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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Questions re: holidaying while pregnant

22 replies

waitinggirl · 05/07/2008 19:11

hello - i'd love to get some advice... we are going to portugal for a week in mid july to enjoy the sun and have possibly our last hols on our own. i will be 17 weeks:

i always dive into the pool out there - is this a good idea? the pool is unheated, and although it'll be hot, the water is always cold enough to make me really gasp. is this stupid - should i grit my teeth and creep in?

sunbathing: i know this isn't exactly recommended, but a little bit now and then isn't going to harm me, is it? especially if i put high factor sunscreen on?

i'm taking a spray on magic-cool spray can of water - that should help with not overheating - any other tips?

shellfish - portugal has amazing seafood - if we buy fresh prawns, get them home, cook them to death - they won't be too bad for me, will they?

are octopus and squid considered shellfish as well?

and any other tips for stuff i've obviously forgetten?
thank you

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

gemmummy · 05/07/2008 19:20

the pool will be fine....you're more prone to sunburn so factor 40 at least will be the best. not sure about the food.

Lozza70 · 05/07/2008 19:28

I went on holiday to Tenerife at 9 weeks and Gozo at 23 weeks. Both hols the temp was about 26 degrees so not too hot. I have to say I did not dive into the pool but spent a bit of time lowering myself in. It was great though when I got too hot just sitting on the side with my feet in to cool down.

Watch out with the sun bathing as your skin can burn more easily so high factor cream and not sitting out between 11.30 and 2.00 should do the trick. They do say that sun can deplete folic acid levels so I continued to take folic acid suppliments.

As for the seafood I just kept eating it. I applied the same rules as I do normally. Eating from restaurants that I feel comfortable with in terms of how clean they are and making sure any seafood I eat is really fresh.

Maybe take a pillow with you from home if you are using pillows to help you sleep on your side and I took a fan with me so if I got a little hot in a restaurant I could fan myself back to normality without passing out

Have a great holiday!

silvermum · 05/07/2008 19:56

as you're only 17 weeks i really don't think there's too much to worry about generally! people go on holiday to exotic (and very hot!) places quite a lot later in pregnancy than that and it's fine. i don't know about the sea food. lucky you, have a great time and sleep a lot!

rrrayray · 05/07/2008 21:13

Think people have covered eveything i was going to say. The only extra thing i'd add is get yourself some flight socks for SURE.... My Ankles Swelled up like Crazy on a flight back from Mexico when i was pregnant, but didn't yet know it.

Kezza7779 · 05/07/2008 22:49

if u have a doppler take it i regretted no taking mine - i wanted it for reassurance being so far from home!

Original poster

waitinggirl · 06/07/2008 07:41

thank you all, and yes, have already purchased my fetching flight socks.

anyone else got any advice re: whether octopus and squid are considered shellfish/dangerous to eat for pregnant ladies?

thanks

OP posts:

chutneymary · 06/07/2008 07:46

've been eating squid and octopus from decent restaurants as I've figured they are both cooked and so unlikely to harbour anything nasty. I'm 17 weeks too. Only shellfish I'm avoiding is raw (oysters etc) or notoriously dodgy (mussels, clams etc). Not logical but works for me

Have a great time.

PertweeAndLemon · 06/07/2008 07:52

Octopus and squid don't count as shellfish AFAIK. On shellfish in general, my midwife told me just to be sensible -- i.e. if you are confident about the source and about the cooking then there shouldn't be a problem.

seeker · 06/07/2008 07:54

And remember that people abroad get pregnant too!

seeker · 06/07/2008 07:56

Oh and remember that you may be INCREDIBLY tired at that stage, so don't plan in advance what you want to do - you may just want to lie on a sun-lounger and be waited on hand and foot. Or you may be fizzing with energy and want to do tons - you won't know til you get there.

Original poster

waitinggirl · 06/07/2008 08:13

ooh, lying on a sunlounger, waited on hand and foot... that sounds good. i cannot wait... only thing missing would be the g&ts. however, my dh does a mean fake gin - ice + limes + tonic. somehow the clinking of the ice, the colour of the limes manages to fool me into thinking there is gin in there.
thanks all

OP posts:

bellabelly · 06/07/2008 09:19

My top tip for fake gin and tonic is to do it as you have described but then just rub a little gin with your finger round the rim of the glass. So you get the smell of gin and tonic with a teeny-weeny fraction of the alcohol.

whomovedmychocolate · 06/07/2008 09:30

Anything that goes into calamari is generally okay so squid, octopus etc. Because it's fried at such a high temperature. Obviously avoid buffets, ice cream unless it's packaged (listeria risk), ice cubes which may have been made with unfiltered water etc.

