New York at 6 months pregnant - potentially! daft idea?

[ctotoro]

Hi, so my husband and I have just booked our last hurrah before we start a family. I've read lots on flying during pregnancy, and it seems that 4-6 months is the best time. I'm not fussed about flying pregnant, I'm more concerned about walking around New York!
I'm pretty fit, in the gym a lot, lots of running, some weight lifting, also do pole fitness, can walk for miles etc. However, am I daft to think that being on my feet for a week at 6 months pregnant is a good idea?
We're staying right in the heart of it all, within walking distance of nearly everything we want to see and do. Of course we'll be stopping for lunch, coffee etc, but mostly we'll be doing LOTS of walking around. Has anyone had a similar experience, a busy holiday while around 6 months pregnant? What could I expect? am I stupid?

I'm NOT pregnant yet, just trying to work out the best time to start trying, and i'm so impatient I just want to start asap, which would mean if I fell super quick I'd be in NYC about 6 months preggo.

[DefinitelyNotElsa]

I don't think you'd be daft at all. New York is wonderful and there's plenty of public transport/cabs to take if you get tired from walking around.

I'd just be realistic about not overdoing it.

Have a fab time!

[MazyCrummy]

I did 5 days in Prague when I was 34w pregnant with DC1, and we had a fab time so I'd say at 4-6m+, entirely doable.

Just a thought though, I was 8w pregnant with DC2 when I went to NY - surprise quicker than anticipated pregnancy - and it was grim trying to manage sickness/tiredness with sightseeing, shopping, eating out, etc. Just might be worth considering what happens if it takes you a couple or three months to conceive and you are still in the early pregnancy stage and feeling ill, or unhappy about flying before 12w

[ctotoro]

Yes, i've thought about what if I don't fall for a while and then i'm in early stages, don't fancy that at all!

Thanks, it seems like I'lll be ok.

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

It should be OK but make sure you have insurance that covers the baby's care (most don't cover the baby once born) if you are viable when you go. Medical care there is expensive in the unlikely event you have a premature birth.
Otherwise it'll be fab! Maybe see how the pregnancy goes as I've had 2 and 1 I felt awful and had a complication identified at 20 weeks which meant I wouldn't get fit to fly. With the other no problems that would affect a holiday.
Enjoy yourself!

[Runningupthathill82]

Entirely do-able, and a great time to travel IME. Enjoy!

[MummyBex1985]

Hi

I'm sorry to put a downer on it but I'd have to say bad idea.

We did NY last year and I was exhausted! We went in March and it was still very cold. Finding places to sit down are harder than you think - most of the coffee shops are full and you walk miles and miles. I wouldn't even contemplate it at 6 months PG.

My friend who I went with had serious surgery six weeks prior and the trip knocked him out - on the last day he stayed in the hotel and ended up back in hospital when we came home.

I know it's a bit doom and gloom (I'm really sorry!) but I'm just being honest. It's a very hard city to relax and sit down in unless you're nipping into restaurants, have lie ins every day and get to bed at a reasonable hour.

[Junosmum]

New York is great and surprisingly walkable. I wouldn't worry.

[ToesAndFingersCrossed]

My friend did this and has lots of awesome photos of the bump visiting all the sights. Said bump is now nearly 4 and loves pointing himself out in all the photos "this is me in mummy's tummy at the empire building, this is me in mummy's tummy at the googleheim (sic) museum" it's adorable!

Have fun, I am very jealous!

[ctotoro]

Thanks again all - the bump photos sound like a lovely idea! Well i've read all sorts of positives, negatives, good stories, bad stories all over the web today. Ultimately, if i'm pregnant, i'm going unless there's something wrong that will stop me. It's been booked already, worst comes to worst we can get back our deposit and get a travel voucher and use it for something else (we booked with Virgin) - but don't fancy taking a baby to NYC!

[misssmilla1]

When are you going? I ask as it's usually freezing here between Late Dec / Jan - March and then hots up in end of June / July. It's currently 31C with 70%+ humidity and as someone who's 36 weeks pregnant in the city, I can tell you the heat is not a lot of fun!

One thing to watch out for is the food differences, irt to guidance on what you can and can't eat. It's different regulations (due to different food production and hygiene) than the UK,so no deli meats (ham or anything) no smoked salmon, the egg thing is different (no lion stamp here) In a lot of restaurants meat is cooked rare, so be sure to ask for well done, all the places we go to are fine with this. They can also be a bit militant about serving you coffee / caffeine, but I find a hard stare is usually enough to get over that.

And get decent shoes / trainers. The pavements and roads here are crappy and uneven so if you don't want sore feet and pelvic pain at the end of the day, it's a must.

[ctotoro]

Hi missmilla, we're going right at the end of March into the first week of April. I'm a vegetarian so I don't need to worry about food (meat and fish esp!) too much, that will just be another ball game making sure i'm getting everything I need for the baby. I'm not a coffee drinker so that's easy haha, only tea for me and i'll probably go completely decaf during pregnancy - although tea and the US just don't work for me, brought my own Yorkshire tea bags last time I visited! As for shoes thank you, yes I will definitely go for something practical and comfy :)

[Frillsandspillsx2]

I've been to New Yorka a couple of times before (although not pregnant when I went) but I'm now 6 months pregnant and I could easily do a week in New York whilst pregnant! I think if you are 6 months pregnant when you go you might want to stop off for coffee to have a sit down from time to time but generally I think you'll be ok.
I second what others have said about decent shoes to walk round in, and make sure your DH has plenty of upper arm strength for carrying all those shopping bags!!

