Pregnant on holiday and seeking advice

[Hotdog78]

Hello ladies. This is my first pregnancy so hoping this is not a silly question but after a bit of summer holiday advice. My DH has just booked us a break to Cyprus to get over a stressful few months. I'm 18 weeks pregnant and looking forward to going away for some alone time, although just found out that temperatures over there at the moment are almost 40 degrees celsius! That's scorching!!

Anyone else been on holiday when pregnant to somewhere this hot? I don't sunbathe anyway but walking in the sun is unavoidable to some extent as we don't have transport. Is this in anyway dangerous for the bump?

Be interested to hear your experiences and any advice. I'm usually a heat-lover but I'm guessing the pregnancy experience will change all that this year....

[SandwichBag]

I went to Egypt when I was 19 weeks and it was about 35 each day... i'm a heat lover too and sunbathed as normal without any problems, barring one day where I did get hot and bothered so I dozed in the shade.

I think the most important thing is to not get too hot, so wear a sun hat, sit in the shade as much as possible and always have water with you.

I think you also tan more easily when pregnant so use a higher factor than you normally would.

Enjoy!

[Mmolly2013]

I went away at 26 weeks to a hot destination. Although I chose to sit by the pool a lot and always had a supply of cold drinks, I always wish I'd brought more Rennies/gaviscon because all the food on holiday gave me constant heartburn.

I would say bring comfy shoes, take frequent drink stops, perhaps bring a hand fan and if you can wear a hot. If you feel fine then baby will feel fine.

Enjoy

[Hotdog78]

Thanks guys, that's really helpful! I will buy a hat and take a factor 35 or 40 along, I usually wear 30 so that should be high enough.

I was just thinking be nice to spend some time with DH before baby comes along!

Anyone here bought/worn flight socks? or are these for very long flights?

[Fairypants]

I went to Cuba at 16-18 weeks. I spent a lot more time cooling off (in the sea and the pool) than I did in the sun and only sat around in the shade. I was also especially careful with sunblock although its hard to compare as the Caribbean sun is more likely to burn you anyway.
I drank copious amounts so make sure you always carry plenty of water.
I still really enjoyed the holiday but it was a different experience - early nights and sitting around more than exploring. Im now 30 weeks and refusing to go away in the uk without agreement from DH that we will be those people who take tonnes of stuff and camp out on the beach all day every day- it's the only way at this point.

[deborah86]

Im 18 wks preg and Im just back from portugal the other day and it was over 30 When we were there. Im not a great sun lover and felt a bit like I was over heating sometimes. I just tried to take it easy, drink lots of water and stayed in the shade. Still had an amazing time and was nice to get away before the baby comes.

You'll be fine. I loved cyprus when I went. The people are so friendly and I wouldnt worry about walking too far. busses were 2 euro for a day ticket when we went and it took you ever where.

[squizita]

Women out there wouldn't have babies if it was dangerous. Just use your common sense about hydration and clothing.

[mrsnec]

Hi hotdog, I'm in Cyprus. Its 36 degrees today and I'm 27 weeks pg with my first.

I'm staying in as much as I can, not easy when you are away I know.

I also wear kids waterproof factor 50 suncream and always wear a hat and I swim whenever I can.

I carry bump spray in my bag and spray my wrists ankles and neck with it.

Look into getting transport I find walking about in the heat of the day a killer and depending on where you are public transport isn't that great.

Even the locals feel the heat.everyone has fans and aircon even outside if that's any comfort.

Keep hydrated and just listen to your body.

Bring your notes just in case. The care here is different but it's good. And pm me if I can help.

[deborah86]

I was told by the midwife to wear flight socks. To get up and least once an hour for a little stroll down the plain and rotate my ankles every half hour and our flight was 3 hours

[Hotdog78]

Thanks mrsnec that's really sweet. I'm looking forward to going, and as squizita points out, I guess common sense kicks in when you're out there.

Thanks also deborah for your flight socks info. I thought these were for very long haul flights so good to know.

It's funny, I went into this pregnancy thinking "I'm going to be so chilled and relaxed and I will breeze through it and enjoy it" and then I had a big scare at 12 weeks and now I'm uber-mum, ha!

[PresidentSpreadable]

I got back from a week in Greece yesterday, currently 18 weeks. It was wonderful, although I did enjoy a nice cool nights sleep last night.

I spent most of the week on the beach or in the sea, but I did stick to the shade as much as possible. I second the pp who mentioned Gaviscon, I had a couple of nights of heartburn thanks to the amazing food.

Flight socks are recommended when pregnant as you are more prone to dvt. I wore them and did the whole ankle rotating, walking about thing, even though it was only a 3 hour flight.

Have a wonderful break!

[Kim82]

I got back from a holiday to Turkey a couple of weeks ago. I went at 32 - 34 weeks (I'm almost 37 weeks now). It was around 35 degrees most days and being completely honest I was far too hot and I really struggled. I did nothing but drink water by the gallon, sit in the shade and when I couldn't cope with the heat any longer I went back to the apartment to lie on the bed in my underwear with the air conditioning on (sexy!).

I think I would have been fine if I went earlier into the pregnancy though but sitting in the blazing sun at 34 weeks was a bit much!

[Hotdog78]

I can imagine, I think 35 degrees plus is very demanding on the body.

Which suncreams do you guys use, incidentally? I've read a lot of conflicting stuff about penetrative chemicals in skin care products but my guess is most high street brands are ok and a lot of these sites are not NHS-endorsed.

