pregnant cruiser tips, please!

[Megnolia]

I have really enjoyed the family boards for great tips, and I like the non-judgmental responses, I'm pretty sure no one will tell me that it was a stupid idea to get pregnant with a cruise booked ;)

 

Anyway, I'll be cruising at 20 weeks pregnant. It was booked well over a year ago. I didn't have any concerns, since I've never had trouble with seasickness, and I'm very healthy otherwise - no concerns with the pregnancy either. I had terrible nausea from weeks 6 - 13, then it went away, but the last 4 days or so have been quite bad again. I am getting worried about what to do if it doesn't let up by the time we travel (which is in 2 weeks). I absolutely do not want to cancel, but I do want to know what you've used and can recommend. I have a prescription for Diclectin, and I'll be bringing it along. Anything else that helped you?

 

Thanks!

[cb at sea]

I'm sorry--I have no idea, but I do feel your concern! Hopefully, this will pass before you head to the ship!

I was always lucky...never had the "morning sickness" thing with any pregnancy...heartburn...BIG TIME, but not nausea!

 

Just take it easy...do only what you feel like doing and have a great time!

[6rugrats]

You've already made your final payment, haven't you? If you cancelled, you'd lose all your money.

 

Since you have a prescription, you've talked with your doctor. Maybe worrying about the cruise has upset your stomach? Non medical solutions are eating green apples, crackers, ginger, etc.

[Baxter]

While I didn't have any issues on land, I became extremely senstivite to some smells on the cruise...to the point I couldn't walk near the buffet. I didn't "do" anything about it, except avoid the buffet at all cost.

 

I find it comes and goes...hopefully it will go before you leave! If not, I would try all the natural suggestions mentioned.

[redsoxgrlt]

No judgement here, I had to cancel my cruise 2 years ago because my due date happened to fall on the day we were to sail! :eek:

That being said, I haven't cruised while pregnant, so not sure if this would be helpful or not, but when I suffered from morning sickness my Dr. told me to eat right away when I woke up. He said that even though you might feel as if you don't want to eat because you are nauseous, a full stomach is the best way to combat morning sickness. I'm sure you won't have an issue finding something to eat on the cruise!:D Take advantage of room service if you are having the problem when you wake up. I remember saying on my last cruise after I had my daughter that a cruise is a pregnant woman's dream with all of the different types of food that are available to you! ;)

[NanaL]

My daughter in law was pregnant on our last cruise. She got very sea sick (she never had a problem before). I gave her my Sea Bands (you can get them at any drug store). They worked great and you just wear them on your wrists (no medication). I always travel with bands just in case. Oh by the way they only cost about 10 dollars.

[NYteacher]

Be sure to bring a note from your doctor stating your due date, how far along you are at the time of the cruise and that you are fit for travel. Most report not needing it but you would definitely rather have it if someone does want it.

[mymollysue]

I cruised when I was 6 weeks pregnant...right at the start of my morning sickness. It was a Disney Cruise and we did Disneyworld before and I couldn't go on any of the rides. :rolleyes: So I waited in line with my DH and he went on everything!

 

Talk to your OB....Some things that are safe for pregnancy are: Sea Bands, Ginger Candy/Gingerale, Unisom (helps you sleep so only take it before bed), and some prescription medications for nausea like Zofran. Again I would check with your doctor before taking anything. Definitely make sure to get a note from your OB stating it is safe to travel.

 

I did also enjoy all the Shirley Temples I had on board. Another nice thing I did on-board was get a pedicure and facial. I told the spa staff that I was pregnant and they took special precautions.

 

Hope the morning sickness goes away before you travel! Keep us posted!

[jerin]

The sea bands are definitely worth trying, especially since they definitely won't have any effect on the baby.

 

But to give you some encouragement, I was terribly, needing IV fluids, sick from weeks 3 (yes, before I knew) until 20 or so with my youngest. We were up a deck above the pool deck and sailing from Baltimore in October, so lots of movement in the North Atlantic. I was one of the few people on the ship not sick as we negotiated the wake of a storm. Dh and I had a great cruise (like, you, we'd scheduled a year in advance), and the baby had a great time, too ... kicking in time to the music in the production shows, and she really seemed to love the sensation of me floating to snorkel -- she really kicked then. And on the cruise was definitely the best she has EVER slept (and this was almost 6 years ago) -- the rocking lulled her to sleep.

[RoadTripFanatic]

I cruised at 21 weeks and I had a wonderful trip! I was in that "happy" phase of pregnancy. I had no problems with motion sickness. In fact I still had morning sickness at the time of our cruise. I was sick the morning we left on vacation. (Yes, morning sickness from weeks 6-21 really does stink!) I was at the end of it where luckily I was only sick in the morning and not morning and evening both! The minute we hit the open seas I was 'cured.' I had no more morning sickness during the cruise. My one word of advice is to be sure to share a suitcase with your significant other. Put a few maternity clothes in their suitcase too. If your suitcase gets lost on the flight you are not completely out of luck. (From the girl who's airline lost her suitcase and I sat at MIA in a small panic for an hr while they searched for my bag) It's not like you can buy a few items on board to survive until your first port day 2 days later.

I would bring your choice of heart burn medicine that is approved by your dr. just in case. Make sure you bring your pain medicine (tylenol type meds) that are approved by your dr. just in case you have a headache.

 

The really big thing is to let the cruiseline know and make sure you get a note that you can travel from your OB. :)

[Megnolia]

Thanks so much everyone for your responses!

