5 Tips for Traveling When You’re Pregnant

Traveling while pregnant may feel like a hassle, but just wait until you have a baby in tow, along with diapers, blankets and bottles. Right now, heading off to vacation is a breeze compared to what it’s going to be like. Whether you’re taking a babymoon with your guy, heading out of town for work or traveling to your parents’ house for the holidays, these five tips will make traveling while you’re pregnant a bit easier.

Avoid the X-ray Machine

At the airport, you’ll have to go through security, which means having everything scanned, including yourself. Some security checkpoints will let you opt for a pat down instead of standing in the AIT (Advanced Imaging Technology) scanners, which isn’t entirely safe for pregnant women. Metal detectors, on the other hand, are fine to go through.

Book an Aisle Seat

No matter how much you love daydreaming out the window as you fly through the clouds, it’s imperative that you have an aisle seat if you’re pregnant. First, you’ll probably have to make a lot of trips to the bathroom. Second, you’ll want to stretch your legs from time to time and even take a stroll down the aisle every now and then. It’s important to move around in order to prevent blood clots. Pregnant women are susceptible to clotting, a condition that gets worse the longer you sit in one place.

Hit the Road

Sure, traveling by plane is faster and going on a cruise doesn’t sound like it’ll upset your morning sickness, but ultimately, the safest way to travel while pregnant is by car. The main reason is because you’ll have easier access to medical care if an emergency occurs. You’ll also be able to take a bunch of pit stops in order to stretch, visit a powder room or take a break from motion sickness. Try not to travel for more than six hours a day. Not sure what to do with the seatbelt? Place the lap belt below your belly and rest it on your hip. The shoulder strap can go across your chest and to the side of your bump.

Stay Domestic

Dreaming of visiting a far-off land before your little one keeps you up all night? It’s tempting to want to explore a foreign place before your bundle of joy is born, but your best bet is to stay domestic. Ultimately, you’ll be more comfortable if you don’t have to worry about unsafe drinking water, possibly contaminated food and overseas medical care.

Have your heart set on getting out of the U.S. for a week or two? Avoid places with very high altitudes. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pregnant women shouldn’t be at altitudes above 12,000 feet. Also, talk to your doctor before you leave to find out if you need any special vaccinations. When you reach your destination, wherever it is, don’t even think about scuba diving, skiing, snowboarding or skydiving. You can still stay active, just make sure your activities are low-risk.

Timing Is Everything

When you’re pregnant, you’ll experience lots of lovely side effects like body aches, fatigue and nausea. The good news is that you probably won’t deal with all three symptoms at the same time for the entire nine months. During your second trimester, you’ll likely be past the morning sickness but not yet feeling fatigued. Any time between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy is ideal to travel. It’s also recommended that pregnant women don’t travel after 36 weeks. If you’re scheduled to give birth within 30 days, some airlines even require a note from your doctor. Whenever you decide to fly, make sure you talk to your doctor first, since high-risk pregnancies aren’t always safe to fly.

Image by: Wikimedia Commons

Sara Wells is a travel writer who blogs on behalf of car rental insurance brand Protectyourbubble.com.