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Original poster

to go on this journey in my first trimester

39 replies

JunoJunoJuno · 19/05/2015 09:45

My husband and I want to go on holiday to Spain (end of June -- beginning of July). I haven't been pregnant before so I don't know what's safe and what isn't.
We're located in Poland, but going to Spain by plane is not an option because my husband absolutely does not want to fly (is scared). We'll be travelling by car covering about 600 km a day with 3 stopovers: 1 Poland, 2 Germany, 3 -- France (all in hotels), then Costa Brava. We'll stay in Costa Brava for 10 days and then make the same journey back home.
Does this sound like an OK trip when you're 10-12 weeks pg?
Thank you.

OP posts:
TarkaTheOtter · 19/05/2015 09:49

It's safe.
I found my morning sickness was worse when in the car but it was manageable.

Twasthecatthatdidit · 19/05/2015 09:50

Can you delay it until you're 14 -15 weeks? You'll likely feel much better

Chunkymonkey79 · 19/05/2015 09:50

It will be perfectly safe. Whether you feel like being stuck in the car all that time is another matter!

SaucyJack · 19/05/2015 09:51

It'll be safe.

Whether it'll be enjoyable is another matter altogether- and sadly not one you can predict.

DoJo · 19/05/2015 09:51

Sounds fine to me, but then I never really had morning sickness, so didn't have to consider that. What are you worried about specifically? Perhaps some wise MNers can offer the benefit of their experience.

Icimoi · 19/05/2015 09:56

Check that your insurers are informed about your pregnancy and the stage it is at.

Absofrigginlootly · 19/05/2015 10:00

Well I have a different opinion but then I'm super cautious in pregnancy due to fertility issues.....

All that time in the car sounds horrendous to me! I got headaches, nausea (travel sickness from the car on top would send me over the edge!) terrible backache if sat down too long, the need to stop constantly for a pee = not much fun!!

Plus hard to plan where to eat, I would be stressed about not speaking all those languages to ask "is the cheese pasturised/raw egg/ etc" and all the other things you're not supposed to eat in pregnancy(!)

Plus for me, the very real worry of mc meant I didn't want to be far from home.

But that's just my perspective. And I'm a stress head!!! ;)

Personally, I think a second trimester holiday would be way more enjoyable!

Theycallmemellowjello · 19/05/2015 10:15

I have to say I wouldn't have wanted to risk such a long car journey at that stage - not because of any danger, but simply because morning sickness might make it horrible. My DH and I don't fly (environmental reasons) but get trains across Europe for holidays. It is more expensive than driving but it's a lot more comfortable and less stressful. I don't know if that would be an option for you.

Peaceloveandhobnobs · 19/05/2015 12:59

I did a two-three hour car journey in my first trimester which was horrific - felt sick, had to keep stopping to wee, to throw up, etc, the bumpiness of driving made me feel awful, ugh. If you feel like I did then you won't enjoy yourself :( could you fly and meet him there, perhaps? Grin

Oobis · 19/05/2015 13:20

It's a long time in the car, but with regular stops to stretch your legs, as long as you can cope toilet stop wise, enjoy your holiday! Plenty of snacks, water and entertainment. I wish you a happy, healthy pregnancy and happy holidays :-)

Hoppinggreen · 19/05/2015 13:24

Safe yes but also potentially very dull and uncomfortable.
If it's the only option then stop frequently and drink lots of water ( which will mean stopping frequently anyway)

ShaynePunim · 19/05/2015 13:31

Safe but silly. ;)

AmberLav · 19/05/2015 13:33

I'll be better able to comment next week - I'll be driving from London to Aberdeen at 10 weeks pregnant, and we do a stopover on the way up due to the 2 DCs not liking being in a car for too long! I'm dreading it slightly! I suffer from mediumly bad morning sickness, and this pregnancy seems to have increased dizziness. So I would not be voluntarily planning a 3 day road trip either way, if I didn't have to (family wedding in my case...) I had hoped to get pregnant a month earlier, so I'd have been past the worse of morning sickness in a perfect world, but ho hum...

Any chance of putting it off? That said, you may be one of those lucky ones that has zero nasty symptoms!

leedy · 19/05/2015 13:34

I'm sure it'd be safe, but mightn't be particularly comfortable - depends on how your tum reacts to pregnancy. Eg I don't normally get car sick but discovered that I do on twisty Spanish roads when pregnant. Did some high quality puking at the side of roads on the Costa Brava....

leedy · 19/05/2015 13:36

If you do decide to go, I recommend frequent stops, lots of water, and salty snacks - salted pistachios seemed to stop the worst of the pregnant car queasies for me.

Hoppinggreen · 19/05/2015 13:38

Also being pg increase your chance of DVt so move around as much as possible and do leg stretches etc.

eurochick · 19/05/2015 13:41

It's safe but you might feel rotten. My nausea meant I developed travel sickness. Tbh I wouldn't fancy spending that long in a car, preggo or not.

madreloco · 19/05/2015 14:00

Why is this even a question? Of course you can go on holiday, since when was being a bit pregnant any impediment to 10 days in Spain?

hellsbellsmelons · 19/05/2015 14:33

It's safe but I couldn't have done it.
My PIL were up north about a 3 hour drive from us.
Any time I had to travel up there I had to take loads of bags with me and I was probably sick about 10 times each way.
As long as car journeys aren't making you feel sick you should be just fine.
Enjoy.

hibbledibble · 19/05/2015 14:43

Its safe, but it certainly doesn't sound enjoyable. Why not go on holiday nearer? Zakopane?

Somethingwitty2015 · 19/05/2015 14:51

It comes down to whether you'll be car/morning sick and having to pee all the time - you won't know that until closer to the time as symptoms can come and go. Can you investigate whether any cheap flights are available, so if you don't feel up to it DH could drive and you could follow by plane?

Learn the Spanish for "I'm pregnant" in case you have any questions about food etc. have a great holiday

leedy · 19/05/2015 15:06

"Of course you can go on holiday, since when was being a bit pregnant any impediment to 10 days in Spain"

It's not the 10 days in Spain I'd be concerned about, it's the 3 days of driving to get there. As I said above, I got horribly car sick when I was pregnant. Almost certainly not unsafe, but might be unpleasant.

Gubbins · 19/05/2015 15:12

I did a round the world trip in my first trimester, involving long drives and even longer plane journeys. The only issue was that I was in a foul temper for most of it, which probably took the shine off it for my travelling companions.

You'll be fine.

mmgirish · 19/05/2015 15:21

We went on a two week road trip when I was 4 months pregnant with my 2nd child. We travelled 2557km and split the driving. It was great! Have fun!

Pippa12 · 19/05/2015 15:27

Impossible to answer as some people are really well in there pregnancies, some feel rotten. It's perfectly safe, it wether you will enjoy it.

Being in a foreign country wouldn't bother me at all- I went to Portugal and Greece whilst pregnant- it was just what the Dr ordered, felt great. But I had Mr Thomas Cook do all the driving Wink

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