Also, be aware that in pregnancy you can develop dark skin patches after exposure to skin which can take a long time to fade (and I mean months rather than weeks), it's called 'mask of pregnancy' and it's so attractive - not. I've got a bit by my eye where my sunglasses don't cover my face, despite judicious application of factor 50.

Finally don't get dehydrated, it can cause braxton hicks and you will think you are going into labour and nothing spoils a day at the beach like having to rush to the hospital only to be patted on the head and given a bottle of Evian .

But do enjoy yourself, holidays are much harder work once the babies arrive and once they get to be toddlers - gah - you may as well give it up entirely

Annabellemary · 07/07/2008 09:41

Prawns in garlic (Gambas Al Ajillo) are fried in olive oil at extreme heat therefore thoroughly cooked and fine to eat (I ate them every day for two weeks) and the most important piece of advice I could give is ENJOY YOURSELF!! Relax, unwind, spend time enjoying your partner's company because once little one arrives your holidays will not ever be as relaxing again.

RIBS · 07/07/2008 11:40

You'll be fine, I went to Spain for a girly holiday (without the alcohol) at 27/28 weeks. Adored the sun. My skin reacted to one of the sunscreens, even though id used it previously. Ive eaten seafood all the way through, as long as they'r cooked.
My pool was freezing & im a bit of a fairy so had to inch myself in. But i LOVED floating around on my belly on my lilo!!
Ahhhh Bliss.
I would recommend a relaxing week away in the sun to anyone, its not like we get a summer here. Im jealous already!
X

chandellina · 07/07/2008 11:49

i think all those things are fine, i have had all seafood and shellfish (except oysters) all along, just be sensible and don't eat anything that doesn't seem fully cooked. (well i did have sushi too a couple times but figured nobu knows what it's doing).

you may also want to be careful with packaged ice cream that may have melted and then refrozen. i doubt this is an issue in portgual but is definitely relevant in india and other countries with intermittent electricity.

i went to mexico between 6.5 and 8.5 weeks and had a great time and no probs.

ChocOrange05 · 07/07/2008 11:56

Waitinggirl just wanted to add that all seafood is ok as long as it is cooked and hot - just be careful with anything cold / not freshly cooked.

Chandellina - even Oysters are ok if they are cooked but then who likes cooked Oysters!

I just came back from Barbados where I was 20 - 22 weeks, it was bliss!

Hersetta · 08/07/2008 09:45

Enjoy the rest - I went to the Maldives last year when i was between 24-27 weeks and fab a fantastic time just lounging around and getting my DH to wait on me - which he did brilliantly!

JessJess3908 · 08/07/2008 10:42

You might want to go to a chemist here before you go and buy some diahrea tablets that are recommended as ok to use during pregnancy - just in case. Beats trying to explain you're pregnant and ask if its ok to take something in a foreign language. Also - if you've got them with you then it's sod's law your tummy will be fine.

You should also take your pregnancy notes.

I went to Egypt at about 17 weeks - best ever time for a holiday.

Mmm... prawns in garlic...

JessJess3908 · 08/07/2008 10:42

And maybe indegestion remedy?

mummyblushes · 08/07/2008 11:13

Note if you have dark hair you may want to invest in a hat - I found my head got very hot and this made me feel quite tired and grumpy - but a 3 euro white cotton hat solved that problem very quickly!

Also be prepared to find the heat quite tiring generally, don't plan too much for one day and take regular breaks in the shade.

I was 20 weeks when I went on holiday and kept my top half mostly in the shade as I felt much more comfortable that way. Bag an umbrella by the pool early doors!

I also probably had a half glass of wine most evenings, accompanied by lots of water. Just too annoying having nice meals without nice wine but that's a personal thing, I know.

Hope you have a lovely break.

mummyblushes · 08/07/2008 11:16

Ooh yes also try to alternate rich meals with light ones, I was having a bit too many german style breakfasts ie cheese and ham and bread and it didn't help my constipation problems at all!! So bring some prunes or dried apricots and have lots of fresh fruit/salad as restaurants generally use a lot more fat/rich sauces than you're used to having at home.

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