Whether you’re taking a babymoon, visiting family, or heading off on a work trip, traveling while pregnant requires careful planning and preparation.
At MamasteFit, we understand the unique challenges of traveling while pregnant.
That’s why we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide with tips and advice to help you plan and make the most of your trip.
Traveling While Pregnant: The Ultimate Guide
Trveling is healthy for the spirit, mind, body, and heart. However, traveling while pregnant can be a challenge.
In this article, we’ll share some essential traveling while pregnant tips to help you stay safe, comfortable, and stress-free during your journey.
From planning your trip to arriving, going with a plane or car, in this guide we will give you everything you need to know to stay safe and comfy if you are traveling while pregnant.
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Traveling While Pregnant Tips: Before You Travel
1) Consult Your Doctor.
Before making any travel plans, it’s important to consult with your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you to travel while pregnant. They can advise you on any specific health concerns for your individual pregnancy and provide you with any necessary precautions.
2) Choose the Right Time.
The best time to travel while pregnant is during the second trimester, when your morning sickness has resolved, your energy has hopefully returned, and you’re not too big or uncomfortable.
Avoid traveling in the first trimester if possible because we tend to feel most nauseous and fatigued! Sometimes this is unavoidable if the trip was planned in advance and we learn we are pregnant shortly before!
Avoid the third trimester because there may be a highly risk of complications depending on your situation. It is not advised to travel after 36 weeks if possible. Some airlines will not allow you to fly if you are after 36 weeks without a doctors note!
3) Check Your Insurance.
Make sure you have adequate travel insurance that covers any pregnancy-related emergencies, such as premature labor or complications. This can be helpful if you need to cancel a trip so you can get a refund and not have to worry about lost money.
4) Plan Your Itinerary.
When planning your trip, consider the length of your travel, the type of transport, and the availability of medical facilities.
When choosing your destination, consider factors like climate, altitude, and access to medical care. Choose destinations that have easy access to medical care and facilities, and avoid long journeys or flights with multiple connections.
5) Book Your Travel Early.
The earlier you book your travel, the more options you’ll have when it comes to choosing your seat, accommodations, and transportation. You may also be able to save money by booking early.
Traveling While Pregnant Tips: On the Day of Travel
6) Pack Smart.
When packing for your trip, be sure to include all the essentials, such as comfortable clothing, snacks, water, and any medications or medical supplies you may need.
Depending on how fa along you are, consider packing a copy of your pregnancy medical records and insurance information. Just in case you need to seek medical care.
7) Invest in Comfortable Shoes.
Comfortable shoes are a must when traveling while pregnant, especially if you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Look for shoes with good arch support, cushioning, and a non-slip sole.
Bonus if you can put them on quickly AND hands free! Especially if you are flying and have to take your shoes off for security! We love Kizik hands free shoes for pregnancy (and mom-life in general)!
8) Bring a Pillow.
A pregnancy pillow can help you get a good night’s sleep, even when you’re away from home. If you have room in your luggage. Look for a compact pillow that’s easy to pack and can be used to support your back, belly, or legs.
If you don’t have room, I found that those neck pillows for flying was beneficial for pregnancy too! I found I could use it in many different way, sit on it for more cushion below, put it behind my back for lumbar support, or under my belly for belly support. This was especially important for the actual travel. Most places we vacationed had enough pillows to find support of my body for bedtime.
9. Dress Comfortably.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing and shoes that can easily be removed. Having layers can be helpful for the every changing body temperature changes we encounter during pregnancy. From being cold one second to burning hot the next.
10. Stay Hydrated.
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate you and your baby.
I found bringing my own reusable water bottle for flight and car trips made sure I was drinking enough water during the trip! Plus side of staying hydrated is it forces you to take breaks from sitting. Whether in the car taking breaks to stop and use the restroom, or on flights having to get up from your seat to walk to the bathroom.
11. Pack Snacks.
Bring nutritious snacks, such as vegetable, fruit, and nuts. This will help keep your energy levels up and prevent nausea. (We are usually more nauseous when our stomach is empty!)
12. Move and Stretch.
During the journey, make sure to get up and move around and stretch your legs every 1-2 hour. This is to prevent blood clots in our deep veins, which we are at an increase risk of during pregnancy.
This can also help to alleviate any pregnancy related pains in our body we are having!
Traveling While Pregnant Tips: At Your Destination
13. Take It Easy.
Once you arrive at your destination, take some time to rest and acclimate to your new surroundings.
I usually will give myself a few hours after arriving to decompress from the trip and maybe take a bath if its an option!
14. Stay Active.
While it’s important to rest, it’s also beneficial to stay active and continue to exercise during your trip.
This can look different than while you are at home. You may not hav access to the same type of equipment on vacation. Some ideas to try: swimming, walking, prenatal yoga, or biking are all great ways to stay active while pregnant and on vacation
15. Eat Well.
Stick to a nutrient-dense diet if possible. We still want to be eating food that will be nourishing not just our body but also our baby! Avoiding foods that may pose a risk of food poisoning or contamination.
Be sure to pack your prenatal vitamin and supplements to continue to take while on vacation!
If you experience any unusual symptoms or complications, seek medical care immediately.
Traveling by Plane:
In general, it is safe for pregnant women to travel by plane, as long as they have consulted with their healthcare provider and taken appropriate precautions based on their specific health status.
It is generally recommended that pregnant women avoid flying after 36 weeks of pregnancy, as the risk of labor increases as the due date approaches.
In addition, pregnant women should also take steps to ensure their comfort and safety during the flight.
1) Choose the right seat.
When booking your flight, choose a seat that will allow you to stretch your legs and get up and move around easily. Consider booking an aisle seat so you can easily access the restroom.
I personally prefer the window seat, except when I am pregnant so that I can easily get up and walk around without having to bother the people next to me.
2) Get up and walk up and down the aisle
I normally will try to get up and walk up and down the aisle or at least do mobility in my seat once every hour at a minimum! This is to help blood flow and prevent blood clots from forming!
Also just feels better on my back, hips, and pelvis in general to do some movement.
3) Limit layovers if possible
By limiting the number of layovers you have you are:
- Decreasing your total travel time (usually)
- Decreasing the number of times you have to get on and off the plane
This might increase the cost of the flight, but if it is an option I would choose a nonstop or 1 stop option over the alternatives!
Traveling by Car:
Traveling by car while pregnant can be safe, but it also requires some additional precautions and considerations to ensure the health and safety of both the mother and the baby.
Here are some important factors to keep in mind when traveling by car while pregnant:
1) Take frequent breaks.
When traveling by car, take frequent breaks to stretch your legs and use the restroom. No more than 2 hours at a time driving is recommended.
Consider using a rest stop that has a picnic area or a park, so you can get some fresh air and light exercise. This also prevents you from wanting to eat the fast food thats at some rest stops!
2) Wear your seat belt.
Always wear your seat belt when traveling by car…This seems like an obvious tip, but not everyone does this.
Make sure it’s properly positioned under your belly. Consider wearing a seat belt adjuster, which can help you wear your seat belt comfortably.
Conclusion:
Traveling while pregnant can be a wonderful experience, but it does require some extra planning and preparation.
By following these traveling while pregnant tips, you can stay safe, comfortable, and stress-free during your journey.
Remember to check with your doctor first, pack smart, and listen to your body.
With the right mindset and some careful planning, you can have an enjoyable and memorable trip, even with a baby on board.