Travel During Pregnancy

Travel During Pregnancy

One question that indeed arises when a woman becomes pregnant is, “Can I still travel?” The answer is yes! You absolutely can.

Many women find that it may be more challenging to travel their first trimester morning sickness and nausea can very quickly take over at any time. Something to note as one makes plans is that the risk of miscarriage is higher in the first three months. Taking it easy and choosing to give your body extra time to adjust as it prepares and makes room for the baby is essential. Still, traveling at this time is possible.

The best time to travel is during the second trimester; this is because the risk of serious complications is much lower, and your body feels more accustomed to hosting a baby. If your strength is up and you feel confident, there is no reason to postpone travel during this time.

Going into the third trimester may prove to be more of a challenge as the due date gets closer, specifically since it is not recommended that women fly for more than five hours past thirty-five weeks. A woman may feel much too tired to truly enjoy travel as the time to deliver her baby draws closer, but taking a road trip will not harm overall.

Here are some tips for traveling during pregnancy:

• Dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes.
• If you are traveling by airplane, be sure to stand up and move about every thirty minutes or so on a long flight.
• If you are traveling on the road, be intentional about stopping to get out and walk around a bit. Also, remember to wear your seatbelt!
• Plan for rest stops, bathroom breaks, and stretches with any travel to keep your blood circulating properly.
• Try to limit your trips overall to nothing more than five or six hours at a time.
• Have information with you regarding your insurance and medical history, along with a way to get in touch with your doctor should an emergency arise. It also does not hurt to purchase travel insurance.
• Don’t forget to take extra prenatal vitamins.
• Take snacks with you and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Enjoy yourself!

As with any pregnancy, consulting with a doctor or midwife before travel is essential and should be taken very seriously.