first-trimester travel - reassurance, please?

[jgdy]

Hello,

I am feeling nervous about the trip I'm taking. I'm leaving on Thursday for three weeks (two weeks in Spain and one week in Paris). This is a trip we had planned for a long time, and I'm still really looking forward to it, but now that I know I'm pregnant I am worried about a) the long flights - can they be harmful at this stage?; and b) food and eating (potential morning sickness, not being able to cook/eat at home, and what foods to avoid). Right now I don't have any symptoms other than sore breasts/nipples - no nausea yet. But it's so early: I'm not quite at 5 weeks (right? If my due date is September 13?). By the time we get back I will be at almost 8 weeks, I think.

This is my first pregnancy and I didn't realize that I would feel so worried about it. I thought I would be laid-back and would be able to not get too freaked out about everything. However, I seem to have been wrong. So, I think horror stories would not be good for me at this point, since I'm already inventing them in my head. Can someone with more experience than me please tell me that they survived, or even enjoyed, an international vacation at a similar time in their pregnancy?

Oh, and I do plan to avoid wine and soft cheeses, but if anyone else has any other tips for what to eat/not eat while I am there, that's appreciated too.

Also, should I pack anything in particular? Ginger pills? I don't know...

Thanks so much!!

[LCB]

I did that exact trip

My DH and I went back in May of 2007. We were on the Costa Del Sol in Spain for one week and in Paris for one week. If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much. We had exactly zero problems with any of the food or water on the trip. Granted, I wasn't pregnant but we drank tap water and ate at tons of restaurants and neither of us had any problems.
The flights are long but I don't think that's an issue until you get later in the pregnancy and you have to worry about the pressure and everything. Right now, you just have a little cluster of cells and it's well protected in your abdomen, I don't think the flights will affect anything there.
Just have fun! Do stay away from the soft cheese, like you said. Maybe take some of the pressure point bands for your wrists if you have any nausea. Definately pack snacks for the flights, airplane food is mediocre at best and you need to be able to to snack whenever you get hungry. I brought a box of some peanut butter crackers and they made the flights about a million times easier. I really don't think you need to worry though. You're in for an amazing trip...take pictures so you can show baby all about his/her first trip!!

[frontierpsych]

good luck.

I need a little reassurance myself, as I'm flying from Hawaii to Arizona at around 11 weeks.

[guestmama9920]

flying will be fine, baby is such a small little bit right now, he or she won't even notice.

France and Spain both have doctors should you need them

[Snugglebugsmom]

I'm just starting my second trimester (due in July), but I saw your post and wanted to reply since I did a lot of flying in my first trimester.
At 5 weeks, I flew from Phoenix to London and then on to Frankfurt, Germany.
At 6 weeks, I flew from Frankfurt to Beijing, China.
At 7 weeks, I flew from Beijing back to Frankfurt.
I am about to fly from Frankfurt back to Phoenix via London, and will be 13 weeks along then.
So far, I have not had any trouble with flying, other than being uncomfortable with the narrow seats (doesn't help that I'm overweight also). I'm having to fly with my three young children, but even so I'm not worried. They are used to these long flights, and I know they will be fine.
Nausea has not been much of an issue for me, either. I would recommend bringing some snacks along, like a protein bar or something similar. Sucking on hard candies has also helped me with nausea.
I wouldn't worry about food while you are in either Spain or France. My family lived in Spain for a few years (Barcelona), and I'd say that those "tappas" are a perfect food for a pregnant woman. I also spent a week in Paris this summer with the kids, and again food was definitely not an issue there!!!! It's Paris, after all, and the French are known for their cuisine. We drove to Paris (from Germany) and even stopping in those highway rest stops was awesome food-wise. :
Try not to worry, and enjoy your travels!!!

