Advice needed re TTC before holiday

[foobio]

My DH and I want to start TTC for our first this month. Only spanner in the works is that we have a two week pre-baby holiday booked in October to Japan. Likely to involve lots of sight seeing on foot.

If our TTC is successful between now and then, I would be either 20-22, 15-17 or 11-13 weeks pregnant.

What are your experiences of pregnancy at these stages? Would I be mad to be planning lots of walking at 22 weeks? I'm guessing 11-13 wks isn't advisable as morning sickness could ruin the experience. Should 15-17 weeks be reasonably comfortable?

Obviously this is all hypothetical, it might take us a long time to conceive, but if your experiences suggest the holiday would be very uncomfortable then we will think about waiting a few more months before TTC :(

[EeekEeekEeekEeek]

Well, it's all going to depend on what kind of pregnancy you have - could be fine, could be not!

I went on a walking holiday at 11 weeks pregnant and did 12 miles a day for 5 days, wasn't a problem at all. But then I had no actual vomiting and my nausea and tiredness stopped at 9 weeks.

Others will have fairly horrendous early pregnancies and there'd be no way they could do that kind of thing.

On the whole I'd say the second trimester is when most people feel fine, so between 11 and 22 weeks shouldn't be too bad. But there's no guarantee, unfortunately.

If I were you I'd go for it, on the basis that 1) it's quite likely you won't conceive before then (average is 6-12 months, took us 18 and we're in perfect health!) and 2) most first trimester sickness and tiredness is done with by 11-12 weeks.

Hope it works out . . .

[Hellohellohowareyou]

Personally I would wait and start TTC on holiday. We have been very lucky and conceived quickly both times (1st&2nd month of trying) but I've had hyperemesis in both pregnancies which has seen me hospitalised both times and throwing up daily until 28 weeks in my first pregnancy and I'm 33 weeks into my 2nd pregnancy now and still vomiting here and there. But that's just me, other people sail through pregnancies without a problem!

[Gillian1980]

Totally impossible to say really as each pregnancy is so different.

I was super sick between roughly 7-20 weeks and wouldn't have managed travelling well at all. But when the sickness subsided I started to feel quite tired and my developing bump made me feel quite breathless at times so that wouldn't have been great either!

However my best friend didn't have a single days sickness and has felt great throughout. She's been on 2 holidays - one at about 8 weeks and one at about 22 weeks ish - and loved both.

Personally I'd wait until after the holiday if it's all booked already. Though nobody knows how long it could take to conceive.

[Hellohellohowareyou]

Yep just for comparison my sister sailed through her pregnancy with no sickness, just a bit of tiredness for a couple of weeks at the start. I personally wouldn't want to 'risk' spending a lot of money on what sounds to be a holiday of a lifetime if there was a chance I could be too ill or too tired to do anything.

Plus if youbwere to conceive on the trip it would make it even more special

[EeekEeekEeekEeek]

A downside that's just occurred to me: pregnancy can do funny things to your sense of smell, taste and appetite. Personally I would give my right arm to go to Japan and eat real Japanese food (when not pregnant), but it is a very different food culture with very different tastes and textures to Western food.

If you do feel a bit odd and all you want to eat is Coco Pops and baked potatoes, it might not be the best. I'm sure you could find that kind of thing - there's McDonald's everywhere - but it's not going to make for a great travel experience!

Though I didn't get properly sick, I did crave bland food. I think it's quite common.

[Jackieharris]

If you are under 35 I'd say wait until the holiday before ttc.

I've had a holiday ruined by being pregnant. It's such a waste.

[batfish]

I am 20 weeks and have had a very easy pregnancy so I feel like I would be fine at this stage - and at earlier stages. I have gained weight so probably get a bit more tired with walking but I could happily wander around sightseeing, just might need a couple of extra coffee breaks and early nights! However other people at this stage are suffering with sore backs, hips and all sorts of other things so it's pretty hard to know how you will be. I don't think I would postpone TTC for a holiday because if it takes you a while you will wish you hadn't waited. I think I would just go for it and if I was pregnant then would just make adjustments to the holiday itinerary depending on how I was feeling. Good luck and have a great holiday!

