Pregnancy, although an incredible time can be hard work, so it’s important to take care and treat yourself every now and then. If it’s your first child as well, it may be the last chance you get to go on a relaxing holiday just you and your partner.
It’s natural to have concerns when you’re away from home. Here are some things you can do to cope with pregnancy while you’re on holiday and travelling while pregnant.
Get the right travel insurance
You might already have travel insurance in place, but does it cover your pregnancy? The ideal travel insurance policy will cover your pregnancy and any medical conditions or illnesses that have been caused by it.
Medical bills can be extortionate if you need treatment while you’re abroad, so it’s really not worth the risk of going without it. What’s more, a good policy will give you peace of mind, allowing you to relax and really enjoy your holiday.
Go at the right time
It’s generally agreed that the best time to go on holiday in pregnancy is during the second trimester (between 13 and 28 weeks, although many airlines won’t let you fly after 27). The sickness and nausea of the first trimester will (hopefully) have stopped, your hormones will have settled down, and you won’t be quite as exhausted as you will be in the third trimester.
It’s worth noting that your bump can appear and grow quite rapidly at this stage, so make sure your holiday wardrobe reflects that!
Enjoy the food…
… but make sure you know what you can eat (and what you can’t).
Fresh fruits and vegetables, energy-boosting carbohydrates like bread, potatoes and pasta, protein-packed beans and pulses, low-fat dairy products, and snacks like cereal bars and wholemeal crackers will give you all the nutrients you need.
Foods to avoid:
• Soft cheese with a white rind, or cheese with blue mould
• Pȃté
• Partially cooked eggs
• Undercooked meat
• Liver and game
• Fish oil
• Shark, swordfish and marlin
Listen to your body
If you need to take a break, take a break. If you’d like to get moving, go on a gentle stroll, swim in the pool, or stretch out with some pregnancy yoga. Now more than ever, it’s important to look after yourself and a holiday is the perfect time to do that.
One of the things you should look out for is swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet. Wearing compression stockings can help improve circulation and reduce swelling and pain in the legs, ankles, and feet. If you’re experiencing swelling only in the ankle and foot area, you can wear foot compression socks with wrap to alleviate the swelling and discomfort.
Avoid anything too adventurous
While you’ll still be able to explore the local area and admire the scenery, activities that could result in falls or sudden movements should be avoided at all costs. This could be your last time for a while to travel with less responsibilities for a while so make the most of it, if you’ve always fancied going to a particular place for a pamper, why not now, whether that’s exploring somewhere in Europe or looking for the best US babymoon destinations.
Give these activities a miss:
• Hiking
• Climbing
• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Horse riding
• Waterskiing
• Windsurfing
• Scuba diving
• Visits to theme parks and water parks
Relax
The most important thing! Now is the time to take it easy, so make the most of it. Enjoy spending quality time with your partner or travel companion before your little one arrives
I have been away whilst pregnant a couple of times and it was lovely and relaxing. Just remember to take notes with you
Great tips! I went on a 2 week Med cruise whilst in the first trimester and had awful morning sickness. Still glad I went (compared to cancelling and losing our money anyway – I found out I was pregnant 3 days before the cruise date!), but I would definitely wait for that period to pass before going on holiday if you’re choosing your dates with pregnancy in mind. I spent a lot of time just sitting on the balcony and relaxing.
These are some great tips for those who are pregnant as its a difficult time for some and having these tips will surely help them.
I only ever ventured to Southern Ireland when I was pregnant due to high risk. i always envied friends going on summer/warm holidays when pregnant, soaking up the sun and enjoying new areas )
I have been pregnant during holidays and didn’t find it any different other than I was way hotter! I don’t really drink so I never missed that, nor do I like any of the foods you have to avoid! I was really lucky!
I have never been pregnant before but my friend has just found out that she is expecting and has a holiday booked! I will definitely let her know that she needs to avoid certain foods like blue or soft cheese!
I definitely agree with you about insurance. Always important to make sure you are covered
I’d never have thought about going in your second trimester, I didn’t realise quite how bad the sickness can be at the beginning x
I can’t think of anything more relaxing than taking a break and booking a holiday during your pregnancy. What a great way to relax and unwind!
I bet it is a nice time to take a holiday while you a pregnant but making sure you know what you can and can’t do is such a big thing!
I went on holiday when I was pregnant with my first and really wanted to go on a speed boat but the organisers wouldn’t let me – probably very much for the best!
Great tips! You’re on point with your DOs and DONTs. Relaxing is really the best holiday while being pregnant.
I didn’t know that the second was the best to travel in! Great tips 🙂
These are all great tips for any mums to be. Going on holiday is a great way to relax before baby comes.
What a great post and I can imagine this is super helpful for any mums-to-be!
It definitely is so important to know what you can and cannot eat! Great post!
My folks went on a baby moon before I was born and 5 months was the optimal time for my mummy, she’d just gotten over the sickness stage. Great tips!
I went abroad whilst pregnant with twins and it was a lovely break. It was April so mild sunny weather and I simply relaxed the whole time. Perfect!!
That does sound perfect x
Baby moons are getting a lot more popular, it’s the perfect time to enjoy being a couple before the little one arrives x
Haha yes I think they were wise to stop you x