It is becoming more and more apparent that, with the increasing costs of having a family, your first pregnancy is a great time to have that one special couples holiday before the ‘family fun’ starts. So here are a few tips to make sure that you stay safe and ensure that your lasting memories of your final big splash are definitely things you would want to remember.

1. Preparation
   It is important to ensure that your stress levels stay as low as possible at any time in your life, but especially while you are pregnant. So make sure that you prepare well, write lists to ensure that you remember everything and give yourself that little bit more flexibility in timings. If you have prepared well then there is no need to scream at the long queues at check-in or have a last minute panic that you’ve forgotten something. You can just take a breath, know you’ve got it all in hand and relax, ensuring that your holiday starts the minute you leave the house, and enjoy every minute.

   Before travelling, you should take a trip to your Doctor or Midwife to get their advice on what precautions you need to take whilst you are away. Your Midwife or Doctor should give you a health check to ensure that you are safe to travel and may need to provide you with a letter confirming this - usually if you are travelling beyond 32 weeks on a plane or 28 weeks pregnant on a Ferry Crossing. In addition, you should discuss any vaccination requirements for your trip and which ones would be safe during pregnancy.

   You should also talk to your travel insurance provider to ensure that both you and your child are covered under your travel insurance policy, should the baby arrive early, and ensure that you take your medical notes with you in your hand luggage so that they are easily accessible throughout your trip.

   If you are travelling in Europe, it would also be advisable to take with you an EH1C card which provides emergency care in Europe. An application form for this can be found at your local post office.

2. Take A Break
   However hectic your schedule or demanding your life, now is the time to wind down, even just a little bit. So ensure that while you are away you have times for relaxation and rest. Aim to have at least an hour per day where you can just put your feet up, rest and recharge those batteries to ensure that you are relaxed and calm when you return - rather than in need of another holiday.
    
3. Eat Well
   The most common cause of morning sickness, no matter what time of day, during pregnancy is hunger. When on holiday there may be a different schedule to meal times which does not fit in with your changing needs for fuel. So ensure that you take nutritious and high energy snacks such as cereal bars and dried fruit  with you to ensure that you always have something to hand both on the journey and throughout the holiday.
    
4. Hydrate
   Your demand for fluids will never be higher than as your baby grows, so ensure that during your entire holiday you have a bottle of water to hand, especially in warmer climates. Risk of dehydration is particularly prevalent in airplane travel, so ensure that you have enough liquid whilst travelling to keep you and your baby well hydrated. Before you go on holiday you should also make yourself aware of the local brands of purified water and ensure you are aware of where there will be a suitable source of drinkable water available to you.And with all this extra fluid, comes the need to release it. So make sure that you use toilet facilities whenever they become available or consider investing in a sheewee - so that you always have your own convenience to hand! 
    
5. Listen to Your Body
   When you are pregnant, you have more hormones running round your body than ever before. One of these hormones, Relaxin, will ensure that your body is ready for birth, but it will also relax the ligaments and tendons around your muscles, making you more flexible but more prone to sprains and strains. To ensure you are not at risk leave all the heavy suitcase lifting to someone else and ensure you are only doing what your body allows, when your body aches, it is telling you to slow down, even when you are having a good time.
    
   Also, consider your holiday activities. When pregnant you should avoid using some forms of saunas, jacuzzis and footspas but this can also be extended to include some forms of massage and aromatherapy, so check out treatments beforehand and ensure that you clearly identify that you are pregnant before any treatment begins. This might also not be the best time to start learning to deep sea dive or waterski, but you should also consider the safety of waterslides and other activities before you try them, so check out local warning signs and ensure you adhere to them to make your holiday as safe as you can.
    
   The risks of thrombosis, varicose veins and increased blood pressure / swelling when on airplanes is widely documented and can put some off travelling all together, but did you know that such risks are also associated with sitting anywhere for a continuous amount of time, such as in a car or on a train. So wherever you are, make sure you take regular breaks and carry out some small exercise, such as a short walk or ankle motion exercises to ensure that your blood keeps flowing - if you are flying consider investing in some flight socks to give your body that extra support.

Though this list does seem long and quite daunting, it comes down to some very basic facts which are going to help you have a safe and happy trip. But most of all have fun. And wherever you choose to take yourself, Maternity Swimwear wish you a very Bon Voyage!