travelling!

Submitted by kiki on April 1, 2008 - 3:22pm
Body: 

Hi all,

i just wanted to share that we are about to go on a long haul flight!!!
we were meant to go last year this time, but i cancelled as i just felt like i needed to focus on healing being at the beginning of my prolapse journey, and felt that travelling 11 hours on a plane would not help, along with a 2 hour drive each side.

well, one year on and we are doing it. i feel okay though a bit nervous-- i imagine the need to pee might be an issue, and having a toddler on my lap especially when he sleeps, as there's no way to sit in posture when that happens.... i'm also worried i might end up lifting something i shouldn't, even though we have thought that through...

on the good note, the toddler will ensure i walk A LOT on the plane which will be good. i'm packing lots of healthy snacks, so hoping i avoid the evil C-word. and then we'll just see...

i'll update you all on how it goes...my poor husband will have to carry our toddler and all the bags...but thank goodness i have him! otherwise i just couldn't go anywhere...

anyway, think good thoughts for me on Thursday and i'll say hi from the other end!

Kiki

PS i just read Anna's post which she ended saying to not fear...wise words to start my trip with. thank you!

Christine

April 1, 2008 - 3:54pm

Hi Kiki...Congratulations on the vacation! Just wanted to encourage you to put a small pillow at your lumbar spine and relax back into the seats. There is no other way on a long flight and especially holding a child. You are strong and flexible and your prolapse will not be effected a bit if you make sure to pull yourself into the posture upon standing and walking. Have fun!! Christine

Soupy

April 1, 2008 - 4:36pm

if you have time to get one, i found a wedge shaped cushion really useful on the seat, to stop it being such a bucket and tip me forward slightly instead. i did a 9 hour flight at 10 weeks postpartum and felt amazingly fine at the end.

have a lovely time...

alemama

April 1, 2008 - 5:20pm

but.....Drink plenty of water- you should have to get up 2X in one hour the entire flight. That will help avoid the constipation- and plus flying dehydrates you. enjoy!

louiseds

April 1, 2008 - 8:14pm

Hi Kiki

Wonderful news. I am sure it will go well. I would like to echo Christine's comments about the lumbar support. I purchased one for our trip to The States last year, 23 hours flying in three stages each way. I purchased a car cushion that is about 12 inches square and quite firm, then attached a long strip of narrow webbing to each vertical side with an adjustable clip fastening, so I can hang it over the head restraint in my car at the right height, but I can also use it as a shoulder strap so it frees up a hand, important when travelling with a toddler. It also has a zipped cover, so I could fold up a raincoat, stuff it down the cover and re-zip it. I just took it everywhere with me in The States. I think it is important to stay in posture as much as you can, as you really don't know what sort of seating you will have anywhere.

Another suggestion is to get luggage that has wheels. Good quality is the key here, and make sure the wheels don't poke out or they will suffer in the baggage handling process.

Have fun.

Cheers

Louise

kiki

April 2, 2008 - 3:28pm

thanks for all the advice, and reassurance.

i went looking for pillows today with no luck. i'll look again at the airport, but at worse will stuff their little pillows behind my back. i really am trusting that, as you say christine, if i just go into the posture every time i stand up & walk (which with a toddler will be a ton!) i will be fine. in a way, the daytime flight will be easier because of that--but so much longer with awake children!!! ah, you can't win... ;-)

i'm not lifting any luggage, or wheeling. that's that man's job in this case ;-) so that part should be fine.

i'll say hi to all from the other side!!!

Kiki

louiseds

April 2, 2008 - 9:05pm

Kiki, I bought mine from a car accessory shop. You can also get them from those shops that sell independent living aids like wheelchairs, commodes, invalid cutlery etc.

Oh, and I just remembered the other thing that is a must for long haul flights, an inflatable neck pillow. Don't go without one!! I could stuff that down the cover of my cushion too.

Cheers

Louise

PA runner

April 3, 2008 - 9:04am

We have traveled with both our kids when they were small most recently in February when the youngest was not yet two. We always get them their own seat on the plane for safety reasons which allows them to be fastened into their own car seat. If this is not an option and looking at it from a prolapse perspective most medical supply stores have the lumbar pillows if you haven't found one yet. We pushed a small stroller up to the gate and checked it there so we could push our todder through the airport. Also try not to panic if you feel worse upon returning from your trip. When we returned from Disney in February I definately felt the prolapse symptoms. Fortunately after about a month of getting back on track at home I am almost back to my baseline. The same thing happened last year when we traveled and it seemed to take about 6 weeks for me. Good Luck

kiki

April 7, 2008 - 11:09pm

Thank you for all your thoughts. I made it through the flight with no problems, probably because (thanks to our lovely toddler!) i barely sat down. when i did i put lots of plane pillows behind my lower back, which kept me tilted forward. but out of 12 hours on the plane i think i sat for less than half of that, and the longest sitting stint was 45 minutes!

i've been absolutely fine since i arrived, though at risk of eating badly (so much good gluten free food in the US...). Also the travel cot is definately lethal, so i'm no longer lifting in / out of it unless DS is standing. Lifting out from that cot with him lying down last night (even though I said I wouldn't!) definately made things feel a bit worse, so now I really really am sticking to that.

The flight back will definatley be harder, as it's a night flight. But at least this gave me faith that my body can do this.

thanks for all the thoughts on this

Kiki