BabyMoon: Tips for staying healthy when cruising while pregnant
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 11:58AM It’s official! I’m expecting my first child this spring. I am already dreaming about all the fun my child will have while cruising. Going on a cruise is the perfect “Baby Moon” trip to go on with your husband or partner.
A cruise really allows for great quality time and lets you spend your day how you want. When planning the cruise, it’s neat to think about it being the last time it will be just the two of you! I spent pregnancy weeks 14 and 15 on board the Celebrity Millennium. I enjoyed the experience and wanted to share some of my tips and experiences with other mothers-to-be.
When to Go on a BabyMoon Cruise
If you’re trying to figure out a time to go on a cruise during your pregnancy, I would pick a date a few weeks into your second trimester, at or around 4 months. If you’ve been suffering from “morning” or in my case, “all-day” sickness, it’s better to wait for a time when chances are, you’ll be feeling a lot better. Our trip was already planned before I found out I was pregnant. The timing worked out well as while on the ship I finished the first trimester and feeling a lot better.
Celebrity Solstice
Every cruise line has a different policy for pregnant women. Generally you can take a cruise until you’re 23 or 24 weeks pregnant. Vacationstogo.com offers a list of the policies for each cruise line. Click here to check out the restrictions.
Top healthy tips for traveling while pregnant
Below are my tips for staying healthy on a cruise while pregnant. Before you book a cruise, it’s important to check with your doctor first and discuss your concerns and questions.
Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate
Drink lots of water. I would always grab a water as we walked through the buffet.
Since the weather was very hot, it was even more important to make sure I wasn’t getting dehydrated. On days at port, we made sure we had water with us at all times.
Wash your hands
This is a tip that everyone should follow on a cruise ship but even more important for a mom-to-be to prevent sickness.
Eat what you feel like eating
Morning sickness? One of my favorite parts of cruising while pregnant was the buffet.
It allowed me to have tastes of different items and then go back for more of the one that I liked the best. With food readily available on a cruise, try having multiple smaller meals throughout the day to help with morning sickness, heartburn, or nausea.
Be active
Before leaving on the cruise, I bought a heart rate monitor to check my heart rate during physical activity as my doctor told me to keep my heart rate below 150. (Check with your Doctor before starting any workout routine or physical activity).
Walking 15-30 minutes a day around the cruise ship track is a perfect way to get exercise, which is important for you and your baby. I enjoyed starting my days with a long walk, either on the treadmill or around the track.
Watch your step
Depending on how many weeks along you are when you’re cruising, you are adding a lot of extra weight to your body and you’re not as stable as it used to be. Make sure you have a good center of gravity before stepping and watch out for notoriously slippery areas like the pool deck.
Know what you’re eating
With pregnancy comes a long list of do’s and don’ts. It’s important for you to make those decisions however, knowledge is power. When it comes to food, if you’re curious about a particular item, make sure to ask for more information.
I had to say good-bye to sushi and tuna tartar but luckily there were so many other items to pick from that I didn’t miss them as much as I thought I would.
Be Prepared
I know it may sound crazy to pack food to bring on the cruise but, I would definitely recommend bringing granola bars or crackers with you on board the ship. In the mornings, I always had crackers next to my bed and it helped with my morning sickness. In addition, you want snacks to have while at port or on an excursion to hold you over until lunch or dinner.
Take a break from being adventurous
Now is not the time to be adventurous with activities or food. While at port, stay away from street vendors and stick to eating on the ship or at a hotel which allows you to try the local food but typically has a higher standard of food quality and preparation. When looking for an excursion, read carefully any restrictions for pregnant woman.
I definitely wanted to go zip lining in Costa Rica but instead we planned a really fun day exploring the Monte Verde Rain Forest. I really enjoyed Costa Rica and can’t wait to take my child there. We’ll go zip lining together!
Why go on a Cruise for your Baby Moon
There are a lot of great reasons to go on a cruise for your Baby Moon. The ability to have whatever food you feel like at your fingertips is a dream for any pregnant woman. The accessibility of the buffet throughout the day and all-inclusive food is a real plus.
Casino on the Celebrity Solstice
With strict non-smoking policies on most cruise ships now, it was a relief to that I didn’t have to worry about walking through clouds of smoke. In addition, I could enjoy the casino without breathing in the smoky air.
Whether we were at a show or at the casino at night, when I was tired, I loved being able to just take the elevator to my room and be in bed within minutes. I didn’t have to worry about a drive home, a long walk to the hotel, or waiting for a cab while on a land vacation.
Towel Creation from on board the Carnival Paradise
I really enjoyed the quality time with my husband. We’ve been on so many cruises together but this one felt different. We didn’t run around to every activity like we have in the past; but instead, we played games and hung out just the two of us. This was such a memorable cruise that will always have a special place in my heart.
Cruises are a great place for pregnant women. When cruising, make sure to follow my tips above as exercise and eating well are important aspects for a healthy mom and baby.
Stay tuned for more details about my Baby-Moon Cruise experience!
FreshCruiser Tip: Don’t forget to check out the kid’s club on the ship for fun, won’t be long till your little one is there!
