Traveling during first trimester

[Hollie]

Hi,
I was just wondering what ya'll thought about traveling in your first trimester. My pregnancy was a surprise to me and my husband. We have been making plans to go to Colorado during Spring Break since last year. This is the only time my husband will get to go on vacation and he is so excited about going. I am nine weeks pregnant and i will be in my 11th to 12th week when we go to Colorado. He sees nothing wrong with me being pregnant and going but my mama and sister on the other hand are having a fit about it. They keep telling me if i go i am going to lose my baby and if i go i am putting my husband in front of my baby's needs. The trip is long,it's a 22 hour car ride split up in two days. We are staying in a cabin and we ride around in the car and look for animals. Just sight seeing kind of stuff. He wouldn't let anything happen to me or put the baby in any danger. But i am arguing with my mama and sister about going and it is upsetting me to the point of i can't quit crying. We want this baby more than anything in this world i would never do anything to jeapordize losing it. I am confused and upset about it. What would ya'll do if it were you? Would you go? Is is really dangerous to my baby if i do go? I am just going to go and kick back and relax. Its not like i am doing physical stuff while we are there. Then i said it will proabably be snowing and then my mom said what if you fall? She said i am a clutz and all it would take is one wrong step and it could end it all. she told me that if i do go and i do lose the baby that i will blame my husband because he wanted to go on the trip. I would not blame him but i am thinking now what if something does happen. Is is worth going? My husband hasn't had a vacation in a very long time and he needs this badly to get away from everything. He deserves it and i can't take this trip away from him. Do you think something really bad could happen or do i just pray about it and let things be as they are going to be? I am confused and upset now thanks to my mother bringing all of her points out. Then she called my husband at work to tell him nicely her opinion of what is going to happen if i go. This just upset me more when she said she called him. Now he is going to be upset and mad and that is what i was trying to avoid by bringing up the trip and not going. I know she was trying to help me out but now i am dreading him coming home and telling me what she said. And the fighting begins and the stress is gonna get me now. There is no avoiding it i am right in the trap. Anyway,any advice is appreciated at this point.

Sincerely,
Hollie

[super duper]

i dont understand why going on a car trip, or any trip, would mean that you are going to lose your baby. when i was pregnant with my daughter we went to mexico in july (think HOT!!!!!) when i was 15 weeks. the only thing i didnt want do (besides drink ) was go on a loooooooooong ride to the jungle to see the pyramids. i was afraid of the heat and of dehydration. but i dont think you have to worry about that in colorado. it sounds like your mom and sister mean well, but their interference is causing you a great amount of stress, which is not good for you or the baby. can you defer to your dr and tell them that you asked the dr and s/he said it was fine, so while you appreciate their concerns you are going on this trip and everything will be fine? and let them know, gently, that they are stressing you out, and "the dr said" that stress is more detrimental to the baby than a vacation. and while youre at it, you might as well actually ask your dr or mw to put your mind at ease.

oh, and i just got back from a 5 day trip to florida with my 13 month old, by myself, carrying her, her bag, and her heavy car seat through two airports, and i heard the babys heartbeat the day after i got back so obviously traveling didnt effect this baby either.

[mamabeth]

I went to Italy when I was 13 weeks pg with my daughter, and it was fine! I mean, the plane ride wasn't fun but it never is, but we just took it easy and had a great time. The only thing I would worry about in Colorado is if you were going to climb a really high altitude mountain or something, but sounds like you're just going to enjoy the scenery.

Sorry they are giving you grief. I hope it works out.

[erth mama]

Sweetie, this sounds like alot of stress on you. Maybe a vacation is exactly what you will need from this! One thing I have just begun to learn on this pregnancy journey is really tuning in and knowing what is right for me and baby, it feels like practice for when the baby is born and i will have to make many choices and set many boundries for the well being of myself and little one. This has included knowing what kind of energy and people I want around me right now. Asking myself if they are really looking out for my best intrest or if it is more their own stuff I am having to deal with.
I am just over 8 weeks and just got back yesterday from a multiday island hopping trip in a float plane. It was my first time off the couch in 2 weeks cause of tiredness and morning sickness. It felt so wonderfull to be out in the world, seeing new things and breathing good air and being with baby on the road. A fresh perspective has done wonders. Best of luck with your family and trip.

