the ideal thing in that state is that you consult your gynaecologist about whether or not to do the Camino de Santiago.
If you are at risk in your pregnancy, you should not try to cope with the physical effort involved in making a pilgrimage. But if all goes well, walking is even recommended for pregnant women.
Tips for doing the Camino de Santiago while pregnant
As we mentioned above, the main advice we can give you when doing the Camino de Santiago while being pregnant is that you consult your gynaecologist. He or she will be the best person who can advise you on whether the experience can pose a risk and what recommendations to follow, depending on your physical conditions and the type of pregnancy.
However, here are some tips we can give from Santiago Ways, as experts on pilgrimage routes. Bear in mind that the Camino de Santiago is a very adaptable route and that if you are pregnant and decide to make a pilgrimage, you can design the route according to your needs.
Before proceeding, if you already have decided to make a pilgrimage to Compostela, with your doctor’s permission, we recommend doing the Camino de Santiago from Sarria. If you want help with planning your trip, leave your details and we will contact you to organize this adventure perfectly.
Coordinate medical checks and pilgrimage
If you plan to do any of the routes of the Camino de Santiago that require a lot of pilgrimage time, you should make sure that it is not your moment to have medical checks for as long as you are away. If so, you can always go home, go to the appointment with your gynaecologist, and then continue with your pilgrimage, if everything evolves favourably.
Training before pilgrimage
If you are one who is better accustomed to physical exercise and who is pregnant, doing the Camino de Santiago should not pose a greater risk, since you can adapt the route to the physical effort to which your body is used to.
If this is not the case, we recommend that you train previously so that your body becomes accustomed to physical activity. You can consult our exercise routine and training in this article about how to prepare for the Camino de Santiago and then confirm it with your gynaecologist.
Plan short stages on the Camino de Santiago if you are pregnant
It is common for women to feel more tired during pregnancy. Much of your body’s energy is destined to create a new life.
Therefore, if you are going to do the Camino de Santiago pregnant, we advise you to plan shorter stages than usual. This way, it won’t require as much physical effort and you can make more stops to rest and relax during the afternoon.
Avoid choosing a very demanding route
Not all of the Camino de Santiago routes are equally difficult. The routes that run through the north of Spain are some of the most demanding because they face many slopes.
If you are pregnant, we do not recommend doing any of the most demanding routes. Not only because they have quite a few ascents and descents that will require more effort, but also because the stages on those routes are much longer and in between, you will find many fewer services. If you need more information, see the Camino Primitivo guide we’ve developed.
On the contrary, routes such as the Camino Frances or the two routes on the Camino Portugues are ideal to do when pregnant. Both allow you to design stages according to your possibilities and have numerous services and good infrastructure.
If you’re many months pregnant, you’ll feel heavier and feel more unstable. In that case, we recommend the Camino de Santiago that runs along the Portuguese coast, since the route is very simple and has numerous sections that run along boardwalks, on which it is very comfortable and safe to walk.
Avoid the hottest season
Avoid doing the Camino de Santiago in summer, especially if you are many months pregnant. Weight gain and heat can make your experience a little overwhelming.
Spring is an excellent time to do the Camino de Santiago if you are pregnant. It’s not very hot, but it’s not cold either. An ideal temperature for nature walks.
However, if you cannot decide at what time to do the Camino de Santiago because your holidays are marked by your work, you can consult the post that we dedicate to the climate on the Camino de Santiago to know the temperatures you will find on each of the pilgrim routes, depending on the month you have planned pilgrimage.
Avoid going alone
Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t do the Camino de Santiago alone. But our recommendation is that you go with someone, that in the case of fatigue or extreme tiredness can give you some support.
Hire a backpack transport service
As we mentioned in this blog post, there is a transport service so you can do the Camino de Santiago without a backpack, and travel the pilgrim route without carrying any weight. So as you’re in a state of good hope, avoid any more risk by carrying extra weight during your pilgrimage.
Count on the support of a baggage transport service that allows you to complete the stages comfortably. Read this article that we dedicate to the backpack transport service on the Camino de Santiago to learn more about how it works.
Put yourself in the hands of professionals
If you are pregnant, you can do the Camino de Santiago on your own, but if you want to live the experience enjoying certain comforts that ensure that your pilgrimage is safe and pleasant, we recommend that you put yourself in the hands of professionals, like us.
In Santiago Ways we can advise you on how to plan the Camino de Santiago based on your physical condition and whether you are pregnant, designing personalized stages. We also take care of managing and booking your accommodation, so that you can rest comfortably, and transfer your backpack between stages.
We will also provide you with a contact phone number, so you can ask us any questions during the tour, a support car, which will assist you if any type of emergency arises, and insurance in case of an accident.
If you want to know more about how easy and comfortable it is to go on the Camino de Santiago with the support of a specialized agency, contact us through our website, leave us a comment at the end of this article or write to us at our official Facebook page, our team will explain our services and solve all your doubts.
Reasons to do the Camino de Santiago while pregnant
Once said and understood that it is essential to consult the gynaecologist before doing the Camino de Santiago while pregnant and having given you some recommendations on how to organize your pilgrimage, we want to give you some reasons to do the Camino de Santiago pregnant.
Prepare for the new stage in your life
If you’re pregnant it means your life will change shortly, especially if it’s your first child. The Camino de Santiago is an ideal place to meditate and to prepare for the change that is coming.
You’ll find names
On the Camino de Santiago you will have the opportunity to meet many other pilgrims. If you still don’t know what name to give your future son or daughter, the Camino de Santiago is ideal for finding inspiration.
You’ll have a story to tell your child
Pregnancy is a time that is never forgotten. But if in addition to that important and vital moment that you are living, you decide to do the Camino de Santiago you will have a multitude of details and anecdotes to explain to your son or daughter about when you were pregnant.
Doing the Camino de Santiago with your child will be your next plan
If you decide to do the Camino de Santiago while pregnant, you will definitely want to repeat that experience when your child has been born. You may be encouraged to do so when they’re still a baby or wait to have a real teenager at home, but whatever way it is, the experience will be wonderful.
With the above, we say goodbye, for the time being. We hope that everything we have explained in this article will help you decide whether to do the Camino de Santiago pregnant or not. Remember that the decision is yours alone and that no one knows your body better than you do.
Buen Camino!
