Hi Ladies,
I'm currently 4 months pregnant...and am FINALLY starting to feel less morning noon night sickness! A while ago we scheduled a trip to go sailing with my in law brother sister and their family in the spring (I will be 6 months pregnant then) and we're on the fence about going on the trip. We're supposed to take a Catamaran for 10 days in the BVI around spring break time. Because I am already so susceptible to motion sickness (especially on boats) and can only tolerate any type of watercraft when taking the scopalmine, or transderm scop, patch (Which is normally miraculous!) I don't think I should go. We still have to pay for our portion of the trip because we commited to share the cost of the boat.... My SIL and BIL want us to reconsider our previous decision to not go.... but when we think it through, without the transderm scop, I am pretty sure it would be miserable. My backup would be to go and find a hotel but my husband would need to stay to help my BIL sail, so I would be alone, potentially having trouble if I was so sick that I had to get off the boat, and without my husband, paying for a second vacation, essentially, at what is sure to be a high price at a crappy last minute hotel...... Has anyone been in a situation like this/used transdermscop while pregnant/sailed without it when normally you need it while pregnant? It makes me nervous just being in another country, let alone all the rest......
You've already answered your own question. What about letting your husband go? If you have to pay for his portion of the boat, it might be something he'd really enjoy.
If I was prone to motion sickness.... and am pregnant and have morning sickness... I would not.
And, you need to ASK your OB/GYN if you can even use those patches... first..or anything at all for motion sickness, because you are pregnant.
AND you would be in another country...
I personally, would not.
I cannot imagine, being pregnant and having motion sickness, on a boat... for 10 days... and being in another country where my OB/GYN is not.... if anything should happen.
Pregnancy= First priority
Sailing= last priority
Personally I would not go. I get terrible motion sickness on boats...but love love love sailing or boating. when I was pregnant with my first daughter I went out on a boat for a half day trip...I was throwing up and miserable the entire time. I also was so nervous when it was choppy that I just didn't enjoy it at all. I felt ill the entire day after. So after that I vowed never to get on a boat while pregnant.
So in a nutshell...stay on dry land.
Can your husband go? Can your BIL/SIL find a replacement? Some friends or something so you're not out the money. Is there a way to postpone the trip without losing money?
I agree with the other moms... I went on a cruise while prego ( planned long before we knew) Those ships are HUGE and have a lot less motion to them, and I was still sick! Definitely was not an enjoyable vacation, but couldn't get our money back.
Does Hubby have a best friend or another relative able to go in your place? Maybe that could pay that portion of the $ and let you stay home to rest?
I too have terrible motion sickness, am good friends with the transderm-scop and had terrible morning sickness. There is absolutely no way I would go on this trip six months pregnant!
What if something were to happen and you needed medical attention? The more pregnant you are the worse your balance is! I can't even imagine walking on a little boat out at sea and not only not being sick but not falling at six months pregnant.
Let your husband go on the trip. Plan a spa day for yourself while he is gone.
WOW! Your SIL and BIL sound incredibly selfish. I think they should get real and realize it would not be good for you to be on that boat, and that your husband should be with you not them, no matter what. Did they purchase trip insurance? Can this be rescheduled for a time when you are able to travel (and baby is in the loving care of grandparents)? Can someone else go in place of you and your husband? If your SIL and BIL want to go so badly they should deal with the expense, not you. Just my opinion, but I think this is one time in your life you get to be 100% self-centered and not worry about them/their vacation plans/their expenses.
I agree that you could send hubby and have alternative break for yourself.
I've had success using the motion sickness bands from Walgreens worn on the wrist (this is something for you to consider with a shorter boat trip). During pregnancy I liked being near my doctor. Priority is healthy you and healthy baby. There will be time in the future for other trips.
I can't tell you what to do, but I can tell you this...
If you go eat a green apple (Granny Smith) everyday while on the boat. It makes an amazing difference in your nausea etc. I don't know why but it works according to many.
There are also some bracelets that you can buy that rumor has it makes it better...but I can attest to the green apples. It works...and I puked like CRAZY during both of my pregnancies.
All the best to you!
Sailing not a good idea if you're prone to motion sickness. I am very prone and I have tried to sail, boats etc, even with dramamine I still get sick so now I avoid it.
Edit: I'm sorry but I think it's a horrible idea to consider this trip. I think you'll end up being miserable. I get motion sick enough (went on a boat trip in Mexico for a few hours and was MISERABLE the entire time--even after I got off the boat my head was pounding--ruined the rest of my night) I could not imagine trying to do this while pregnant too. I was very nauseous when I was pregnant. Save yourself the agony and stay home or go somewhere else on land.
You are the pregnant woman, and your thoughts and feelings should be everyone in the family's priority. I think your BIL and SIL are being pretty insensitive, probably have no idea what it feels like to be motion sick. The first thing I would have wanted to explore would have been other options for all of you, but if the boat is paid for and nonrefundable, then I guess my next thought would be to try to find someone else who would want to go with them to help them sail. You and your husband should stay home!
Don't go! I'm an adventurous person, but I went on a vacation (just driving to another state) when I was in my first trimester and had morning and motion sickness (driving in mountains) and I was miserable.
Here's one solution to consider: send your husband on the trip so you still get something out of it and he doesn't let down the BIL and SIL, and you go visit your family or girlfriends or go on a cheap girlfriend getaway. Something nice just for you that you can easily tolerate where you can relax and feel pampered. My husband and I are very close and have a great relationship, but we each take one or two weekend trips a year by ourselves and it's wonderful!
Sounds like an amazing trip! My husband and I took a windjammer cruise when I was 6 months pregnant 10 years ago. I had mild morning sickness, but was fine on the ship. Sailing (and the breeze) isn't the same as other kinds of motion. I don't think it is too far along in your pregnancy to be worried about a trip -- so long as you aren't having any complications. Maybe try a prescription for Zofran? That stuff is a miracle drug for nausea. Good luck!
My situation was a little different, however... When I was 3 months pregnant with my daughter, my husband and I went on a week long sailing adventure with our friends around the Greek Islands. I don't have extreme issues with motion sickness on boats, but I can have issues in cars, buses, etc. I was fine and had a fantastic time. I didn't find being pregnant made the motion sickness any worse.