 

I have already sent the doctor's note to the cruiseline - as soon as I let them know I was pregnant, they emailed and phoned within 24 hours to ensure I had the proper paperwork ;) They are vigilant about that, I suppose!

 

I think I"ll try the seabands. I'm stocked up on ginger tablets, will get my soda card for the ginger ale, and definitely remember the tylenol!

 

Unfortunately, I'm not travelling with my hubby this time (we always do the split luggage thing) - I'm going with my sister who lives in another city, so we're meeting at the airport. I'm going to pack as much as I can in my carry on I think, to be sure I have anything non-replaceable. I'm going to do laundry on this trip since none of my normal cruise clothes fit. So I won't have as many items as usual.

 

Thanks again for the advice. I really loved hearing your experience, Jerin! That will definitely make for cool memories :)

[RoadTripFanatic]

Just an FYI I would keep a copy of that dr.'s letter with me to have in my hands when I boarded the ship. I would be nervous that someone is going to lose my documentation that says I can sail.

[flhokie]

We're flying to London (from FL) and boarding a cruise next month. I'll be 20 weeks when we board the ship (final payment was made before we found out I was pregnant--but we wouldn't have cancelled anyway as long as I'd be allowed to sail). I'm getting the letter from my dr at my next appointment.

 

Since I fly multiple times a week for work I've had to deal with traveling through the whole morning sickness phase. Never let your stomach get completely empty (I know that's often difficult, but it really does help). I always have a bottle of sprite or ginger ale with me and I always have saltines easily accessible (I also have a couple of plain snacks with me). Both of these have really helped me on some flights. I did buy a pack of sea bands, but right after that the morning sickness let up.

 

If you do have issues with nausea onboard, do not stay in your cabin. Get out in the fresh air. The one time I had really bad sea sickness I spent the afternoon on a shaded deck chair with a breeze and it made a world of difference.

 

Have a great time!!!

[RoadTripFanatic]

We're flying to London (from FL) and boarding a cruise next month. I'll be 20 weeks when we board the ship (final payment was made before we found out I was pregnant--but we wouldn't have cancelled anyway as long as I'd be allowed to sail). I'm getting the letter from my dr at my next appointment.

 

Since I fly multiple times a week for work I've had to deal with traveling through the whole morning sickness phase. Never let your stomach get completely empty (I know that's often difficult, but it really does help). I always have a bottle of sprite or ginger ale with me and I always have saltines easily accessible (I also have a couple of plain snacks with me). Both of these have really helped me on some flights. I did buy a pack of sea bands, but right after that the morning sickness let up.

 

If you do have issues with nausea onboard, do not stay in your cabin. Get out in the fresh air. The one time I had really bad sea sickness I spent the afternoon on a shaded deck chair with a breeze and it made a world of difference.

 

Have a great time!!!

 

I hope you did tell the cruise line that you are pregnant so that they aren't surprised when you get there. They can refuse you if you don't tell them in advance. :) I hope you have a fantastic trip!!!

[flhokie]

We're flying to London (from FL) and boarding a cruise next month. I'll be 20 weeks when we board the ship (final payment was made before we found out I was pregnant--but we wouldn't have cancelled anyway as long as I'd be allowed to sail). I'm getting the letter from my dr at my next appointment.

 

Since I fly multiple times a week for work I've had to deal with traveling through the whole morning sickness phase. Never let your stomach get completely empty (I know that's often difficult, but it really does help). I always have a bottle of sprite or ginger ale with me and I always have saltines easily accessible (I also have a couple of plain snacks with me). Both of these have really helped me on some flights. I did buy a pack of sea bands, but right after that the morning sickness let up.

 

If you do have issues with nausea onboard, do not stay in your cabin. Get out in the fresh air. The one time I had really bad sea sickness I spent the afternoon on a shaded deck chair with a breeze and it made a world of difference.

 

Have a great time!!!

 

Oops--meant to say I'll be 14 weeks pregnant (pregnancy brain strikes).

[highbridge5]

My sister came with us on a 7 day cruise when she was 17 weeks pregnant with twins.

 

Follow your instinct, if you are doubtful about whether you are going to be able to manage a whole shore excursion, listen to you instincts and stay back and enjoy the day in port from the ship.

 

Always keep a little food and a lot of water in your room - whatever you find that settles your stomach. From room service or the MDR, ask for a crap-load of those packets of saltine crackers and keep those handy.

 

Eat a little at a time, often. Always keep something in your stomach. This was sound advice for all of us on the 2 sea days that were really bouncy.

 

Avoid areas where the smell bothers you - like the casino.

 

Any of the anti-nausea medicines that your OB gave you are likely to be 10 times better than anything over the counter. If you want, ask your OB for more than one kind. If one does not work, maybe another will.

 

If you are on a higher deck and feel ill, go down and toward the middle of the ship. In the lower middle, you are closer to the center of gravity and there will be less motion (think of a see saw - you sit in the middle and there is very little motion, you sit on the ends and there is a lot - now imagine one that rocks side to side also and has five or six seats on each end stacked above each other )

 

Good luck. My sister was slightly ill to pretty ill the whole entire trip but still enjoyed the trip and seeing her family and being able to get away from work and dishes and cleaning up and paying bills and cooking and all that stuff. She would have been slightly ill to pretty ill the entire time she was home too so figured she had nothing to lose.

 

hb5

[crusinmama06]

Oh I remember those days :( I have no advice except to wish you well.

 

I hope you are able to relax and have a wonderful cruise!