First trimester holiday

[cottonpenguin]

I'll be flying at 9 weeks and then again at around 11 weeks. Booking appointment is a few days after 1st trip and scan is once I'm back from 2nd trip where I'll be around 14 weeks.

Is there anything I need to be aware of when travelling to hot countries within first trimester? There is no zika risk for either & I've read about being more careful with sunscreen etc. I'm hoping I'll be over the nausea by then, if not, is there anything I can do to reduce it?

Do I need to be more careful with salads etc, can I still go out in the sun? I'd still like to wear bikinis, is it safe to have your belly uncovered?

Thank you

If in Europe I wouldn’t worry about salads etc, I didn’t when on holiday, and I drank tap water. Your skin can be more sensitive to the sun and your body temperature does go up in pregnancy so I’d be a bit careful when sunbathing, maybe avoid over middle of the day and stay hydrated. I’d personally want a scan before going to rule out ectopic pregnancy, and know there’s a heartbeat as this decreases miscarriage likelihood.

I went to Portugal at 8 weeks and then to Greece at 10 weeks. I was absolutely fine, just make sure you stay hydrated. It's fine to wear a bikini as well, but I found sitting in the sun for long periods of time made me feel a bit sick so just move into the shade if it's too much.

Hi @Peonies12 Both Europe, that's great to know thank you! Second one will be Greece so expecting 30+ and will keep that in mind, it'll most likely be too hot to sunbathe over midday anyway.

I was looking at an early reassurance scan before the two week holiday where I'll be 14 weeks when I'm back. Would it be better to go at around 9 weeks before the first do you think? Both the booking in and scan were booked for when I was away so they've both been pushed back a bit. I did speak to the midwife to ensure I didn't miss the cut off for the NT test at 14 weeks.

I had thought about the ectopic risk, I wouldn't like to be somewhere where I wasn't familiar with the healthcare system etc. I must get insurance also, will I need to declare that I am pregnant?

@readyforroundthree Thank you for your reply, that's great to know :) did you find that you were more tired than usual?

@cottonpenguin tbh I found the first trimester so tiring anyway, so I wouldn't say I was more tired, if anything I actually felt physically better being away. My nausea eased a lot and I felt really relaxed so I'm really glad I went away. The only thing I did really struggle with was walking in the heat. When I got to Greece I realised I left my pregnancy vitamins at home so I googled a local pharmacy which was only a 20 min walk away but my god I regretted the walk 🤣 just be mindful not to over do it.

Is there a reason your scan is booked so late at 14 weeks? I would be concerned about not being able to have the various screening tests

The salad thing is even in the UK so yes probably avoid. Depending on where you are going, you might need to avoid ice in drinks and drinking tap water. I probably wouldn’t eat seafood either.

Hi @Youcancallmeirrelevant , I'll be around 13-14 weeks by the 12 week scan date depending on whether I'm calculating based on LMP, the NHS due date calculator is putting me at 13w5d due to shorter cycles.

I was given an earlier scan 2 days before this one but would have still been away at this point so had to ask for it to be changed. I did stress to them my dates when rescheduling so hoping it will be okay although I know dates can be slightly out. I will be 9w5 days at the booking appointment and only 4 working days between this and going on second holiday so think this would be too early for the 12 week scan.

What would you suggest doing? It is worrying me a little bit, I will go for a reassurance scan before I go but should I also look at the NIPT privately do you think? Do these pick up what is being tested on the NT scan?

Thank you for your response, worrying a bit now

I’d personally get a scan at 9 weeks before either trip, just for peace of mind. We went away recently at 24 weeks, I phoned our travel insurance and they said I was covered as long as not travelling against medical advice.

Also if you get a scan earlier, they’ll give an idea of dates. I had my “12 week” scan at 13 weeks anyway, that’s just the date they gave me

I've not long come back from Greece went when I was 6 weeks pregnant and the nausea kicked in while there but was nice to relax and have naps rather than being at home it's much worse now I'm back.

I sunbathed, swam in the sea, paddleboarded just everything I normally would do, I preferred shade mostly and still ate salads etc...

Have a lovely time and spend some time relaxing!

Hope you have a lovely time away op!
it really depends on your symptoms.

I had to cancel my holiday abroad last month when I would have been 7 weeks as my nausea and sickness was so bad, I could hardly get out of bed never mind get on a plane.

We had to claim a refund through the travel
insurance after my GP said I couldn’t fly as I was so dehydrated.

If you feel fine going away it will do you some good as you can relax and take some lovely naps!

I would have an early private scan to get a better idea of dates, and then if the dates meant my NHS scan would be too late i would cancel the 2nd trip.

@Peonies12 I'll get a scan booked, thank you!

@elb1504 Glad that you had a good time! Thank you!

@Doveytail oh no! It's a shame you had to cancel but the nausea can be debilitating can't it. Glad that you could claim it back though x

A NIPT will cover more then the NHS combined screening does, so might be something to consider if you can’t get a scan before 13+6. I had a NIPT at 10 weeks and then wasn’t allowed to have the NT measurement and combined screening done at my scan at 13+5. The sonographer wouldn’t do it as there’s more risk of false positives and they just do a NIPT after that, so they said there was no point in letting me potentially get a false positive to then repeat the test I’d already paid for.