[jgdy]

Oh, thanks so much! It's especially good to hear from people who have done it. Of course I know the food and water and doctors in both France and Spain are marvelous, it's just that I'm a nervous first-timer who is still not totally convinced that a well-timed cough or sneeze won't dislodge the pregnancy somehow (joking, sort of) -- not to mention flying at 40,000 feet and then bumping around in overnight trains and eating new food and sleeping in new places, etc.

Intellectually I know it's not a problem, but like I said... I've somehow become such a worrywart despite myself. I love traveling -- I lived in Mexico City all last year and of course saw zillions of pregnant women there and never really worried about being pregnant in another country. Yet now suddenly I am suddenly convinced that I am a delicate flower who shouldn't travel! I know I'll probably get over this at some point. But meanwhile, it's really nice to hear from people who jetted all over the place during the first few months and I will be happy to hear from any others...

Merci beaucoup and muchas gracias!

[starparticle]

We just got back from Paris in October, and the only thing I can think of to mention is the smoking. It's hard to find anything non-smoking, and there isn't much outside seating this time of year...We went with our 18 month old and they were very considerate to try and seat us away from smokers, so I'm sure if you said something they would accomodate you.

As for food - JUST EAT! : I seriously think the raw food phobia is so overblown...but if you want to be careful watch out for all the "tartar" - AKA raw. Duck tartar, beef tartar, tuna tartar, on and one. Delicious, but maybe not right now

[truelife]

Hi jgdy -

I read that you lived in Mexico City for a year. We traveled there many, many times while I was in various stages of my pregnancy with both kids and everything was perfectly fine. The only thing I avoided was drinking water (still used tap to brush teeth) and the soft cheeses.

The only thing I really recommend is drink A TON of water before/during/after the flight. That will help with the nausea and jet lag tremendously.

[Kleine Hexe]

I flew to Brazil when I was 9 weeks and came home at 12 weeks. I had a blast....throwing up and all! I asked for an aisle seat just in case I needed to bolt to the bathroom on the plane.

The trip was for a class abroad through school. So I had to actually learn stuff, study, take tests, and write papers. I took classes at the university in Sao Paulo and toured the city. We took trips to a little eco-tour island and had a lecture on the beach. We hiked through rainforest, studied plants and animals. Danced with locals at a town festival. Went bird watching. Toured a lot of smaller towns. Stayed at some of the coolest places. I even took a horse buggy ride which shook my teeth out of my head. That worried me but it was fine.

Everywhere I went I carried my backpack that always had a jar of pickles. I know very cliche....but it helped with the sickness. I ATE so much! The food was unbelievably good. I've never had fresher fruit or fish! I'm drooling now thinking back and it was 8 years ago. My only complaint was that I was craving milk and well it just was not readily available. People looked at me like was nuts because I wanted to drink milk. I did get some. We stayed at a farm for a couple days and they milked their cow for me. Talk about fresh milk.

Yes, I threw up everyday, but I was so happy to be pg and having so much fun that I did not care.

Here are my tips. Take pants with expandable waist. You never know how much you will grow and you may not be able to (or want to) buy clothes on your trip. Also, do not drink any drinks with ice cubes. Simply because your body is not used to the different flora/fauna in the water and it can cause illness. That's a good tip whether pg or not.

Oh, and totally buy a little shirt or something for the baby while you're there. I did and I still teasure that shirt. It reminds me of that special time.

Have a great trip!!!

[xochimama]

Hi jgdy,

I found out I was pregnant with DD1 (at 4+ weeks) while in London. And I didn't come home for another week. All was FINE! I second the suggestions about loose-fitting trousers and snacks. Also pack some ginger tea, just in case the morning sickness hits and you can't find any...

Have fun!!

[Jaimep]

This is great to read. We are planning to travel to Italy the first week of march. I will right around 12 weeks. So far I don't feel sick, I hope it stays that way. Even if it doesn't I should be feeling better by then.

Italy. I am gonna...Eat and eat and eat and eat and eat the pasta! MANGIA TUTTI!

[calpurnia]

Go maternity shopping in Paris!