cruising while pregnant?

[petersgal]

So I just found out I am pregnant with our second child. We are super excited but I'm wondering how I am going to feel while on our cruise. I have already contacted NCL about it and my Drs is sending them my medical certificate with my estimated due date so that I can go on the cruise.

 

However I am just wondering if anyone has cruised while pregnant? I'll be about 4 months when we go, and I'm worrried that the motion of the ship is going to amplify the morning sickness aspect (I had it horribly with my first)... I don't want to spend a few thousand dollars and wind up being miserable for a week, but my Dh and I desperately need a vacation and we REALLY want to see Alaska :)

 

I know the shore excursions we have picked out will have to be changed (no zip lining for me!) but I am hoping cruising while pregnant can be fun and relaxing

[cb at sea]

Most of the time in Alaska (at least, in the passages) it won't be too rocky. I never had morning sickness with any pregnancy, but doesn't it usually go away after the 1st trimester???

 

I did find myself tiring easily during the 1st and 3rd trimester...the 2nd, aside from my growing girth, was pretty much a breeze!

 

You'll most likely be fine...but it sure would be awful to be sick AND spend all the money!

[sbhdmh]

I cruised at 20 weeks and the only time I felt nauseous was, oddly enough, walking down the stairs. We spent a lot of time waiting for elevators that week... Do you have a balcony cabin? We had an ov at the aft but had a door to an outside deck just a few feet from our door. I went out there pretty frequently for fresh air. I overdid it in some of the ports and ended up having some contractions. Be sure to stay hydrated and take it easy. I was walking 2 miles a day at home so I didn't think it would be a problem but I learned otherwise. Any other questions - just ask!

[dorito6778]

we cruised alaska when i was 16 weeks and i had no problems. then again, i had a very uneventful pregnancy (no morning sickness or anything).

[codypaints]

I cruised at 22 weeks AND with a 20 month old daughter...had a superb time! I wasnt queasier than normal (I had to take Zofran during most of my pg) and had plenty of energy. I had to break down & get a maternity swimsuit (it was in Dec) and to tell you the truth, I used it a lot!!! I ate well, my feet did get a little tired each eve after our port visits so I wasnt up for a lot of dancing, but it was a great trip. I even had my tiny little glas of red wine every other nite at dinner (okay per my OB).

 

Have a great time...I have some super photos of our trip!

[petersgal]

Thanks for the input! I had morning sickness through my ENTIRE pregnancy with DD - by the time she was born I was 14 pounds lighter than I was when I got pregnant... which is why I am a little worried.

 

We do have a balcony cabin.. a BA on the Aft end of the ship. I have heard ours has the biggest balcony out of all the BAs, large enough for an actual lounge chair.

 

We're actually doing an L.A. - Alaska - Vancouver BC cruise, so I am more worried about the 3 at sea days on the Pacific than the Alaska part. I will talk to my doctor about anti nausea meds.

 

Lol and about the red wine - I totally have the ok to have a small amount occasionally (after the first tri-mester!), so I am planning on it. This will dramatically reduce our cash needed for the trip, lol, since DH won't drink without me.

 

I REALLY apperciate the input as I have been kind of worried, but your posts were definately reasurring

[teacherbee]

I was 5 mths pgnt with my son (who is almost 6) when we did a Western Carrib. cruise. I had a great time. We had originally planned to do cave tubing but I nixed that and just sent my hubby and our friend.

 

I did go snorkeling in Cozumel and it was so nice just to float with my growing belly. I didn't push myself to keep up with the group, just hung back and they met me on the way back to the beach.

 

At another port I even climbed some Mayan Ruins...probably not the best idea but I felt fine.

 

On the day we tendered I stayed on board and enjoyed some quiet reading time.

 

Just remember to drink enough water and rest when you need to...I took tons of short naps!

 

Enjoy!

[ehough]

I was almost 6 months pregnant when we cruised to Hawaii and I was fine. I had pretty bad morning sickness in the first trimester, but once I hit the magical 12 weeks, I felt so much better. I never felt nauseous on the cruise. We've been to Alaska and the ship was a little bit rocky the first night, but after that, we didn't feel it at all.

[siebelqueen]

I was about 3 months pregnant with our son on one of our cruises. I found that I was still tired a lot, and managed to get lots of rest between ports. But I didn't have any issues with morning sickness. (I also had an uneventful pregnancy with no sickness whatsoever.)

 

When I was pregnant, I used to sleep with a wedge shaped pillow under my belly for support. I brought that along with us. If you use anything like that, I would either bring it along or make sure to ask your cabin steward for extra pillows when you first get onboard.

 

Have a great time!

[highbridge5]

Any meds that you are on for your morning sickness are probably WAY better than any over the counter seasickness meds. An "anti-nausea" med is the same regardless of what is causing the nausea.

 

If you want, you can't go wrong with trying sea-bands - that use pressure points to do whatever it is that they do.

 

My sister was pregnant with twins at about 17 weeks and our last day at sea was pretty rough. With her anti-nausea meds, she felt that she was no worse during the cruise than she would have been at home. In fact, in spite of being sick, she was glad to be on the ship. It was more relaxing to be morning-sick on the ship because she did not have the stress that being at home added (going to work when she felt sick and house and cooking and laundry etc.).

 

Assume that you'll be no better or worse than you are at home and decide based on that. Talk to your doctor about anti-nausea meds if you have not done so and try them before you go to see how they work.

