What to pack for 2nd trimester holiday?

xiwang

Hi, I am going to go on holiday later this week for a week. It is my first beach visit in a warm country in five years and the first proper holiday in almost ten years, so I can hardly think with excitement

I'll be 18 weeks pregnant when I'm there, and it is my first pregnancy, my questions is: is there anything obscure I should bring that I would never think of myself? I have loads of space in the suitcase because so far I have only packed bikinis, dresses, sunscreen and a sun hat. Thanks for your advise!

Gee_G

don't forget those pressure stocking things for the flight! And stuff like rennie(obviously only if u suffer from heartburn ha ha) and paracetemol!(just incase) i went when i was about 16 weeks but unfortunately was not that sunny!!

How Strange

I went on holidays around 18 weeks and I think it's the perfect time. I went on an active walking holiday and while I couldn't do the longer, tougher walks I had a great time and was full of energy and being pregnant didn't make it much different to pre pregnancy holidays (except for the lack of hangovers :P).

I'd say bring a supply of gaviscon and enough paracetemol in case you get a headache before you get to a pharmacy.

I can't remember packing anything specific except for gaviscon.

mrsWhippy

A very high SPF for your face as you're more prone to pigmentation when pregnant

xiwang

Thank you, this is a great starting point! I started getting heartburn two days ago and it never crossed my mind that I could possibly have it while in the sun (wishful thinking, lol) or that I could do anything against it, I just thought I had to suffer through it. I just assumed I could either not take anything or it would not help, because two of my friends who had heartburn during pregnancy said nothing in the world did help them - but buying Rennie or Gaviscon as a precaution sounds like a good plan, who knows it might just help me after all.

Can I get the flight socks or pressure stockings at any pharmacy or is it something more specialist?

I have SPF 50 as a lip balm and cream for the face and body, is there anything higher than 50 (this is what I have to use during the two days of Irish summer)?

Also packed some snacks for the plane now, like rice cakes and dried fruit.

Oh you always think you forget something, and baby brain really doesn't help with that!

Gee_G

i think u can get stockings in most chemists, put them on first thing that morning i was told so it doesn't give ur feet a chance to swell at all. Drink lots of water on flight n take a little walk to the loo every hour or so! If u have just started getting heartburn, rennie's and gaviscon will be ur new best friends! :-) i'm not sure if u can get higher than factor 50, this is what i used all over me on hols as i was afraid of any change in pigmentation too! I'm trying to think was there anything else unusual i brought... Cant think now but ill get back to u if i remember :-) and most importantly, enjoy! Might be the last sun holiday for a while :-) x

How Strange

At the beginning of my pregnancy I hated gaviscon and refused to touch it; by the end I was gulping it straight from the bottle :P

xiwang

Thanks again for the suggestions, just a quick recap:

Gaviscon and paracetamol in the suitcase proved priceless, didn't need them at all, not a minute with heartburn and/or headaches

Travel/Flight socks seemed to have worked, although putting them on in the morning before the flight back at over 35°C was just not possible. We were checked out by 9 but the coach did not go until 12, so I had a few hours in the sea and only put the socks on before I got into the airconditioned bus. I don't think I would have survived if I had put them on earlier to be honest.

Anti-insect spray was also a good thing to pack.

Because I had a lot of room in the bag I also packed a pillow and a couch cushion, and I am really glad I did, I can only recommend bringing something along those lines along if it will fit, since they don't weight much and are really really good to have to support bump/legs when trying to sleep away from your own bed.

sunshiner

peppermint tea is excellent for heartburn