THE strongest relationships can survive the dirtiest of nappies, but a growing number of Irish couples expecting their first babies are taking no chances. “Babymooners” are preparing for parenthood by splashing out on luxury holidays that are likely to be out of reach once they have a baby or two in tow.

Parents-to-be are spending thousands on one last romantic blowout before their lives change forever. The holidays, christened babymoons by American travel agents who first spotted the trend, are designed for optimum pampering.

Irish couples, mostly in their mid to late thirties with busy careers, are paying honeymoon-scale sums to be spoiled in spas, gorge themselves in gourmet restaurants and lounge in five-star accommodation.

“Quite a few first-time mothers-to-be are coming in here and proudly saying it’s time for them to go and get something nice,” said James Malone of Rathgar Travel, who is looking at specially tailored babymoon packages after dozens of inquiries from customers.

“People are more open about it now. I’ve probably sold 20 or 30 seats more than usual to Cyprus this year because of that,” said Malone.

Americans have taken to the concept with typical enthusiasm. “It’s all about you . . . soon enough it will be all about the child — at least for the next 20 years,” gushes the Topnotch Resort and Spa in Vermont. Its One Last Fling package allows “expecting couples a few days of pleasure and relaxation before the diapers, sleepless nights and adolescence take their toll on romance”.

Flying restrictions mean most babymoons take place between months five and seven of the pregnancy. Dave Tallon, 31, a commercial director, and his wife Lisa Carty, 32, a solicitor, treated themselves to a €3,500, 10-day trip touring the Tuscan valleys in Italy.

Their first child is due next month. “We thought we’d splash out because we’re not going to get a chance thereafter. We used the holiday to contemplate what’s ahead, what we are about to experience,” said Tallon. “We went top-of-the-range. We’d normally chose three-star hotels but this was more of a five-star holiday. We probably spent more than we anticipated.”

Audrey Carroll was five months’ pregnant when she and husband Rory took a babymoon to America. “It was like a last fling — we stayed in de luxe rooms in four-star hotels, hired a big car, I had a lot of massages and pregnancy treatments. I went to the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon in Chicago, which is focused on pregnant people,” said Carroll.

“I’d recommend it to anyone. I came back very relaxed. It makes the rest of the pregnancy a little bit easier.” They also used the trip to stock up on baby supplies, which are cheaper in America.

The two-and-a-half week trip cost about €4,000. Carroll, whose baby Rian is now nine months, says “loads” of other people are doing the same. “People are conscious of what is going to happen when the baby is born — it’s life changing and your life is never the same again.”

The Irish trend for babymoons was identified by Initiative, a media communications agency, in its Consumer Insight newsletter last month.

Chris Rayner, 41, Initiative’s managing director, and his wife Rachel Horan, 32, took one last year before their first baby, Lauren, was born in October.

“A lot of people advised us to get away and have one last holiday together to make sure we keep that friendship going through the turbulent times ahead,” said Rayner. “It can be a stressful time before the baby is born because you don’t know quite what’s going to happen or how things will be.”

Ashley King, a South Carolina mother of a one-year-old, set up babymoonfinder.com after finding it difficult to find the perfect holiday for “our own last escape” last year.

The site, which details more than 200 babymoon packages all over the world, has received more than 550,000 hits. “Our generation wants to be truly pampered before the Pampers,” said King.

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