Joela
Joela
#1 Tip – STAY HYDRATED! – I can’t express how important this is! It was so hard to drink enough water especially when you’re on the road and sight seeing all day or going for long drives and then you have to pee every half hour. But, you have to drink and drink and DRINK!! The car rides there are pretty bumpy because there are a lot of dirt roads, so it made it a little worse for me since it felt like my bladder was going to burst every time we hit a bump. There were 1 or 2 days where I definitely didn’t drink enough water, and I started to feel nauseas like I was going to pass out. SO DRINK!
#2 Tip – WEAR LOOSE CLOTHING! – This is something we don’t usually think about. If you’re going to a hot place you would probably wear shorts or a dress so you’re comfortable and those are good options. Even a maxi dress is fine as long as it’s loose. The one day I wore jeans, I didn’t think anything of it– jeans and tank top. That was the day I almost passed out. I felt like I was suffocating. It was extremely uncomfortable. Culturally in Nicaragua it’s very common for people to wear jeans on the daily to work or to go out. I guess they are used it because I couldn’t. I was kicking myself all day because I couldn’t even change. In general, loose fitting clothing is more comfortable for anyone, but especially when it’s hot.
(This is me dying of heat in my jeans! But of course I smiled for the picture!)
#3 Tip – DON’T TRY NEW FOODS! – OK, this may seem weird, BUT if you’re pregnant and traveling, I wouldn’t recommend trying new foods. Sometimes it may be tempting but remember, if you’re in a different country, it might not be a good idea. If you were to get sick, I don’t think going to a local hospital there would be very comforting since you would be unfamiliar with their ways. Also, you can get an upset stomach or even diarrhea. Neither of those are fun when you’re traveling so try to be careful and make sure everything is clean. While I was in Nicaragua I had unpasteurized cheese ( I know! Big no no! ). I actually didn’t realize it was unpasteurized until the 3rd day, and I had been eating it every day. This wasn’t something new for me since I have been there several times so I didn’t think about it– I just ate it. When I realized it was unpasteurized, I started freaking out. The good news was I was eating it fried, yes fried cheese, yummy! So all the bacteria would have been dead, except for one night I had it raw. BUT it’s a very hard cheese, not soft. The no no is usually for unpasteurized soft cheeses. Luckily, everything turned out ok, but it does happen. Especially, with pregnancy brain and all. 🙂
(Tostones con queso and carne – My fave! This was the fried cheese I was talking about! Its so delicious!)
#4 Tip – DON’T OVER PACK! – This is important because overpacking can cause you to strain yourself at the airport. There’s a lot of walking in the airport and if you’re traveling solo like I did when I went to Florida for work, it can be really hard to carry your things. I packed one large suitcase for the week and I didn’t pack a carry on bag because I didn’t want to carry extra things, but I felt like my luggage bag was just too heavy for me to carry on my own. I should have opted for a smaller suitcase. You live and you learn. When I went to Nicaragua, we brought a large suitcase each, but my husband was there to help me so it was much better. If you’re flying solo, the smaller the bag the better. OH! And ,backpacks are my best friend while traveling instead of a purse. It can carry whatever you need on the plane; laptops, tablets, cameras, makeup, magazines….etc. You’d be surprised how many things I fit in mine! And then for while you’re out and about, it’s perfect too! No purse necessary!
(Me with my backpack walking through the city of Granada.)
#5 Tip – OVERLOAD ON VITAMINS C & D! – OK, last but not least, take your vitamins! Everyone is more susceptible to getting sick while traveling especially on the plane being next to someone who is sick or coughing or breathing on you, yughhh! Keeping germs to yourself isn’t easy. So the week before you go, load up your vitamins C & D! Take double and then triple 2 days before and the day of. While you are out there, keep taking your vitamins too. You need to rev up your immune system so it can combat any germs you may encounter while you’re traveling. It’s extremely important for you and the baby not to get sick because medication is a big no no! I recommend this for anyone, but especially if you’re preggers. I had my husband do the same thing this time around because he ALWAYS gets sick and guess what? He’s a healthy man! 🙂
Joela
Disclaimer:
This is a personal blog. All opinions expressed here are my own and not those of anyone else. I am responsible for all content – not anyone else.