I hope you have a wonderful time!

[beardsrock]

If you were six months it wouldn't be too bad - from a comfort level. It will be cold though too - so bundle up!

Waling around NYC is fun - depends on how you handle pregnancy but I was still cycling 10 k's per day at that time.

Tip: If you are pregnant, make sure EVERYONE knows it (no doubt they will due to bump of course) and try and get upgrades - especially in the US, they love bumps!

[Cornberry]

I think the odds are on your side but be aware that some people have very difficult pregnancies. I suffered from hyperemesis and was in bed for the first four months and even after the worst was over I wasn't up to going anywhere far from home. It's unlikely to happen to you but it's worth bearing in mind that pregnancy is challenging in ways you don't expect and it's totally unpredictable. You may get all the symptoms and you may get none.

[CoffeeAndOranges]

I am 6 months now and I would really struggle on a holiday that involved a lot of walking. I was fit as a fiddle before getting pregnant - running, gym, walked everywhere - but pelvic pain put paid to all of that by week 20. I can barely walk for the bus without wincing if it's flared up and it can take days to calm down again.

Not sure if there is a perfect time to go during pregnancy as you just don't know how it will affect you, especially the first time around. I assumed I would stay really active all the way through but it hasn't worked out that way. Now I just feel uncomfortable, sore and have raging heartburn most days. And I still have 12 weeks to go. We're on holiday in Jersey next week and I will really have to pace myself (and sit out the surfing & watch DH ).

But you may be lucky and sail through, and be able to pound the New York streets with no issues at all.

Would love to go to NYC one day - will have to save up then palm the DS off on the grandparents for a week or so!!

[newbian]

It wouldn't have been a problem for me - I live in a large city and walk around all the time anyway. Plenty of pregnant New Yorkers! The good thing is that there is lots of alternative transport available, you can get in a taxi/Uber or the subway if you're having too much pain.

As previously mentioned since you aren't even pregnant yet, there is no reason to delay/cancel a vacation for something that might not be an issue anyway. Go ahead and book, just get good travel insurance.

[Ceejay14]

I went to nyc 5 months pregnant this March and had a great time. I was exhausted at the end of each day, but I expected that! We just changed how we'd normally do a holiday ... Eg a nap mid afternoon if I needed one and no late nights in bars. It was a perfect last holiday before our baby arrived

[HelenSim33]

I've just got back from Canada for two weeks whilst 6 months + pregnant and I was fine. Did lots of walking, hiking, canoeing, cycling and coped without problem. Just depends on how your pregnancy goes really. Had one day when I felt a little tiered so just took it slightly easier and all was good.

[juneau]

You'll probably be fine. You won't know, of course, until you get to that stage of pregnancy and some women suffer with sciatica, SPD, etc, but again you can't know what pregnancy will throw at you until you get there. FWIW I went to Alaska when I was 30 weeks pregnant with DS1. It wasn't a problem at all. You can always take things a little easier, if you need to. You'll still have a lot of fun. NYC has cabs and subways if you don't want to walk everywhere.

[SoupDragon]

Double and triple check your insurance and make sure you let them know when you are pregnant.

[CoffeeAndOranges]

Ooh one other thing that I'm not sure if it's been mentioned - we're flying today (only a 1 hour internal flight) and because I'm 28 weeks I have to have a doctors note to say I'm fit to fly. Jet2 wouldn't let me have a free one from the midwife (who knows me best) but said it had to be signed by a GP (who charge). So I have a 2 line letter that some doctor I don't even know has signed that has cost me £28 - I'm gonna make damn sure someone looks at it! 2 weeks ago I wouldn't need one and after 34 weeks they wouldn't let me fly. So check the dates!

[boovmoves]

It should be fine. You will still have months of work left at that point so the long hours and no rest from that will be a lot more tiring than going to New York. It will be a nice rest for you.

[Ilikethefanta]

In my first pregnancy I would have said do-able but I'm in my second and the thought of walking round NY right now is not appealing

[DanyStormborn]

I would have been fine walking round a busy city at 4-6 months. Anything past that would have been uncomfortable. I did travel long-haul in my first trimester on fairly active holidays (wasn't anticipating being pregnant) and the tiredness and nausea made it less fun, it would have been fine if I had been in my easy second trimester.

[Badmumton]

I went to NYC when 5 months pregnant with my first child. It was great. I still walked and got the subway a fair bit, did some sightseeing etc, but maybe relied a bit more on cabs than I would have had I not been pregnant .

I couldn't take shopping at all (usually a pleasure!) and got major museum fatigue at the Met and had to bail out after an hour.

But in general, I found it a really nice trip, not too taxing at all. Flying was fine. We did some really nice, relaxing stuff - boat trip, afternoon tea, nice meals out, cinema, some leisurely strolls.

However...I had hyperemesis with DC2 and wouldn't have been able to do any of it during that pregnancy...