Anyone found anything amazing for pregnancy they'd like to share?

[EssexGirlLottie]

Hi, the only other thing i would say about being pg in warm weather is whether you've ever had any problems with heat rash/prickly heat in the past?
i've had this before if i've been places 30 degrees plus - i usually take an antihistamine every night before it starts.
However, i've been finding that being pg, it's like my skin is more sensitive and i've started to get it here in the UK when it's been about 20 degrees. Obvs not meant to take anti-histamines in pg, but my GP did agree to them in the end as i had about 10 days of no sleep cus of the itching!

[DuPainDuVinDuFromage]

I would say act like a local rather than a tourist as much as possible - keep in the shade unless you feel like sunbathing, have a siesta, plan to do things in the evening rather than the daytime (and another reason for this is that before long your evenings will be taken up with child bedtime, and then having to be in the house unless you get a babysitter! Make the most of being able to go for a midnight stroll!) And what everyone else has said, of course. Have a lovely time!

[mrsnec]

Kim, that pretty much describes me all the time at the moment!

Re suncream it's the Avon kids one I'm using I figured that would be gentle enough.

Also, re fluids eat things that contain a lot of water too, I'm not a fan myself but watermelon is in season here at the moment locals swear by it and eat it by the truckload because it's so refreshing.

Id love to have the energy for a midnight stroll.

I agree with what was said upthread about clothes too. I alternate between maxi dresses and vests with harem pants. I find my feet swell a bit too and if I'm walking around a lot gladiator type sandals with ankle support are more comfortable than flip flops. Sorry if any of this sounds obvious.

I'm sure you'll have a great time too!

[Missingcaffeine]

I went to Greece at 26 weeks. I was worried about flight and heat beforehand, and whether I'd actually enjoy it, but it was very much enjoyed. It wasn't quite 40C, was more like 30C. The only difference I found was that where I'd normally sit in the sun, I always made sure I had a parasol or shade of some sort as was uncomfortable in direct sun.
Even if you sit in the shade, apply really high factor suncream especially to face as you can get patchy marks due to the way hormones affecting pigment and these sometimes never go. I have some from England across my face just from walking down a street for 20 mins on a sunny day without cream on.

[caeleth84]

Definitely make sure you always have enough to drink and shade. Don't bother going anywhere in the worst of the heat, it's just not worth it.

Pack only bikinis and comfy summer dresses to wear, as well as comfortable sandals ;)

Flight socks are a must when you're pregnant yes.

For sunscreen there are quite a lot of (good!) brands that contain hormone-altering chemicals which they don't recommend during pregnancy (well, ever, but def. not during pregnancy). Children's sunscreen are usually stricter on the chemicals allowed, to they're a safer bet. Or check online for recent tests. I've got one in Norwegian only, but the pic with the red lines are bad, and green are good (doh): www.nrk.no/livsstil/11-av-25-solkremer-kommer-darlig-ut-1.11127290

[Hotdog78]

Thanks, all and mrsnec and caeleth that's really helpful!

Nivea is a trusted brand so I might stick with that when it comes to sun creams.

[Booboostoo]

I'm 30wks pregnant in Athens and it was 38 degrees today. It's a good idea to be sensible anyway in the sun. Go to the beach/pool early mornings and afternoons, try to stay indoors in the cool and have a siesta from midday to 5 o'clock. I use factor 50 on the bump even though I am naturally olive skinned as I think the skin is very sensitive when it is so stretched. I avoid direct sunbathing but I would do that anyway.

[caeleth84]

Glad to be helpful! Hope you enjoy your holidays :)

Nivea actually has some pretty bad results I'm afraid.

Here's a new list that was just out today: www.forbrukerradet.no/annet/tester-og-kj%C3%B8petips/unders%C3%B8kelser/solkremtest-2014

They've tested for three things (smilies left to right): hormone disturbing chemicals, perfumes that can bring on allergies (i dunno the actual english term), and nano chemicals. The advice is that children shouldn't be exposed to either of these three. The last one mostly as a just-in-case since they don't know enough about what these do.

[squizita]

Caleth just out of interest who are 'they' - the EU, NICE etc'? Just because some "theys" are more established than others. :)

[mrsnec]

I meant to add too that I'm more paranoid than I probably need to be because of a family history of melanoma that's taken priority over checking actual ingredients of suncream but since I've not uad a reaction to anything I assume it's fine.

I wear one piece costumes so bump is always covered. I got a lovely one from asos and its been the best investment in my pregnancy so far.

I have also said this before but I think difference in temps is worse so going from v hot to v cold so if a cold shower is tempting a tepid one is better.

[caeleth84]

Ah sorry. It's the Norwegian Consumer Council. They work (independently, but government financed) on consumer rights and do a lot of independent tests on various consumer goods (they do a lot more obviously, but that's the part we normally see).

They're also part of The European Consumer Centre Network.

[Hotdog78]

Thanks, Caeleth, that's such good advice! Do you use any brands you can recommend as pregnancy friendly? I'm UK based so ideally need something that can be stocked by Boots or Superdrug.

[caeleth84]

I just got a Cliniderm one for me and a Vichy one for DS off of that first test. But if you look at that last link you'll see there are definitely some brands that have more of the full smilies than others, and I'd guess that all of them should be fine even if the specific one isn't on the list.