21 Pregnancy Date Ideas To Try

We know that pregnancy is a busy time: You’re attending appointments, educating yourself about the baby and buying all the necessary supplies. With your growing to-do list, going on a date with your partner may be the last thing on your mind — but it shouldn’t be.

In this post, we will explain why you need pregnancy dates and give you 21 amazing ideas to bond with your partner.

The Importance of Romance During Pregnancy

You may be growing a baby inside of you, but it’s still important to nurture the relationship you have with your partner. Since he will be alongside you raising your child, starting off with a strong foundation is an ideal scenario. Continuing to go on dates throughout your pregnancy will help maintain and even grow your relationship to the next level.

Not only are dates good for your relationship, but it could also help reduce your stress levels — which is important to keep your fetus healthy. Research has linked an expectant mother’s stress to obesity, dysregulated glycemic control, earlier births and lower birth weights. According to one study, 7 to 8% of depressed or anxious women had babies pre-term. Read more about how stress affects pregnancy here. Taking a few hours to do something special and enjoy your partner’s company can help take your mind off of your pregnancy worries and help to decrease your anxiety.

If you’re still not convinced that date nights are necessary during pregnancy, consider this: It’s the only time you’ll have truly alone with your partner for at least the next 18 years. Take advantage of this time and use it to build the last memories of your pre-pregnancy life.

Spending time together also means that your partner is bonding more with the baby while inside the womb. Don’t think bonding this early counts? Starting around 24 weeks, a baby can hear sounds and that means he or she can pick up on your partner’s voice.

Pregnancy Date Ideas

If you and your partner are used to dates that involve partying and alcohol, you will need to brainstorm a new list of ideas. Luckily, you don’t need to think too much. Here are some pregnancy-safe date ideas:

• Mini-golf: You may be avoiding sports because of your baby belly, but playing a fun game of mini-golf with your partner can help reduce stress and introduce some friendly competition.

• Tastings: If you loved attending wine or whiskey tastings, you can always recreate the experience with other foods. The options are endless: meats, cheeses, chocolates, ice creams, sodas and more. Head to the grocery store with your partner and pick out different flavors and brands of the same food. When you get home, prepare the samples and see if you can differentiate between the different types.

• Baseball game: If you’re a sport-loving couple, check out a baseball game! Since most of the games start at night, you will feel cooler and won’t need to sit in the summer heat.

• Arcade: Before you have a baby, be a kid yourself for one last time! Challenge your partner to some fun arcade games and try to win some prizes!

• Be a tourist: Sometimes when we are so used to our city, we forget to explore. Pretend to be a tourist for a day and rediscover the city’s best spots and visit the attractions you’ve never seen.

• Take a class: A good way to spice things up is by taking a new class together. There are so many options: yoga, dance, pottery, cooking, chocolate-making, jewelry making, etc. If you’re looking for ideas, you can check out local deal websites such as groupon.com.

• Couples massage: It’s likely that both you and your partner have some anxiety about having a baby and parenting. Getting a couple’s massage is a great way to put your mind at ease and relax together. Be sure to mention to the therapist that you’re pregnant so that you will receive a prenatal massage.

• Bowling: How long has it been since you’ve been bowling? Take your partner out for an afternoon game or wait until night for glow-in-the-dark/cosmic bowling.

• Comedy Show: Hitting up your local comedy club to see a stand-up comedian or hilarious skit is a great date idea that allows you to have a Saturday night out without having to drink alcohol.

Cheap or Free Pregnancy Date Ideas

Raising a child is expensive, so we understand if you’re trying to save up — but that’s no excuse not to have a date night. There are plenty of free and low-cost date ideas that will rekindle the magic between you and your partner.

• Hiking: Depending on how far along you are, some exercise may seem a bit too strenuous. A slow hike is a great way to get an easy workout in. Sit down with your partner and research the best trails in your area. Choose spots with the best views and lookout points.

• No technology: A night without technology not only helps you to bond with your partner, but it also helps to reduce stress. For one night, promise each other that you can’t use any form of technology. This includes phones, laptops, iPads and even the television. No matter what you choose to do with your time, a night without any distraction will help you to genuinely re-connect with your partner.

• Home video: Sit down with your partner and make a video to give to your baby when he or she grows up. Tell your child about how you and your partner met, about your pregnancy and how excited you are to meet them. If you wish, you can also make this an ongoing project and document each month of your pregnancy.

• Board game night: Have a stash of board games lying around? Pull them out and get competitive! You can stick to two player games, or you can invite another couple over for a game night. If you don’t already have games, thrift stores have many options for only a few dollars a piece (just make sure to check that all the pieces are included!). To make it more interesting, you and your partner can make a bet (ex. the winner out of 5 games gets a massage, etc.).

• Star-gazing: On a nice summer’s evening, head outside with your partner to spot some constellations. Bring some blankets and pillows and lay in the park, on the top of a hill, in your backyard or in the back of a pick-up truck. If you live in the city, consider driving to a less-populated area where you can see many stars as opposed to just a few.

• Camp in your backyard: It may not be a good idea to be alone in the wilderness during pregnancy, but it’s still safe to camp in your backyard! It’s the best of both worlds: A fun night outdoors while still being close to all amenities.

• Picnic: Pack some sandwiches, beverages and a blanket and hit the park for a picnic! For a romantic evening, you could even have a midnight picnic.

• Just dessert: If you’re craving a night on the town but want to keep expenses low, consider just going out for dessert. While a fancy 3-course dinner can be romantic, it’s certainly costly. A piece of cake paired with a latte — even at a nice restaurant — will give you the same experience at only a fraction of the cost.

• Small town adventure: Choose a small town an hour or two away from where you live. Have a day trip with your partner and explore! Walk through the streets, check out the shops and enjoy the nature.

• Bond with your baby: As we already mentioned, babies start to hear around 24 weeks. Relax with your partner and bond with your baby by playing soft music, talking, or reading stories.

• Cook together: Going out for dinner can be expensive, so why not cook up a delicious meal at home together? Find some new recipes online and ask which one your partner prefers. Then, put on some music and get cooking.

• Question games: One great way to bond and learn more about your partner is to simply ask each other questions. It may sound boring, but it really depends on what you ask. You can develop your own questions or borrow some from online. From date-night questions, sexy questions and deep questions, there are plenty of lists you can find online. Another good option is to go through “The 36 Questions That Lead to Love.” The idea is that with each question, you become more vulnerable and grow closer to your partner.

What do you and your partner do for date night? Comment your own ideas below! If you have any pregnant friends or family members, be sure to share this article with them, too!

P.S. Want to know the best date idea of all? Next date night, try out one of our fetal dopplers with your partner. These amazing at-home devices allow you to hear your baby’s heartbeat while he or she is in the womb!