'Ripped off': I was way too pregnant to celebrate my 30th birthday

"Now, I'm turning 40 and it’s my turn to partaayyy!"

Celebrating a milestone birthday is always exciting, but not when you’re heavily pregnant.

It kind of puts a dampener on things when you can’t drink and know that anytime soon, you need to step up and push a watermelon out of your V-jay jay. 

That was the case for me when I was turning 30. 

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"I felt a little ripped off"

I was literally about to pop. My birthday is in early May, and I gave birth to our son six days later.

My husband tried to make me feel special. He organised a trip to see the penguins at Phillip Island (bless) and afterwards, we had fish and chips on a bench with my parents.

It was G-rated and “nice”, but it certainly wasn't my dream 30th, and I felt a little ripped off. 

Image: Supplied

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"Las Vegas, baby!"

In comparison, when my husband turned 30 a few years earlier, we flew to Las Vegas for the most epic birthday celebration ever. 

We'd been living in Banff, Canada, and were pretty broke, but I got all of his friends and family from back home in Australia to contribute money towards it.

His best mate from Australia met us in Vegas and we had the time of our lives.

After a buffet breakfast at our flashy hotel on The Strip, I organised a limousine to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. My husband (who is motorsport mad) did six laps in a Ferrari, followed by a few laps in a NASCAR.

That night, we had a seafood buffet and went to see a Cirque du Soleil show. I’d even organised a behind-the-scenes tour of the stage because we knew one of the performers. 

Image: Supplied

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We're going BIG

The day cost more than $1000 (not including the accommodation and travel to be there), but it was so worth it. My husband made memories that will last a lifetime. 

Wind forwards the clock almost decade, and with my 40th birthday looming, there will be no holding back. 

“What would you like to do for your 40th?” my husband asked me recently. “Dinner out with friends? A night away? A party?”

I looked at him and smiled. “Sorry, honey, but we’re going BIG for this one. I'm talking an international holiday, multi-day hike, resort stay kind of big.”

He mumbled something about, “having to win the Lotto” and walked out of the room.

I see his point. I really do. We’re not high-rollers. We have a sizable mortgage. Three children. And so many other things we SHOULD be spending our money on.

But for this one birthday, I’m going to prioritise myself. 

For my husband’s 40th, he wanted a nice watch and a weekend away with friends. All up, that set us back $10,000.

And I was happy to dip into our savings for it, because he is so worth it and it’s a special milestone that he will always remember.

I may sound like an entitled, spoiled brat, but I don't care. It's my turn to party, and I intend to.

Originally published as 'Ripped off': I was way too pregnant to celebrate my 30th birthday