[wencit]

I would most definitely go! I think one of the first lessons you learn as a new mommy is how to say no to all the other people in your life who will want to give you their opinions on everything from feeding to diapering to discipline to potty training to blah blah blah ad nauseum. Like a PP said, this would be the perfect opportunity for your mother to learn that this is your body, your baby, and your decision.

Furthermore, I personally think it was obnoxious of your mother to bring up the whole, "What if you fall? You could lose the baby!" scenario. That is such a Chicken Little reaction. Really, you could fall down the stairs today, if you think about it. There are a whole multitude of worst-case, what-if scenarios that COULD happen, but you still get out of bed every morning, don't you? Life is all about assessing your risk vs reward ratios and using your common sense.

If you really want to ease your mind, check with your doctor/midwife first to make sure everything is fine, then GO and enjoy yourself!

[maybemom05]

I think you should be fine - you'll probably want to make sure you have pleny of water and snacks in the car, and make sure you schedule in time to pee - but it shouldn't really be an issue.

The only possible problem I could see would be if you are impacted by altitude at all - but clearly women in Colorado have healthy babies too, so it's probably fine.

I know lots of friends who traveled during the first trimester, and no one had any issues. What does your doctor or midwife think? Would they answer that question for you over the phone??

[RachelGS]

There's no reason at all not to travel! You're not sick. You're not injured. Pregnancy is a normal, safe state of being. You can behave like a normal person without putting yourself at risk. It's okay. Go and have a wonderful time.

[Shorin_Mama]

I was in Italy from week 5-7 during this pregnancy. Other than having morning sickness (which I would have had even if we stayed home) it wasn't bad at all. The long travel was a pain, but I travelled longer than you will in a MUCH more uncomfortable situation (Yay! Coach!). Just be sure to get enough rest, which is true no matter where you are.

I say go for it. People are going to be questioning everything you do with this kid for the rest of your life, so get used to ignoring it. :LOL Go have fun!

Be sure to tell us all about your trip when you get back!

Jess

[kerc]

here's what i'd do:
ask your doctor/midwife for the ok then get the heck outta dodge, enjoy yourself and relax! (I suggest asking your ob/MW/doc because then you have amunition for dealing with your family).

I'd be prepared with extra snacks and water you bring along. And be prepared to stop more often, but totally I'd go.

I flew three times when I was pregnant:
23 weeks to ohio
24 weeks to california
and 26 weeks back to ohio

too many long car rides to note. But I did camp in the final trimester, and geez people got up in arms about that. Apparently some people think that when you're pregnant you're totally handicapped. Don't get me wrong, if my doc says "take it easy" my butt's on the couch. but...otherwise that kinda sitting around makes me crazy.

oh and snowing....people (like me) get pregnant in northern climates -- like minnesota. There's snow on the ground. My doc has even ok'ed cross country skiing (with some precautions of course), we have another month of winter left and I'm enjoying it. Of course i AM using the pregnancy as an excuse to no longer shovel said snow....

[Patti Ann]

I agree with everyone else. Go and have fun. With #1 I travelled to Brazil at 7-8 weeks and a car trip to Niagra Falls at 32 weeks. #2 we drove to NC and then to Florida to avoid Hurricane Dennis when I was 18-19 weeks and we drove to Mont Tremblant Canada at 34 weeks. With # 3 we flew to Ireland at 6 weeks, drove to Canada at 19 weeks and I will be flying to Puerto Rico next week at 8 weeks with #4. Unless there is something going on with the pregnancy to make it threatened you are a healthy woman. Pregnancy does not make you sick. Although the doctors want to make it seem that way sometimes.

Go and enjoy this much needed vacation. Would your mother prefer you lived in a bubble until you deliver?

Patti