You Can Travel While Pregnant
Nowadays, you will see pregnant women on the go during all stages of their pregnancy. In fact, travel can be a great way to get some rest and relaxation before the baby comes! It is thoroughly enjoyable, but it requires some special travel preparations:
Before the trip – It is important to get the o.k. from your doctor or midwife as to your travel plans. If you have pregnancy complications or you are getting close to your due date, they may advise you to stay home. However, the majority of women are given the o.k. to travel during their first and second trimesters.
Get a copy of your pregnancy medical records and bring them with you just in case. It is also a good idea to research the medical facilities in your vacation destination so that you know where to go if there is an emergency.
Another important factor is to ensure that your travel health insurance is sufficient if you are traveling out of the country. Beware that many travel health insurance policies will not be valid if you are more than seven months pregnant.
How to dress – Since you can never predict the weather, nor the temperatures you’ll experience on an airplane, make sure you dress in layers of comfortable, baggy clothing. Being prepared by wearing layers will ensure that you stay comfortable, no matter what the temperature or if your hormones decide to make you feel like a furnace!
Remember snacks – Make sure you bring healthy snacks to enjoy any time you need it. That way, you won’t have to stop at an unhealthy fast food restaurant and fill up on food loaded with grease. Bring plenty of water too!
Other tips – It is much more comfortable if you bring a small pillow to help relieve backpressure or to give you a soft place to lay your head when you want a nap.
If you are traveling by car or plane, it is important to get up, stretch, and move around as much as possible. Pregnancy makes you susceptible to leg cramps and ankle and calf swelling. If you cannot get out of your seat, you can still move your legs by doing ankle rotations and calf stretches.
Above all, it is important to have a positive attitude. Traveling can be an exciting adventure when you are pregnant. So, plan ahead, bring your best attitude and have a great time!