Hen weekend in Portugal - 16 weeks pregnant!

[AuntieMaggie]

I'm booked to go on a friend's hen weekend to Portugal when I will be 16 weeks pregnant - it will be ok won't it?!

We're all over 40 so there will be lots of drinking and dancing but hopefully not too crazy!

Any advice?

I was supposed to go on a hen weekend this Saturday, but I'm on bed rest since my 18th week (I will be 20 weeks on Sat). It's just impossible to say where pregnancy takes us! I would assume you can go and have fun (remember you'll need more breaks than usual), but make sure you take out some travel insurance that also covers cancellations.

Yeah I’d just say don’t be afraid to tell them your tired or want to go back earlier in evenings but obviously do it safely. Drink loads of water to help you feel better and more awake?! Lots of mock tails so you don’t miss out? 😘xx

I'd say you'll be fine I'm 19 weeks and I could rock a hen do at this stage!

I went on a 40th to Berlin at a similar stage of pregnant and the only difference is on the second night I came back to the apartment at half midnight whilst they stayed out enjoying Ocktoberfest other than that I did everything the others did and went everywhere they went.

Go for it! Be lovely to get away with pals before the baby arrives.

Thank you. I know it will be fine - just overthinking everything in first trimester anxiety!

16 weeks you'll hopefully be recovering from morning sickness and feeling a lot more energetic!
Just remember not to drink any alcohol, there is no safe level of alcohol during pregnancy, there is a high risk of developmental issues when you consume alcohol in pregnancy.

At that stage you should be ok for a trip as long as you know your limits and are prepared to say if you need some earlier nights. I remember everyone telling me my tiredness would go for the second trimester. It didn’t really go until 24/25 weeks and I then had a reasonably good run into the middle of my third trimester when I felt like a normal human being.

I was due to go on a hen when I was 15 weeks, it was only one night away 2 hours from home and in the end I couldn’t face it. I suffered from nausea up to 17 weeks and just had no interest. I’m 19 weeks now and if it was this weekend I would absolutely go. Chances are you will be fine, I think most women feel pretty good by 16 weeks.

Something that's good to know: in Portugal, pregnant women have the legal right to skip to the front of every queue. Tourist attractions (there's often a separate entrance- it's pregnant women and the elderly) and officially even restaurants. Separate shorter security in the airport too. Look into it, it's fab, and totally took me by surprise though I didbt have the nerve to demand to be seated first in restaurants.