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With proper planning and advice, travel during pregnancy is not a problem. To ensure that you and your baby remain healthy during travel, you need to consider the stage of your pregnancy, your current physical condition, and any restrictions or problems you and your doctor have discussed.
Also, talk to your doctor about visits or tests you need to schedule, so that you are not away during the time these are to take place. These can include Rh immunoglobulin injections (for Rh negative blood types), ultrasounds, glucose screening tests and regular prenatal, physician visits.
Assuming your doctor says it is OK for you to travel, be sure you prepare a complete list of contact names and phone numbers to take with you. Using this list other travelers or health care professionals can be guided should you encounter any pregnancy related health problems.
This information should include: %u2022 Your name, age and blood type, and any medications you are taking, as well as your health care insurance information. Also include your due date, the date of your most recent doctor appointment, any allergies you may have to medication or foods, and any immunizations you may have had before travel %u2022 Your doctor’s name and contact information %u2022 Any doctor’s name and phone number you may be using while you are away from home %u2022 Emergency contact information for your family (include more than one contact)
Take adequate pregnancy vitamins, medications (prescription or otherwise) so you are covered for the duration of your trip. Make certain that your health insurance policy covers pregnancy, delivery and other complications during travel and be sure to double check any restrictions that may apply to travel in foreign countries.
Your pregnancy could involve unforeseen health issues that may necessitate altering travel plans or could add extra expenses so make sure your travel insurance will cover these. Included in this cover should be any pregnancy and emergency transportation. Ensure you bring a cell phone and make any alterations required so it will work in all countries on your itinerary.
You can plan normal activities while you are traveling, but understand that you are likely to get tired more quickly when you are pregnant, so plan for extra rest during each travel day. Take a relaxing bath, use room service, sit on the beach or watch an in-room movie. Eating healthy is important, and your schedule is likely to be different on the road, so take nuts, dry fruit, and cheese and crackers with you. Drink plenty of water and avoid dehydration, especially if you are flying to your destination.
Toileting is an important factor to consider. As an expectant mother, you are likely to need to use the bathroom often. Try to plan trips and activities that are close to bathrooms. And plan extra time for ‘pit stops’ if you are traveling by car. Plane travel means long periods of sitting so feet and legs will probably swell. Wear comfortable, expandable shoes and socks and elevate your feet whenever possible. Grab every opportunity to get up and walk around and use any pit stops to get some exercise in.
If you are traveling to a foreign country, you and your doctor will have to consider any vaccines you will require to determine whether they are safe to administer during pregnancy. Varicella for measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox is a live vaccine and should be avoided. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report no fetal damage from live vaccines, but they admit that their information is limited, so these vaccines should still be considered risky. Pregnant women at risk from getting Hepatitis B, tetanus and Hepatitis A should be vaccinated as these vaccines are considered safe.
There may be challenges obtaining quality water, food and healthcare in some developing countries. When pregnant you should try to avoid traveling to such regions. Yeast infections can be brought on in hot, humid areas so avoid same by wearing cotton undergarments and loose, lightweight clothes. Wet swimming suits should be removed as soon as possible and it might be an idea to suggest bringing some anti-fungal cream to your doctor.
Avoid risky activities, especially late in pregnancy: snow skiing, water skiing, surfing, horseback riding, parasailing, scuba diving, water slides and some more extreme amusement park rides. You may also wish to avoid very hot saunas and hot tubs, as they elevate your temperature beyond what is normal in a regular bath. You can walk and hike at low altitudes, swim in calm waters (not in heavy surf or rapids), ride a stationary or regular bike, exercise in the hotel gym (if you have been used to exercising before and during your pregnancy) and jog if you jogged before pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about your planned activities before you leave for travel or vacation.
Be smart! Don’t be afraid to take a rest if you feel you are overdoing it and feel dizzy, tired or overheated. Travel, especially to other time zones, can throw your eating schedule off and cause more problems with bloating, and indigestion. Eat little and often. Don’t eat close to bedtime (allow 2-3 hours to digest your food). Prop yourself up on pillows in bed. Avoid alcohol, carbonated beverages, caffeine, chocolate, acidic foods (citrus fruits, tomatoes, and vinegar), and spicy foods. Keeping active will help keep things moving in your digestive region and fill up on high fiber foods to alleviate constipation etc.
Sitting in the front of the car and keeping the window open for fresh air will help with motion sickness. If traveling on a ship try to stay on deck focusing on the horizon and sit over the wing on an airplane. Acupuncture, pressure point bracelets are available to be worn on the wrist. Motion sickness and pregnancy morning sickness can be alleviated by these devices.
Avoid motion sickness by sitting in the front seat of the car and keeping the window open to get plenty of fresh air. If traveling on a ship try to stay on deck focusing on the horizon and sit over the wing on an airplane. You can try wearing a specially designed wristband to deliver mild electrical current to a nerve at an acupuncture point on the underside of your wrist. Motion sickness and pregnancy morning sickness can be alleviated by these devices.
HealthyPregnancys.com offers articles and resources for all moms to be. Your guide to pregnancy is at Pregnancy
- Rene Sandan
