TWP (Travel While Pregnant)

I have travelled to Taiwan while 5 weeks pregnant. Could hardly tell, even by myself. So that, didn’t count. Now at 5 months, here are a few things I learned about traveling while (really, very obviously) pregnant:

1. You are just physically not as able in lifting heavy luggage. But hey, your luggage are never heavy anymore (until baby’s here of course) since now there are only about 10% of the things that you used to bring actually fits you!  :) and :(
2. People hate traveling on flights with infants and toddlers, but they LOVE to see semi-clumsy pregnant lady! Regardless who it is, the second they realized/heard you are pregnant, always become the best people on earth! Friendly, cordial, anything for you! :) 
3. Your husband milks the benefits you get by telling everyone you’re pregnant, even the front desk lady who can’t see anything below your neck. Or maybe he is just so over-joyed and feel the need to tell everyone you encountered? :)
4. If you are in a beach town or resort, you are jealous of any female in bikini (yes, including little girls), and think, “I was like that (and much better) few months ago!” and then waddle away. :(
5. Good luck trying to sun tan your back! Unless you get one of those reversed massage chair with a hole cut out where you tummy is, it’s next to impossible to lie flat on your tummy, literally. :(
6. Nose bleed, nose bleed, nose bleed! The super drying air on flight does not do you any good when you already have thinned nasal membrane. My nose was gushing blood at the bar yesterday like a cocaine addict (from the movies at least) it was embarrassing! Had to quickly explain it is a side-effect of pregnancy but bartender (being a man) still couldn’t make the connection and looked extremely worried and puzzled (of course it may be because I was bleeding all over the photo album he decided to share with me.)  :(
7. You constantly startling whoever’s next to you by yelling to your husband, “Quick! Feel this! He’s moving again!” And you both so focused on the one stomach (and publicly touching it) that you completely didn’t notice the strange stares you’re receiving.  :)
8. Now that you have the love of your life baking in you, you become much more self-centered (self=baby, not you). At the same time, nothing else matters because they are all dwarf’d by the discomfort you are in physically and happiness you’re feeling mentally. :)
9. Tummy doubles as book stand! (Like!) :)
10. Traveling to islands are torture when you cannot eat anything fresh (aka raw) from the sea. :(
11. Allow yourself 10 extra min per 30 min drive for potty breaks, especially if you have been trying to hydrate yourself in the hot climate! :(