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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Morocco in August when 6 months pregnant

22 replies

JuliaBelgravia · 19/04/2022 13:32

Hi Mums, I am looking for some advice please. My partner and I have been invited to the wedding of one of his closest friends in Marrakech in the middle of August, by which point I will be 24 weeks pregnant. Has anyone travelled to Morocco during their second or third trimester? Any thoughts on safety? My main concern is the heat and feeling very uncomfortable! I've read that daytime temperatures reach 40c with very high humidity. This is also my first pregnancy so I'm a bit anxious and unsure of how I will be feeling. I don't know if I should commit to going or not. Thank you for any advice!

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Orchidflower1 · 19/04/2022 13:42

Absolutely no way, the heat for a start.

Regenbogen22 · 19/04/2022 13:47

@JuliaBelgravia it really only depends on you and how you feel at that stage, which I appreciate you can't really know either.

I'm 25 weeks right now and could absolutely do a holiday abroad (we're off to Greece in 5 weeks). But I don't really mind the heat, I'm still relatively active, no pregnancy complaints at all (literally just a big bump).

I can appreciate that it would be different if I had complications or crazy aches and pains. You just can't know unfortunately. If you do go then really check out what the trip would entail - how many days, what is the hotel like, could you easily retire to your room if you needed a cool Aircon break? Like really research it! Area, pool for cooling off, venue with Aircon? Etc etc etc

tokyotolondon · 19/04/2022 14:10

I've done morroco in the peak of summer and it's unbearably hot. Wouldn't have liked to do it whilst pregnant I don't think. I've travelled whilst 28 weeks pregnant and was fine but it was a much cooler climate.

Original poster

JuliaBelgravia · 19/04/2022 15:44

@Orchidflower1 and @tokyotolondon thank you both for your sharing your honest thoughts - the heat is what I'm worried about!!

@Regenbogen22 I think you're right, I will just have to wait and see how I feel nearer the time. I've checked and the hotel we've booked has no pool but it has AC in all the rooms - phew! Thanks so much for your advice. I'm so glad your pregnancy is going well and Greece in May sounds dreamy! I hope you have a lovely holiday :-)

OP posts:

Suprima · 19/04/2022 15:54

It will be 40 degrees and dry, dry heat. Even the nights are hot and sweaty.

I’ve done Marrakech lots. I would be changing your booking for more of a resort hotel with a pool, indoor pool and nice amenities so you can cool off and stay out of the sun when you aren’t at the wedding. Trekking around the souks and day tripping would be a bad idea if you aren’t acclimatised to the heat.

If you are in a riad or a more budget hotel, then I would read the reviews carefully. It may say that the rooms have AC, but it doesn’t mean that the AC is particularly good.

It wouldn’t be my holiday of choice in my second trimester. I think if you are determined to go then you will need to spend a little bit more to be comfortable.

There is also the question of food too- it’s been the only place where I have consistently got food poisoning with each visit…you’ll need to be fastidious about what you are consuming and sticking to bottled water.

Original poster

JuliaBelgravia · 19/04/2022 18:23

@Suprima thank you so much for your helpful insights and suggestions. Our hotel is supposed to be a 4* hotel but I just checked Tripadvisor and several guests have complained about the AC not working well - ahh! Will definitely look for other resort options...

The food poisoning is also a worry. It sounds like I'll just have to be very careful and do a bit of extra planning, if I decide to go. Thank you again!

OP posts:

4thtimethecharm · 19/04/2022 18:39

I would be less worried about the heat and more about the food hygiene. I had brilliant tasting food there, but a lot of it was fruits, salads, juices, etc. for breakfast and lunch. I would not feel comfortable doing that pregnant, but I am quite paranoid about the risk of food poisoning/infection, etc.

ValBiro · 19/04/2022 18:42

I went to Morocco at 8 weeks preg. I was so careful about what I ate the whole time and on one of the last days caved and ordered fish and salad. I got shocking food poisoning and had to fly home early. I was then hospitalised for a week.

It's a beautiful country and I'd love to visit again - but not pregnant!

CrabbyCat · 19/04/2022 18:51

I'd be cautious at that stage of pregnancy. I was far more susceptible to the heat when heavily pregnant, it made me feel really nauseous. You are also far more susceptible to food poisoning when pregnant, as your immune system is suppressed - so if anyone gets a bug, it will probably be you. The threshold for needing medical attention is also a lot lower than when not pregnant as if you are badly dehydrated the placenta stops working properly - I was hospitalised in the UK following a vomiting bug. I don't know enough about Morrocan healthcare to comment, but it's something I'd want to check out before booking a trip there when that heavily pregnant.

