There's an opera coming up - Don Giovanni. I've never been to this particular opera, but it's the boy's favourite (he loves Mozart, which is surely a little unusual for a Metallica and Marilyn Manson fan). He's really keen for us to go, and I would be too, except there's one small thing which makes me hesitate before plonking down the credit card and committing us to a couple of not-too-cheap, non-refundable tickets.
By the date of the performance, I will be around 35 weeks pregnant; there's a good chance I'll have to pee during during acts (a big no-n0), and an even better chance that the kicking will distract me from the warbling. There's even a small chance that I'll go into labour in the middle of the show - wouldn't that be embarrassing. What if there's a fire? I'd have to get my hefty and not-too-agile self down all those stairs in the midst of a crowd of panicking non-pregnant people.
I asked the midwife whether she thought it would be a bad idea to plan to go to a three-hour show at that stage. She wasn't too helpful though; it depends on the individual and can't be predicted how comfortable, or not, something like this would be.
Then my boss told me that, at 35 weeks, she got on a long distance flight between Singapore to New Zealand. That's 10 hours in the air plus transit time in airports. Travelling in a plane doesn't quite compare, since once you're in the air you can get up and go to the toilet or whatever (though tight-fitting, apparently it is possible to manoeuvre a third-trimester tummy into and out of an airplane toilet). Still, I bet she spent a lot of time sitting in a cramped space though.
So I took the plunge. I was careful to choose aisle seats though, because even if the boy can stretch out his long legs in front of him, I'll be more secure knowing I can get to the ladies' without accidentally hitting someone with my bum or my tum.
16 comments:
I went and saw "Return Of The King" when I was 38 weeks pregnant. Bad choice of movie. I didn't want to miss anything, so I did the "toilet jiggle" with my leg for about 2 hours and then ran like the wind once it finished.
I went to a movie when I was about 36 weeks pregnant - just your standard 100 minutes, so the toilet issue wasn't a problem. BUT, my bum was SO uncomfortable. I wriggled all the way through, but I still ended up with a numb bum. Being hugely pregnant sucks.
Sounds risky. What if you give birth during the performance and the new baby starts crying and won't stop..
Your boy is obviously an "M" fan (which is why Morgan for bubby would be a good name! Heh!).
You should be OK peeing-wise - there will be a break for ice creams at some stage during the production, so you and 50 other women can make a beeline for the powder room at the same time.
As for going into labour, you might have to make it obvious as some punters might think it's all part of the show!?!?
Just hope that your seats give you a good view of the subtitles (sometimes at St Jimmy's your view of them can be a bit obscured).
If you want to borrow a copy of the opera to listen to, let me know (I'm sure my fella's got one).
I actually think heavy metal and Mozart go quite well together. I have yet to see Don Giovanni but I'll catch it one day.
The aisle seat's a good idea, though I think opera houses usually have pretty comfy seats. I mean, at those prices, c'mon, it better not feel like sitting in a booth at McDonald's!
You are a brave woman.
I don't want to to depress you but I find the St James seats uncomfortable even when not pregnant--but its also good to make the most of being able to go out while there's just the two of you. It will probably be a much more complicated and rare event when there's 3.
Maybe you can get one of those contraptions I've heard of that they sell in Japan to allow you to wee when stuck in traffic. Just kidding. At least if you go into labour during the show you'll have a good story to tell.
Well, it's not over 'til the fat lady sings
*hiding behind the sofa*
The heavy metal and opera thing makes sense to me. Opera employs very "over the top" vocals, like a lot of punk and metal singers.
As for the pregnancy part, I'm a nonparental man, I got nothin'.
frally: if you were able to run like the wind at 38 weeks I'm extremely impressed!
cesca: yeah I had a sore bum during the 100 or so minutes I sat watching a movie last night (and thats at only 28.5 weeks). I may have to brind some cushions...
eb: a bum massage in the middle of an opera? That'd be an achievement.
happyandblue2: the worst case scenario - we get kicked out and told not to come back again. But once the baby comes there'll be little chance of attending such a show for several years anyway.
Desiree: I and 50 other woman who aren't slowed down by a huge belly and an uncomfortably stretch pelvis...
glomgold and nigel: you may have something there, the connection between Mozart and metal.
portuguesa nueva: not brave, just good at ignoring danger
mtnw: as you said, we have to make the most of it 'cos afterwards we'll probably be limited to Baby Einstein videos.
flying kiwi: When I was in Bolivia a girl I met managed to pee into a bottle whilst on a moving bus.
jon: what is it about opera singing and fat people anyway?
The main stereotype of the 'fat lady singing' could come from Wagner's Ring Cycle. The character of Brunnhilde is a hugely demanding role. You will find that people with really powerful voices are naturally larger people. You need the constitution to be able to survive the demands of the role. Thus a 'fat lady' always performs the major role.
Yes, I have watched the baby einstein numbers dvd three times today. A certain tantrummy toddler insisted and I have a terrible cold so was too weak willed to resist.
casyn: I guess that's why Placido Domingo is such a fat bastard too.
mtnw: I'm sure that if you had a cold then you wouldn't have been able to take in anything more intellectually demanding anyway.
I think I possibly could have handled a Living Channel home decoration program or perhaps a cooking one--but as I wasn't allowed we'll never know...
mntw: well you can get your revenge when she gets older and wants to go to parties and you can say "No".
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