RELATED LINKS Babymooning: Tips for Pregnant Travelers Travel Tips and Videos: Fine Living's Complete Package

By Tracy Dingmann

Steve Hong and Jennifer Grossman were having a hectic first pregnancy. The Bay Area couple had just finished moving from one house to another one nearby, and both were exhausted. And 19 weeks into her pregnancy, Jennifer was working full time and still suffering from morning sickness. They needed to get away.

So they went on a week-long babymoon to Alaska, where they ate like gods and slept like teenagers.

"Cruises aren't our favorite thing in the world, but it was very relaxing and beautiful," said Grossman, whose baby is due in November. "We'd been freaked out the whole time, worrying about the pregnancy. This trip gave us the chance to start looking forward to actually being parents."

Never heard of a babymoon? Think honeymoon, but with a baby on the way. Sort of a last hurrah before the little one comes and pulls the pin on your normally tranquil, grown-up life.

Tabloid journalists invented the romantic-sounding term when Brad Pitt and a very pregnant Angelina Jolie fled America for an extended trip to Africa last spring, said Paul Eisenberg, editorial director for Fodor's Travel.

But whatever it's called, regular folks have always taken little getaways before the baby came, said Eisenberg. "It's always been out there, it's just now becoming a little trendy. But the concept of pampering a pregnant spouse has always been in fashion."

"The trip has to be the opposite of demanding," said Eisenberg. "It's free time before you have the baby—and you only get one bite at that apple. You need to clear your mind. Whether you are famous or not, you have absolutely no idea how demanding being a parent will be."

Smart couples will leave nothing to chance when planning a babymoon, said Eisenberg. Women should get their doctor's permission first. An amazing number of people don't, he said.

"You don't want to buy a non-refundable ticket and then ask your doctor's permission," he said.

To keep the mother-to-be comfortable and unstressed, the non-pregnant partner should do the bulk of the planning, keeping several things in mind, said Eisenberg.

The planner should seek to minimize time on the road and plot ready access to bathrooms. He or she should plan a trip to a place where you both speak the language, in case of a health emergency. And because pregnant women often have dietary restrictions, the planner should call ahead to make sure his or her partner's needs will be met.

Couples who don't normally use travel agents should consider using them when they are pregnant, because the travel agent's expertise can save a lot of time and stress. Also, many pregnant couples choose all-inclusive packages because they are simpler to book and plan, said Eisenberg.