Planning is vital for pregnant holidays
Date: 14/04/2011 / Category: School holidays and working parents
For pregnant mothers, a holiday is an ideal way to spend some quality time with the kids before the family's lives are turned upside down with the new arrival. The upcoming double bank holidays, which result from the proximity of the royal wedding to Easter also provide a perfect time for one last getaway with the family as it is now. Travelling while pregnant isn't a particularly easy or comfortable thing to carry off, but with some planning, it can be done.
Choosing a destination is clearly one of the most important factors for ensuring maximum comfort while away. It is a good idea to work towards a relaxing holiday that is not going to involve any particularly strenuous activities, and as alcohol is a no-no, mums may want to stay away from any party destinations they favoured when younger and head to a family-friendly resort that will keep the kids happy.
However, expectant mothers do not have to be completely sedentary while on holiday - after all, it's meant to be a fun break. Sainsbury's Little Ones' website says that mums should just "be sensible" when deciding which activities to undertake. "Long walks and rowing a boat down the river are all good choices but anything highly active that poses a greater risk of injury should be avoided," says the writer.
The website also emphasises the importance of vaccinations when travelling beyond North West Europe, North America or Australasia. Additionally, soon-to-be mums should remember that generally expectant women cannot fly after 28 weeks. While some airlines
have extended this further into the pregnancy, after 28 weeks mums will need a letter from their GP.
According to the writer, small things such as booking an aisle seat on the plane, keeping moving and drinking a lot of water can help pregnant women to feel more comfortable when travelling.
This follows advice from Louise Whyte, founder of women's fitness company Penelope Fitstar, which said that mums should undertake gentle exercise during pregnancy so they can find it easier to get fit again following the birth.
"It can prepare you to be fitter and stronger for labour, it can make regaining your figure post delivery easier and can give an enormous sense of wellbeing," she explained.
Posted by Sarah Thomas
Share this Article
Related Articles
Britain's 'screenagers' a cause for concern?
Kids' play plans key to avoiding summer stress
Parents want more time for kids play, research shows
Brits cutting back on 'summer holiday spending'
Kids missing out on 'family days out'
Durham mums 'to set up own businesses'
Speeding drivers causing Scottish parents concern
Recession childcare 'should be a priority'
Time to 'unplug kids and let them play'
Indoor play centre 'boost Bristol kids play'
Indoor play can still be fun, parents told
Streets 'unsafe for kids' play'
Indoor play centres 'also benefit parents'
Routine "aids child development"
Homeworking offers mums 'best of both worlds'
Family dinners have 'social and emotional benefits'
Single parents hit by rising childcare costs
Children 'overworked' by pushy parents
Nursery funding reforms make system "fairer"
Planning meals "the secret" to healthy kids
"More research needed" on link between working mums and unhealthy kids
Parents have to 'get creative' to entertain their children
Turn off the TV this half term
Toys and DVDs will 'distract and entertain kids' on long journeys
Children banned from cycling to school
Exercise is 'important for kids and parents'
Things to do with kids this Christmas: make presents such as cakes and biscuits
One in four parents 'does not engage in soft play with kids every night'
Convenience store proximity 'affects kids health'
Children urged to stay away from frozen water
Almost half of kids 'given cash for good behaviour'
Making time for fitness activities for kids is 'important'
Small changes to meals and encouraging exercise for kids 'combats child obesity'
Break exercise for kids into 'short increments'
Cycle courses in Portsmouth during school holidays
Could cold weather put family holidays at risk?
Information packs promote fitness activities for kids in East Riding
Over half of parents 'too busy' to communicate with kids
Grandparent care 'boosts childhood obesity risk'
Day, with soft play area, to be held in Filey
25% of parents 'won't discipline their kids'
Free West Berkshire activities encourage exercise for kids
Parents to get more time to engage in soft play with kids?
Cost of raising a child tops £200,000
Parents want more information on childcare
Campaign calls for more soft play with fathers
Government needs to do more to help grandparent child carers
Mums and dads urged to spend more time with kids
Babies 'can benefit from exercise for kids'
Things to do with kids: Sign language to improve development
Things to do with kids over Easter: a traditional egg hunt
Things to do with kids this Easter: Scarecrow making
Soft play centres 'better for kids than solitary play'
Things to do with kids over Easter: Go to a party at a soft play centre
Call to standardise rules on taking photos in soft play centres
Fathers trigger exploration in toddlers, study shows
Children at 'higher risk' of injury on holiday
Soft play can 'improve' parent-child bond
Many breastfeeding mums 'need a better diet'
Pregnant women 'failing to get enough vitamin D'
School holidays 'are not for homework'
Parental care 'more influential' than childminders'
Parental toothbrush lessons 'key to child's overall health'
Can probiotics reduce incidence of kids' illness?
Families can spend time together at indoor play centres
Developing attentive kids may require more exercise, less computer games
Yorkshire youngsters 'getting plenty of exercise'
Could prenatal stress and health problems be connected?
