For women with low-risk pregnancies, it's generally safe to travel during pregnancy. Take these steps to help yourself be comfortable and safe.
Air Travel
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that women with healthy, single pregnancies can fly safely up to 36 weeks’ gestation. The safest time is during the second trimester (18 to 24 weeks), when a pregnant woman usually feels best and is in least danger of spontaneous abortion or premature labor.
Pregnant women with severe anemia or sickle-cell disease or trait should not fly; nor should women with placental abnormalities, who are at risk for premature labor or who have a history of thrombophlebitis.
Before you book a flight, check with the airlines about their policies. Some require that you complete a medical form. Some don't let women travel late in their pregnancy.
Staying Comfortable
The discomforts of pregnancy — such as fatigue, heartburn and leg cramps — have a way of becoming magnified when you're confined to a car, bus, train or plane. Here are suggestions to help you be as comfortable as possible.
Watch what you eat before and during travel. It's common sense to avoid the foods you know bother you already. For a few days before your trip and while on the road (or in the sky), eat foods you find easiest to digest. Don't eat a lot at any one time; instead, eat a small amount more often.
Limit sitting. Prolonged sitting can restrict blood flow in your legs. Try to drive to no more than six hours each day and stop often to stretch your legs. If you're flying, reserve a bulkhead seat or a seat on the aisle, so you have room to stretch your legs while sitting. Flex your feet and legs often. Stand or walk in the aisle every 30 minutes or so. Whether you drive or fly, wearing support pantyhose can help blood flow.
Wear your seatbelt. When flying, wear your seatbelt whenever you're sitting. To make it as comfortable as possible, wear the strap under your belly, across your hips.
When traveling by car, buckle up as soon as you get into the car. The lap strap should go under your belly, across your hips. The shoulder strap should go between your breasts and to the side of your belly. Make sure it fits snugly.
Be Ready for a Medical Emergency
Before making your travel plans, discuss travel with your doctor. Your doctor can let you know if your plans present a risk and what to do about that risk. For example, if you're traveling during a region's flu season, your doctor might recommend a flu shot. Once you get your doctor's approval, take the recommended steps so an emergency doesn’t catch you unprepared.
Look into medical facilities. Identify where you can get emergency medical care at your destination; if you're driving, locate facilities along your route before you leave. If you're traveling to a developing country, find out whether the facility screens its blood supply for HIV, and hepatitis B and C.
If you'll be away from home for awhile, make arrangements for routine prenatal care visits that fall during your trip. Your health insurance provider's website will list participating doctors and medical facilities at your destination.
Check insurance coverage. If you're traveling abroad, see what your health insurance policy covers. If you need a supplemental travel policy for their trip, make sure it covers pregnancy-related problems.
Pack a travel kit. Bring a copy of your medical record and your doctor's contact information. Carry your medications in their original packaging.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends carrying talcum powder, a thermometer, oral rehydration salt packets, prenatal vitamins, acetaminophen and a sunscreen with a high SPF. If you're in the third trimester, the CDC recommends carrying a blood-pressure cuff to check for hypertension and urine dipsticks to check for proteinuria and glucosuria.
These conditions require prompt medical attention.Don't wait to get medical attention. If you suspect a problem with your pregnancy during your trip, don't wait until you get home to see your doctor — get medical care right away.
Information in this article was adapted from the US Department of Health website womenshealth.gov and from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