[helterskelter99]

Well in 3 pregnancies I was miscarrying between 11& 13 weeks if hol had been before scan I would have thought I was to blame. In my 1st preg we had a hol booked to Peru I didn't canx and went 1week after a mc and walked the inca trail, mentally it was ok, physically it was hard. I wouldn't have coped with even the downgraded version of hol we had planned if I had been 16-18 weeks as we thought I would be.
I would be prepared to canx if you get Preg and see how you feel at the time x

[flyingsprocket]

I feel that you shouldn't put your life on hold because of TTC, once you start doing that then the "trying" becomes a really big part of everything.

Right when we started TTC we booked a skiing holiday, I checked with our travel insurers and they were happy for pregnancy to be a reason for cancellation & would have refunded us. That could be an option?

[Iggi999]

Will you need any special vaccines or tablets for Japan? I remember travelling somewhere else and being on anti-malaria ones and you weren't meant to take those if pg.

[Bustherb]

Like some of the others have said, it really depends on your pregnancy. I had hurrendous sickness from 7 weeks up until 28-29 weeks. Some days I was sick all day and others id be sick once. It truly was a very very bad time, but then u may not get sickness - it's a chance you take!xx

[Christelle2207]

No vaccines/anti-malarials required and a good place to be from a food hygiene and healthcare point of view. I lived there for 2 years and never had a dodgy tummy despite eating all kids of strange and raw things. However pps all make valid points. I

[Fanby]

We went to Japan for a couple of weeks in September and personally due to all the food/drinks etc I'd wait until after, sometimes we really didn't know what we were eating and if you're a first timer you may be overly cautious...hygiene standards btw are amazing over there but you'll want to try all the amazing whiskies and beer I'm sure
We conceived in November and fortunate to have been on a few breaks/holiday whilst pregnant and I'm glad we waited TTC until after Japan.
Have an amazing time!!

[bunny85]

As PPs have said, it's so unpredictable. Everyone's different. Personally I'm 13 weeks and I have felt fine so far, had couple of days of mild nausea and a bit tired, but that was all gone in a matter of a week or so (about week 7?). It's also completely unpredictable how long it will take you to conceive, might take time or it may not! (We were lucky to conceive on the first try). Personally I would go... but that's just me! Good luck with whatever you decide and your ttc!

[LorryHen]

Going to Japan and not being able to eat all the sushi would be a bit poo!

I'm 17 weeks at the moment and struggling with my back so not sure how fun it would be sightseeing when I can barely make it round Asda.

Everyone is different though, you won't know how it effects you until it happens. I'd probably wait until after the holiday to start trying.

[MrsMillions]

When pregnant with DD I went to New York around 22 weeks and tired easily but enjoyed it. We took more breaks whilst walking around and had a rest in the room before going out in the evening. It worked well.

With both that pregnancy and my current one I would have been too nauseous at 11-13 weeks to enjoy a holiday. 15-17 weeks might have been tricky at the start, was just around the point I got back to normal.

How do you feel about the flight if pregnant, it's a long way? Thankfully our New York flights were business class (on air miles) so I had a nice big seat, not sure I'd have fancied a long flight in economy at that stage, especially moving in/out of seat for frequent toilet visits!

If you decide to wait, but are currently on the pill, consider stopping that now and switching to other contraception. We had a "last hurrah" in Hong Kong, didn't stop taking the pill till we got home, and my body took ages to get back to normal. DD conceived 2 years later.

[foobio]

Thanks everyone, really interesting to hear the different experiences (and hope those suffering at the moment start improving soon ).

Japan was carefully chosen from a food / vaccines / hygiene / healthcare perspective (fresh sushi apparently allowed, I don't drink anyway, no vaccines required, and well regarded healthcare over there) as we've been planning to TTC this summer since before we booked flights. Only now really considering the practicalities of it though! Haven't yet planned the itinerary so could easily tailor it to have lots of breaks, and not too worried about the flight as they are rubbish at the best of times so not going to ruin the whole hol even if it is even less comfortable than usual!