 

hb5

[Citizen Jane]

Thanks for the input! I had morning sickness through my ENTIRE pregnancy with DD - by the time she was born I was 14 pounds lighter than I was when I got pregnant... which is why I am a little worried.

 

We do have a balcony cabin.. a BA on the Aft end of the ship. I have heard ours has the biggest balcony out of all the BAs, large enough for an actual lounge chair.

 

We're actually doing an L.A. - Alaska - Vancouver BC cruise, so I am more worried about the 3 at sea days on the Pacific than the Alaska part. I will talk to my doctor about anti nausea meds.

 

Lol and about the red wine - I totally have the ok to have a small amount occasionally (after the first tri-mester!), so I am planning on it. This will dramatically reduce our cash needed for the trip, lol, since DH won't drink without me.

 

I REALLY apperciate the input as I have been kind of worried, but your posts were definately reasurring

 

OMG, I thought I was the only person who was sick the whole time and losing weight (well, not losing because I was overweight when I got pregnant, but simply not gaining until the very end when I had to be induced for hypertension and it was water weight). Unfortunately, my stupid OB group did not send my to the recommended specialist who (when I saw him for PPD afterwards) told me he would have had me on Zofran in a hearbeat, LOL.

 

In any case, I recommend going beyond the Sea Bands and getting a ReliefBand. It is actually what I used during PG to go from constant puking to 2-3 times per day. First time I wore it I felt like I could actually go to a reception with my husband that I needed to go to. I have not cruised while PG, but get motion sick and I wear this constantly on the ship and have ZERO problems. My Mother is EXTREMELY sensitive to motion so I got her one as well. I figure if it is strong enough to bring the PG sickness down to a tolerable level it should be a good backup for you to consider.

 

I use an original prescription strength one and my Mom has the non-prescription strength one.

 

http://www.motionsicknesswatch.com/Prescription%20Strength%20RX%20Model%20Reliefband.html

[imsulin]

I've heard that the Pacific route - especially from LA, can be a bit rocky, so check with your OB for sea-sickness/nausea relief. I did the r/t LA Mexican Riviera in 1979 from LA in very early stage of pregnancy (even I didn't know!), and no problems at all, but I'm not prone to sea or morning sickness. In addition, it looks like you (and cruising partner/s) will need Passports if you're flying back to the US from Vancouver on your non- closed loop cruise. Congratulations and enjoy!

[Sandpiper10]

So I just found out I am pregnant with our second child. We are super excited but I'm wondering how I am going to feel while on our cruise. I have already contacted NCL about it and my Drs is sending them my medical certificate with my estimated due date so that I can go on the cruise.

 

However I am just wondering if anyone has cruised while pregnant? I'll be about 4 months when we go, and I'm worrried that the motion of the ship is going to amplify the morning sickness aspect (I had it horribly with my first)... I don't want to spend a few thousand dollars and wind up being miserable for a week, but my Dh and I desperately need a vacation and we REALLY want to see Alaska :)

 

I know the shore excursions we have picked out will have to be changed (no zip lining for me!) but I am hoping cruising while pregnant can be fun and relaxing

 

 

i cruised on our 1st cruise when i was 17 weeks pregnant. The only thing i had problems with was eating and seeing the ocean. That was the only time i ever felt a little sick at all. You can see the railings moving up and down with the ocean. I just sat away from the windows and i was fine! Good luck!

[hansolosmom]

congrats!!!!

 

I wanted to mention that just because you were sick with your first, doesn't mean you will be with your second - each pregnancy is totally different. I craved hot & spicy food with #1 & couldn't eat anything at all with the 2nd.

 

I would do as suggested & talk to your doc about what to do that would help with seasickness. But also take it easy & enjoy yourself before your new bundle of joy shows up

[siestakim]

I cruised when I was 18 weeks pregnant and oddly enough it was the only time I wasn't sick. I had the same problems as you with my first. I was so sick I was actually loosing weight. But my dr. gave me some zofran and I wore the seabands and I was fine. I would reccomend getting a pre natal massage too. It was so relaxing that I actually had 2!

[zia100]

Hi,

 

I was 23 weeks when we went on our New England cruise. It was fantastic. No issues etc. I also did ALOT of walking at the ports. One of the ports was cancelled due to a hurricane that was the only time I felt a little queasy. Ginger Tablets are great sea sick pills to take that dont have any side effects, also the customer servce desk has sea sick pills on request.

 

Everyone has given great advice. Drink plenty of water, the AC will be a little drying also. Have a water bottle with you especially during port stops. A fellow pregnant passenger had a great idea. She had some tupperware that she would fill up with cheese/ crackers or even meals from her dinner or buffet as she would get hungry during the night and didn't want to deal with ordering & waiting for room service. She would just keep it in the fridge and help herself without disturbing her sleeping husband and son.

Lastly, I suggest to just "go with the flow". If you're tired, take a quick nap and you'll be ready for more cruise fun in no time. Its a wonderful time in your life so good luck and have fun!

Ash

[boulders]

We cruised Alaska last summer out of Vancouver and had a cabin all the way forward. The sailing was incredibly smooth. I was actually disappointed that I never felt any rocking. I was looking forward to being rocked to sleep. ;) We were so close to shore at all times that there hardly any waves.

[RoadTripFanatic]

I was 21 weeks when I went on an 11 day cruise. I had morning sickness for those first 21 weeks of pregnancy. I was miserable. I was really concerned about the ship. Amazingly the minute the ship set sail I had no more problems!! I had NO morning sickness (or evening sickness) the entire trip!!