Working mothers 'lose most sleep'
Only children are happier than those with siblings, according to new research from the UK.
Just 1 in 10 small businesses allow flexible working
Only 15 nights out in 5 years for new parents
Older children are photo favourites
Children of divorce 'more prone to strokes'
Parents 'unaware of own child's obesity'
Working parents 'feel much older'
Grandparents 'left with grandchildren'
Mothers 'should be encouraged to breastfeed in the workplace'
Days out can combat 'summer brain drain'
Quality kids' play urged by Dr Nadja Reissland
Talented toddler's art displayed
Many parents 'cannot afford' fitness activities for kids
Summer holiday play schemes 'develop healthy habits'
Parental quality 'more important' than quantity
Survive the school run by following these simple tips
Use software to control your child's internet usage, experts say
Prepare for your child's first day at school, experts say
Worried about your child starting preschool?
Get kids doing crafts for a fun and festive Christmas
Christmas baking with kids 'doesn't have to be a nightmare'
First aid kit 'essential' for families
Combat colds in kids by treating symptoms, experts say
Mobile phones and kids: how young is too young?
Delight your child with a message from silver surfer Santa
Want to teach your kids that Christmas is about more than Santa?
All mums want for Christmas is more hours in the day
How to cope with the pressure of being a working dad
Christmas doesn't have to be so expensive, claim mums
Routine 'essential' for getting kids to bed
Play in the snow this Christmas, advises one site
Parents 'must pay attention to sibling relationships'
Be a happy mum for children's benefit, says expert
Help your child with reading, one expert says
First time fathers 'must bond with daughters'
Have a happy family-orientated new year, one writer says
Terrible twos 'natural part of development'
Parents 'should take time to de-stress'
Dads 'must help out when second baby arrives'
Prepare in advance for journeys with children, experts say
Teach under-fives basics of cooking, say experts
Tire out energetic toddlers with fun games, say experts
Parents should encourage crawling, expert says
Prepare girls for modern life, say experts
Parents should 'get creative with cleaning'
Parents should 'optimise space in kid's playroom'
When should parents swap their child's cot for a bed?
Treat different coughs differently, say experts
'Raise green kids', expert says
Having best friends 'good for children'
Dads 'don't get to name their child'
How to keep babies the right temperature in winter
Parents should 'take simple measures' to deal with toddler tantrums
Working mums 'have no reason to feel guilty'
Hold pizza parties and movie afternoons on rainy days, says one writer
Today's tech savvy kids 'struggle with real world tasks'
Imaginary friends 'are fine for children'
Parents 'need to be sympathetic to night-time fears'
Be patient with picky eaters, advises one expert
Common parenting myths 'should be dispelled'
Choosing and applying to nursery is very important, says expert
Mums 'should look after their health in winter'
Does equality among parents cause conflict?
Badly behaved children: is it the parent's fault?
Parents 'should listen to kids'
Use time out to modify kids behaviour, expert says
Parents 'should prevent sibling rivalry from birth'
How much discipline is too much?
The Real Parenting Revolution campaign 'to bust perfect parenting myths'
Parents 'can do Valentine's Day on a budget'
Use baking and crafts to introduce Valentine's day, experts say
Parents should 'resolve issues before birth'
To breastfeed or not to breastfeed?
Consider a conservatory playroom, expert says
30 per cent of Dads 'would like equal power balance in house'
Society 'must bring back the family meal'
Make oral hygiene fun, expert says
Regular bedtimes help a child's development
Children's nutritional education in the UK is 'misdirected'
Rewarding kids with sweets 'creates unhealthy relationship with food'
How not to fall into the 'pushy mother' trap
Do kids benefit more from single sex or co-ed schools?
Go on walks or create a garden for fun spring activities, expert says
TV 'can be used constructively'
Parents 'must take child's fears seriously'
Breast milk ice cream divides opinion
Mums 'should teach kindness by example'
Fatherhood 'doesn't spell the end of social time'
Parents 'must persevere with healthy eating'
New mums 'should partake in gentle exercise'
Nannies or nurseries: which to pick?
Families should sell old items online to make money, expert suggests
Parents know best when it comes to their kids, expert says
Mums 'should exercise safely during pregnancy'
Make single parenting work for you
Mums' faddy diets 'harm daughters'
Parents 'must warn kids' about internet dangers
Help kids make friends, experts say
Parents' Easter survival guide
It is better to be a good loser than a bad winner
Discourage kids from tale telling
Turn your garden into a hub of wildlife activity
Consistency 'important in discipline'
Nine-year-olds on social networking sites 'unaware of dangers'
Ensure the kids enjoy Easter with yummy treats
Celebrate the royal wedding with a tea party fit for little princesses
Hard working dads can still spend quality time with their kids
Parents need to regain authority for school behaviour to improve, expert says