NameChange30 · 19/04/2022 18:55

If I were you I wouldn't even consider going.
I don't cope well with heat anyway and when pregnant it's pretty unbearable (I had a September baby so I was heavily pregnant that summer, not great even in the UK).
However, it's not even the heat that would prevent me going, it's the risk of food poisoning. Having food poisoning in a boiling hot country while also pregnant... just not worth the risk!!
Would your DP go by himself?

habibihabibi · 19/04/2022 19:20

I have been to Morocco lots and am sorry to report food poisoning has been a constant souvenir.
Marrakech is a senses overload and not one I'd like being in pregnant in the height of summer BUT if you were in a lovely hotel like La Mamounia and left all the souq stuff out it could be amazing !

Skinnymimi · 19/04/2022 20:02

Hi Op. remember that this is a muslim country where pregnant unmarried women can be denied care.

Rockandgrohl · 19/04/2022 20:09

I'm 23 weeks pregnant with my second, hardly even have a bump. Could absolutely do a hot holiday right now! To some PP's...24 weeks is hardly "heavily pregnant"

Frazzled2207 · 19/04/2022 20:12

No way due to heat, hygiene and being relatively late on in the pregnancy. And I was someone who went skiing when pregnant so clearly not as risk averse as all that!

Suprima · 19/04/2022 20:27

@Rockandgrohl

I'm 23 weeks pregnant with my second, hardly even have a bump. Could absolutely do a hot holiday right now! To some PP's...24 weeks is hardly "heavily pregnant"

40 degree dry, dry heat with dodgy aircon, no access to a pool and needing to stay relatively covered due to cultural norms in that country?

Morocco in august is a different kettle of fish. If OP was talking about a pool holiday in Greece in July, sure

Twizbe · 19/04/2022 20:30

Is the wedding a destination wedding or a traditional Moroccan wedding?

If destination and you've got air con I'd go.

Twizbe · 19/04/2022 20:33

@Skinnymimi

Hi Op. remember that this is a muslim country where pregnant unmarried women can be denied care.

Oh yeah OP, if you're not married this could be an issue. Important to check your travel insurance and local hospital guidelines.

Sex before marriage is illegal in Morocco. Mostly it's ok for foreign tourists but outside of the resort you might want to wear a ring.

NameChange30 · 19/04/2022 20:35

Or get married before you go?!

habibihabibi · 20/04/2022 06:29

Morrocans will have no interest if a foreign visitor is married or not. Plenty of local unmarried women give birth there, be it under the radar.
You only need a marriage certificate to register a birth and unlikely OP will give birth there. Even if she did the embassy can step in and help.

trrk · 20/04/2022 17:49

I also wouldn't go, both due to the heat and risk of food poisoning. I have travelled pretty widely in developing countries and both myself and DH had some of the worst food poisoning of our lives in Morocco. Both local food and tourist oriented food can be the culprets so if you do go be very careful what you eat and drink.

If you do decide to go I'd research medical facilities beforehand too. My DH spent a night in private hospital (covered by normal travel insurance) with food poisoning and while the facilities were fine no English at all was spoken by the doctor or nurses which led to some misunderstandings and difficulty communicating how to take medicine etc. That wasn't in Marrakesh though. I'd still be reluctant to travel anywhere without excellent medical care after 24 weeks since that is the viability limit (in the UK). Comes down to how risk averse you are as going into labour at that stage is extremely rare but it can happen.

oatlattetogo · 20/04/2022 20:06

I wouldn’t, personally, even though it’s somewhere I would love to go. Partly because of the heat, risk of food poisoning etc, but mainly because it’s not a country I would want my baby to be born prematurely in and especially not that prematurely.

I know you’d be very unlucky, but it’s just not worth it for me.

Namesareimpossible · 24/04/2022 13:27

I got back from Marrakech 2 weeks ago and I was 25 weeks pregnant when we flew. I found that everyone was very accommodating to pregnant women - I was allowed through the fast track in security too so I didn’t have to stand in a big queue!

I can’t comment on the heat as it was 25-30 degrees when I was there and I was in the mountains during the 30 degree days so there was a cool breeze. I had no problems with food poisoning, I was just careful and didn’t eat any unpeeled fruit or any salads or ice. I found that a lot of salads were cooked though, e.g. cooked aubergine so my husband and I just shared out the bits I didn’t feel comfortable eating.

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