Given the unpredictability of morning sickness though, I think I need to have a chat with hubby to maybe replan to TTC from October onwards. We've never been anywhere so adventurous (and probably won't get the chance again for many years to come!) so it would be a real shame to spoil it if I am unlucky with my experiences.

We are 28 & 30 so shouldn't have any trouble waiting another few months even if we are desperate to get started! Thanks for the tip MrsMillions, but I've been off the pill for a couple of years now, so fingers crossed all out of my system by now.

flyingsprocket - do you remember which insurer you used? Those I have found only allow cancellation if you have a doctors note to say you're not fit to fly. Otherwise that could be a good compromise...

[ch1134]

I went I a walking holiday in Scotland at 6 months pregnant and walked several hours every day. My pregnancy was very straightforward and I was very fit and healthy beforehand and throughout. I had a great time.
I definitely wouldn't fit TTC around life. If you want a baby now's the time to start trying. If the pregnancy is not so straightforward you can adapt your travel plans to include less walking. But if you start trying to fit your life around baby before it's even here IMO you're setting a standard for once it is here. Life doesn't stop once babies come along, it just gets better!
Travel in second trimester is easiest by all accounts. I was lucky and would've been fine right up to 38 weeks when baby arrived!
Good luck.

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

Your holiday sounds great, I love Japan!
A few things: as others have said you don't know how your pregnancy will be but I wouldn't let that put you off too much. Many women feel sick in the first trimester, I did long haul them and it was not the best flight but I got through it (request an aisle seat!) So second trimester would be better, on average.
You can eat sushi, it's only raw food like sashimi that's advised to avoid - the NHS website has the full list.
No vaccinations needed for Japan. Personally I'd stay away from Fukushima and be wary of seafood from that area but that's by personal opinion. Japan is huge and you could easily be as far away as England is from Italy!
Make sure your insurance covers everything. Japanese healthcare is good but it is USA style expensive. Maternity stays are very long e.g. after birth it's typical to stay in hospital for weeks for a straightforward birth - a bit different go our go home straight away system. So if anything happened your bill could be huge if you're not adequately insured.
October is a fab time to go there, the autumn leaves are beautiful and the weather will still be warm but not unpleasant. The Japanese are very respectful and I can't imagine you'll have any trouble getting a seat on the train if you're showing.
Food wise in the big cities you can get anything you fancy. Italian, British, American etc. And Japanese food has a huge variety too it's not all raw! Check out okonomi-yaki that's my favourite (savory pancake) and yakitori (a food on sticks BBQ)
I'm very jealous OP!

[flyingsprocket]

foobio I'm insured thought my nationwide bank account. Hope this helps x

[Iggi999]

You are young enough to wait. I had no reason to think I would have difficult pregnancies, I couldn't know in advance. Felt dreadful throughout, sickness in first and third trimester, couldn't sleep without giant pillow thing, SPD. I would enjoy the holiday first.

[HelenF350]

We started ttc in June and went on holiday in September. I got pregnant a few weeks after we returned. To be honest I was glad not to be pregnant on holiday, especially since I ended up with spd very early on. It would have been highly miserable. If you are young I would just wait.

[EeekEeekEeekEeek]

As PPs have said, sushi is fine from the pregnancy food safety point of view. Sashimi (raw fish) is also safe, according to the NHS. Sushi & sashimi fish is now frozen before use, killing any parasites which are the reason sushi used to be on the forbidden list.

I've eaten sushi and sashimi several times during this pregnancy. IMO the food hygiene standards in Japanese-run restaurants are second to none, and in Japan itself will be excellent.

[sianihedgehog]

I was lucky and had a very easy first trimester, and was just very tired and felt mildly queasy. I had more energy and felt pretty good from 16 weeks, but by 19 weeks I started to get really horrendous round ligament pain, which made walking utterly horrible. If you're young enough to wait, I'd just start trying on holiday!

[nochurniscream]

Wait until your holiday!
God forbid you should have a miscarriage or something just before you go.