Women who are pregnant need to consider other issues when travelling so we have some advice for you to ensure that you have a safe and comfortable trip.
A lot of women are scared to travel during a pregnancy. After all, you may not want to get too far away from your physician, but traveling during pregnancy is perfectly okay as long as you remember a few safety rules. The time and method of travel will make a great difference in how safe and comfortable you are on your journey. Let’s take a closer look at traveling while pregnant.
When to Travel
While you can travel in your first trimester, it is recommended to travel during your second trimester. The reason is your morning sickness will have passed and you won’t have the fatigue that many women experience during the third trimester. However, as long as there aren’t any complications with the pregnancy, you can travel throughout the length of your pregnancy.
How to Travel
You have several options when it comes to traveling while pregnant. Many women prefer to travel by land, but some methods will be more comfortable than others. Obviously, traveling with friends or loved ones by car is the best option, but you must remember toalways buckle your seat belt and travel in a car with airbags. Buses are trains are another option, but the aisles and bathrooms can be very small. You will also want to stay seated during the ride, unless you absolutely have to go to the bathroom. If you do have to get up, always hold onto the rails to stay balanced.
Air travel is allowed up until the eight month, but after that you will need a doctor’s permission to fly. Just like buses and trains, the aisles and bathrooms are small and you should hold onto the seats when visiting the restroom. You should also opt for an aisle seat to make it easier to walk around and visit the bathroom. You should never travel in a private plane that will go above 7,000 feet. It is preferred that pregnant women travel with major airlines that offer pressurized cabins. Remember with any travel methods to get up and walk around whenever stopping at a rest stop or by safely walking the aisle of an airplane.
If you are going to travel by sea, always make sure a health care professional will be on board. You should also check your cruise’s route for emergency medical facilities. Last, but not least, do not take nausea medication unless it is approved by your doctor.
Other Tips for Safe Travel
There are a number of tips to keep your traveling safe and stress-free. First of all, visit your physician before leaving. This will give you peace of mind that your baby is doing fine. If you will be doing foreign travel, you also need to discuss the need of immunizations. You should also bring along your prenatal records when traveling a long distance.
As for being comfortable, you should take along anything that makes you feel comfortable. Opt for comfortable, cotton clothing and bring along your favorite pillow so that you can rest while traveling. You also need to check your travel route for rest stops so that you can stop as often as you need. Last, but not least, remember to bring along snacks and drinks to keep you satisfied on your journey.
Traveling during pregnancy is safe in most situations. You just need to take a few more precautions than normal in order to protect you and your baby.
About the Author: Stephen McCarl and his wife enjoy traveling and her two pregnancies did not slow them down. When not traveling, Stephen works as a health care provider and creates educational materials. He enjoys reading sites like Yeastinfection.org by Dr Eric Bakker to learn more about common medical conditions in both men and women.
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