Packing for a holiday in general can be stressful enough, but add to that the fact that you are 30 weeks pregnant and you have a whole other list of fun items to pack. I found this out when packing for our little mini break in Scotland recently, I write a general packing list normally, but then I realised I needed to add a whole extra pile of stuff simply because I was pregnant. For me these fit into main 2 categories: First there are holiday essential’s for your general comfort then there are holiday essentials that are medical based.
- My Pregnancy Pillow – This has been a godsend to me since quite early on in my pregnancy. I went through a bout of restless sleep and insomnia around my 15 weeks and was advised to get one of these by a friend and I am so glad I did, but it means it now comes with us when ever we sleep away for a night (and my sister thought it was great for her to use to sleep in the car on the journey to Scotland). I have this pregnancy pillow but in white and would recommend it to anyone!
- Bump Support – This is something I have only been using recently and only use if I am going to be on my feet for a while or if I know we are going to be walking a lot. I got it to help with shooting weddings mainly as the 15 hour days kill me otherwise but it came in really useful when we visited Edinburgh for the day as i knew we would be walking for quite a while, it helped take the pressure off my back a little and just generally give a bit of extra support around the bottom of my bump. I have this Carriwell Maternity Support Band which is really comfortable and I would totally recommend it.
- Hot Water Bottle – Since the end of my second trimester I have found my back is aching a lot more by the end of the day and adding a hot water bottle just for a little while can really help. I have been using our Dreamland Hot Pod most of the time and it was great for the drive up to Scotland, I actually charged it in the car using a plug adapter!
- Pregnancy Vitamins – Not all mum’s-to-be take pregnancy vitamins throughout but i have been taking them since before we got pregnant so carried on taking them to help give myself and bean an extra bit of help with our vitamin intake, which was especially important when I was so nauseas at the start of the pregnancy that I could barely eat. I have been taking Pregnacare but there are lots on the market at the moment so it’s up to you what you want from your multivitamin.
- Goviscon (or similar heart burn/ant acid medicine) – OK so this might not be essential to everyone but it certainly is for me at the moment. I have been getting awful acid reflux for weeks and can’t seem to link it to any food or drink in particular, its just there all the time. Luckily Goviscon is safe for you to take whilst pregnant so I have been using that when it gets really bad to stop the burning in my throat.
- Baby Oil or moisturiser – Now this is for your bump, before you get any naughty ideas. My mum swore by Johnsons baby oil when pregnant with me and says it is why she doesn’t have any stretch marks. So I had a bottle in my Christmas stocking which I have been rubbing in my bump religiously and thankful at 30 weeks can say there still isn’t a sign of a stretch mark yet! Keeping your bump supple is a great way to minimise stretch marks, plus it just feels nice after a shower or bath!
Do you have any holiday essentials for travelling when pregnant?
Post in collaboration with Europa Pharmacy
My husband and I have to travel across the country for his brother’s wedding, so I have been looking for travel tips while pregnant. I love your tip to bring a hot water bottle. Obviously in the airplane I can’t necessarily plug in my normal heating pad, but a portable heat source will help my pregnancy pains even for a little bit. Thanks so much!
Glad I could help Annie, have a great journey and a fun time at your brothers wedding!