Travel during pregnancy isn't always off-limits, and you may have to travel for work or personal reasons. Make pregnancy travel easier with these tips.
While there are certain precautions to take, don't assume your pregnancy must be travel-free. Be sensible and trust your instincts (no matter how silly a concern might be).
Travel safely during pregnancy
Nothing is more important than you and your baby's safety, even if it means canceling a dream vacation. Before you pack your bags (or make daddy do it, since you are in such a "delicate state"), this is a list of absolute musts:
- Check with your doctor. You may think it's no big deal, but your doctor may have a good reason (such as concerns about preterm labor) to tell you no. For instance, those pregnant with twins may be banned from travel quite early. Your doctor may also have some great tips for travel during pregnancy.
- Once you get the doctor's OK, check with your mode of transportation. Most air carriers and cruise lines will not allow women on board past a certain gestational point.
- Once you have the all-clear from those people, get a copy of your medical records to take with you. If you have a prescription, such as for prenatal vitamins, get a copy of that.
- Take a cell phone with you. If you don't have one, consider buying a prepaid phone or borrowing an old one from a friend (even phones with no service must allow 911 calls). You never know when you may have an emergency en route.
- If you will travel by car, do some research ahead of time to mark out major hospitals on the route.
- Check with your insurance carrier to find out about out-of-town or even out of country coverage. If it's lacking, consider buying travel health insurance. You may want to consider trip interruption insurance anyway, as pregnancy issues could force you to cancel your trip.
Make travel during pregnancy comfortable
No matter what your mode of transportation is, take any extra effort or possible expense to make it more comfortable. For instance:
- Get front row or bulkhead seats on airplanes (since you will have more legroom), or splurge for first class.
- Bring extra pillows along on a road trip.
- Bring (and drink) lots of water. Dehydration is a major cause of preterm labor, and it's so easy to get dehydrated while traveling or sightseeing.
- Make plenty of pit stops. This isn't just because you'll need to hit the restroom often. It's a good idea to stretch your legs and walk around frequently. On an airplane or train, get up every hour for a short walk.
- Bring big and comfortable shoes. The extra walking during travel is likely to make your feet swell (and, while pregnant and after pregnancy, your feet are likely to go up a size or too).
Make pregnancy travel memorable
You don't have to go on a world tour to enjoy travel during pregnancy. Consider destinations within a couple hours by plane, train, boat or car.
Don't make pregnancy travel plans too far in advance. Any number of conditions, such as preeclampsia or preterm contractions, perhaps even bedrest, could force you to cancel.
Check into some of the many destinations and resorts now offering babymoons, or trips that specifically cater to expecting couples.
