Pregnant in London and Paris?
 

Hi everyone,

DH and I have been thinking about a London and Paris trip for July. We are travelers, and already have a trip planned for April (Caribbean) and August (Hawaii). We have been looking for something in July, and have been leaning towards London and Paris. Well, we just found out this weekend that I am pregnant :) We are thrilled! I will be in my 2nd trimester in July. Would London and Paris be okay for a pregnant trip? We travel and vacation a few times a year, but this is our first time dealing with planning a trip while being pregnant, so I'm anxious to hear other's experiences. Thanks so much!

Congratulations! Shouldn't you ask your doctor? I've had friends who traveled to Europe at about that same time with no problems but your doctor would know best.

Hi Beachgirl, You should be fine as I just came back from London and was in my second trimester. You have to watch out for soft cheese's in EU which might not be pasturized. You can fly up until 36 wks my dr told me. Lucky You!

Thanks! Of course I'm going to ask my doctor! My 1st appt. isn't until April 12, and I was just seeing what other people's experiences are being pregnant while traveling. Emmalee -- Thanks for the tips on cheeses, it makes sense!

Obviously, ask your doctor. However, the second trimester is a great time to get one last trip in. My MD recommended it highly...said he took his wife to Italy when she was pregnant with their twins. My DH took me to China and Singapore in my second trimester and we had a wonderful trip...climbed the great wall, ate amazing food, explored the hutongs, shopped like crazy people in Macau and Hong Kong. Really a great time.

The only thing I would recommend, and, once again, follow the advice of your MD, is to walk around a lot during the flight. We sat in Business class so I had more room on the long flights but even then I got up about every hour and stretched and walked around and did just fine.

Congratulations on the baby and have fun in Europe.

taitai

Assuming your Doctor gives his blessing -- that is a great time to travel. After the morning sickness calms down (usually) and before you are too big to travel comfortably.

Thanks, everyone. I keep hearing how the 2nd trimester is the easiest time to travel...

I traveled with my first one to England. I think the only issue is the flight there and back. I ended up arriving with my back hurting (can't remember if I walked around enough.. it was 20 years ago.. so good suggestion). The other issue was I went to the pharmacy to get tylenol and they didn't have any! (they have parcetemol.. they may have it now tho). Of course I was too scared to take anything else. So bring any meds you might need. Don't assume just because it's England or France they have everything you might want.

Millie: Excellent point about the meds, thanks. I just got back from Paris with my mom and brother, and I had a cough and cold while there...it's an experience using the pharmacy :)

Congratulations beachgirl86! How far along are you?

Assuming your doctor says you are fine to travel, I think whether you enjoy your trip will depend on how your pregnancy is going (are you tired, sore, uncomfortable?) and whether or not you'll feel nervous being away. A long plane ride is never fun and certainly worse being pregnant but it is only 6? 10? hours (not sure where you are traveling from) so you'll get over it once you arrive.

I went to Spain for two weeks last year during my first trimester. Like you, we had planned the trip before I got pregnant and we didn't want to cancel. I had a very easy pregnancy and (as luck would have it) probably felt the worst during the two weeks we were away. We still had a great time. I just walked around with a bag of saltines! Before we left I realized that eating wouldn't be a big part of the trip for me because I didn't want to eat unpasturized cheeses or anything that wasn't cooked or to drink. I felt like I should follow what the doctor said but naturally this felt silly when I saw all the pregnant Spanish women eating all that stuff and presumably having healthy babies...but that is another topic.

I agree with the other poster about bringing your meds and I'd also bring all the phone numbers you need in case you have a question and need to call your doctor while you are away. Also, drink tons of water (while you are there, not just on the plane) so you don't get dehydrated.

I love traveling too but don't think that I would have taken three big trips like you mention below while I was pregnant. That is just me though - I was tired from working full time and I am not used to traveling that much. Maybe for you it isn't a big deal. One thing to consider is that maybe you should not plan the London and Paris trip now and just wait and see how you feel. No reason to cancel the two you have planned but maybe you want to wait on the third.

You can still travel once you have the baby - that's what babysitters are for. And just today my husband and I took our 9 week old to apply for her passport...the beginning of a whole new phase of traveling for us!

We were in southwest Ireland when I was 4 months along with my first one. It was just fine. The tummy troubles were mostly gone by then. I made sure I took time to sleep enough.
We also were in Paris when my 1st one was 3 yrs and my second was 5 months. It is also a great time to go (if your infant isn't collicky). She didn't care where she was as long as she was fed and held or asleep. I walked everywhere with her. She was a great conversation piece and breastfeeding her on the Tour Eiffel is a great thing to think back on. Have a great time. Bring your Tums if you tend to have the acid reflux thing. Get an aisle seat on the plane so you can get up and move around often. It's important to keep the blood pumping all the way through your legs to keep comfortable and keep those blood clots away (ask your doctor about this stuff - I'm not an expert). Make sure your shoes are comfy and you get to put your feet up. Most of all, have a blast.

Re. Millie64's reply - Tylenol is exactly the same as paracetamol, it's just an American brand name.
English pharmacies (I don't have much experience of French ones) have modern drugs available and pharmacists who will be able to advise you on suitable treatments.

Thanks again.

I know the trips seem like a lot, but since they are already planned, I don't want to cancel them. Plus, I am a teacher and I don't work in the summer, so that is another factor...I won't be too tired from work :) I think I will wait a bit and see how I feel, and of course, talk to my doctor as my pregnancy progresses.

Sounds sensible! Have a great time on your trips and enjoy your pregnancy. With all these trips planned and the summer off, it sounds like you will!

Congratulations! All good advice from other posters. If I may add, make sure you get comfortable hotel rooms in London and Paris. MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A/C. It can get quite hot, and I remember I wanted to nap a lot during my pregnancies (your night time sleep gets less comfortable as the bump grows). At the same time, evening can get cool so you'll need a light jacket or cardigan or something.

I also found my feet got more swollen during the preggie time--wear comfortable shoes with good arch supports. Overall, take it easy and don't squeeze too many activities as you might get tired more easily. Yes, paracetamol is the same as acetoaminophene, the active ingredient of Tylenol. You'll get it OTC in UK.

London-Paris is a comfortable train ride on Eurostar. If you haven't done so, book the tickets early.

Fun shoppings you can do in Paris--maternity clothes and children's clothes (esp if you know if it is going to be a girl or a boy). Veronique Delachaux or Formes make really chic maternity clothes. (I stocked up on Forme's as they're rather expensive outside of France).

If you're there in early July, you can be in the middle of the summer sales season.

BTW, I found many french cheese are not made from unpasteurised milk (lait cru). I still remember a restaurant in Paris where I was offered a demi bottle of champagne for the "future maman" (What a concept!)

Just be sure to walk around on the plane, and do the in-seat exercises to avoid DVT. Check with your MD if aspirin would be wise.

Also, be careful of the charcuterie. I love Prosciutto di Parma and have read advisory against pregnant women consuming that meat. Ditto for other French sausages. Just ask if they cooked--cuit.

Thank you all again! I love your suggestions. We booked tickets last night for a great price.

W9London -- Thank you especially for your specific recommendations. Shopping sounds wonderful :)

There is a couple of threads on this topic already - you might want to search. Not all is OK with traveling when pregnant as everyone says....there are risks...I almost lost my baby midflight!

Just topping. But remember that you cannot eat undercooked eggs while pregnant.

So, that means no hollandaise sauce and no chocolate mousse.

But, there is so much to enjoy in London and Paris. I would spend a fortune in silver baby objects in London and lovely French baby clothes.