Expecting a baby doesn't necessarily mean spending nine months with your feet up. Now might be the ideal time to take off somewhere - the calm before the storm, as it were. If you've got other children, this could also be an opportunity to spend quality time with them before the tumult of the new arrival.

The rule of thumb right now is to avoid destinations that require immunisations - and, needless to say, now is not the time to try abseiling, water-skiing, scuba diving or rodeo riding. But there are plenty of gentle, relaxing and fun trips to be made, however incapacitated you may feel.

Luxury train trip to Scotland
Step back in time on the sumptuous 'Royal Scotsman', which rolls northwards as if it's got all the time in the world. It's an intimate affair, with just 36 pampered passengers enjoying the staggering views from their mahogany-panelled compartments. This is a perfect trip for a couple - two-night journeys begin and end in Edinburgh and offer daytime excursions to historic stop-off points. The train is stationary at night, and each sleeping cabin has its own bathroom, complete with fluffy, heated towels, so there's no need to rough it.

Alternatively, opt for the 'Northern Belle Orient-Express' which is modelled on the 'Belle' trains of the 1930s, and provides comfortable breaks, taking in York, Edinburgh, Oban and the Island of Mull. Each car bears the name of a significant stately home and is furnished with specially commissioned designs, fabrics and furnishings.

Top Tip:
Romance will be put on the back-burner when you're knee-deep in nappies, and there'll be little time for candle-lit dinners and sweet nothings, so use this tranquil train ride to enjoy one-on-one time with your partner.

The Royal Scotsman
Tel: 0131 555 1344
www.royalscotsman.com

The Northern Belle Orient-Express
Tel: 0161 831 7900
www.orient-express.com

Weekend in Brussels
These days, Brussels is just a Eurostar ride away and offers an alternative to Paris for a continental stop-over. There is plenty of wandering to be done in this bilingual city, and there's no need for any of it to get too taxing. The historic Grand Place is the place to start, with its myriad of restaurants and daily flower market. Then visit the Museum of Ancient Art, and The Fondation Internationale Jacques Brel, a quaint must-see, honouring Belgium's favourite chanteur. Don't miss the Belgian Centre of Comic Strip Art - after all, this is the country that brought us Tintin and Asterix. The rue des Bouchers area is atmospheric with its candlelit terraces - check out the Toone Marionette Theatre, a bar and puppet theatre combined.

Top Tip:
Avoid foods that may be contaminated with listeriosis bacteria, such as soft cheeses, pâtés, and rare or raw meats (wave goodbye to the idea of steak tartare on this trip). Don't eat unpeeled fruit or salads, and drink bottled water at all times, and no ice. To avoid salmonella, steer clear of raw eggs (that steak tartare again) and undercooked chicken. You'll be giving mussels a miss on this trip, but if you (and/or baby) are craving carbs, then this is the place for chips.

The Belgian Tourist Reservation Office (free hotel booking service)
Tel: +32 (0)2 513 74 84

Tourist Information Office (list of hotels)
Tel: +32 (0)2 504 03 90

Eurostar
www.eurostar.com

The Museum of Ancient Art
Rue de la Régence, 3
Tel: +32 (0)2 508 3211

Fondation Internationale Jacques Brel
Place de la Vieille Halle aux Blés, 11
Tel: +32 (0)2 511 10 20

Belgian Centre of Comic Strip Art
Rue des Sables, 20
Tel: +32 (0)2 219 19 80

Toone Marionette Theatre
Impasse Schuddeveld, 6 (off Petite rue des Bouchers)
Tel +32 (0)2 513 54 86

Boating on the Norfolk Broads
The Norfolk Broads are a labyrinth of timeless waterways running through gentle English countryside, where you can hire a boat and enjoy the independence of being your own captain. There are 40 Broads in total, each of them boasting their own distinct character. Most of these are linked by a network of rivers and channels. Little villages are dotted along the riverside, and there is plenty of wildlife to observe as you pootle along. Before you go, you will be shown how to manoeuvre your boat and operate the controls - a manual will be on board to remind you of all the basic info, with experienced skippers available for extra help if you need it.

Top Tip:
During pregnancy, you may be more prone to seasickness than usual. Luckily, there is very little sway along the Norfolk Broads, but stave off that sickly feeling by eating frequent small snacks, particularly bland things like bread and crackers, and ginger in whatever form you fancy.

Norfolk Broads Direct
Tel: 01603 782207
www.broads.co.uk

Cruising Holland's Waterways
Discover the real Netherlands on a peaceful boating holiday. The southwest of the Friesian region glistens with lakes, while in the east, wooded banks line the rivers and canals. The tour operator's technicians will show you how to navigate your own boat, and will be on call throughout your cruise, should you need them. You'll be cruising past numerous picturesque villages, traditional Dutch windmills, marinas and nature parks. Moorings are free, and are usually close to lovely canal-side cafés. Stick to the quieter stop-offs, such as Giethoorn, 'Little Venice' and Echtenerburg, as well as traditional fishing villages like Elburg, Spakenburg or Muiden. Visit Leeuwarden, capital of the Friesian province; Workum, with its famous museum and Bolsward, whose market and shops should satisfy any unusual cravings!

Top Tip:
If you can't speak the language, try to travel with someone who has a smattering, although the Dutch are notoriously good at English. Always take your hospital notes just to be on the safe side.

Boating Holidays
www.cruisegermany.com/holland

Horse-drawn caravan in Ireland
If you're travelling en famille, nip over the pond to the Emerald Isle to escape the hustle of modern life by renting in a horse-drawn caravan. You'll travel at a walking pace in some of the most beautiful areas of Ireland, stopping off at farms, country houses and pubs on the way, after receiving instruction and practice in dealing with all the horsey bits. (An operator from the tour company is at the end of a phone line to help with things like loose horseshoes and other issues.) Designated farmers, guesthouses, pubs and hotels offer overnight facilities, so you needn't feel cut off from civilisation.

Top Tip:
If you must fly, the best time is during the three middle months of pregnancy. Most airlines won't take you after the 36th week and require a medical certificate at 28 weeks. Try to get an aisle seat so it's easy to get up and stretch your legs or visit the loo, and sit near the front of the plane, where the ride is smoother.

Irish Horse Drawn Caravan Federation
www.irishhorsedrawncaravans.com

Tourism Ireland
www.tourismireland.com

Irish Tourist Board
Tel: 0207 518 0800

Direct Ferries to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire from Holyhead
Direct Ferries to Rosslare from Fishguard www.stenaline.com