By Jenilee Matz, M.P.H., Staff Writer, myOptumHealth
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With your passports renewed and flights booked, you're ready to take that dream vacation you've been planning for years. Or, perhaps you have a far-flung client that needs "on-site" attention. But something unexpected has put a kink in your travel plans: You're pregnant.
If you are healthy and have a normal pregnancy, there's likely no need to cancel your plans, but talk to your doctor first and keep these tips in mind.
If you have a high-risk pregnancy, or other health conditions, your doctor will have more specific advice for you.
Where can I go?
Let your doctor know when and where you plan to travel, especially if you're going out of the country. Your doctor can tell you if it's safe for you to go, and if there are any areas to avoid. Your doctor may suggest that you:
- Get certain vaccinations before your trip. And take all other recommended precautions. There are many infectious diseases in other countries that are not found in the U.S. Pregnant women are more susceptible to certain diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and traveler's diarrhea.
- Plan ahead for high altitudes. You may feel short of breath for a few days while getting used to a higher elevation. Give yourself a few days to acclimate before you plan activities. Pregnant women should avoid altitudes at or above 12,000 feet (3,658 meters) and flying in unpressurized aircraft.
When is it safe to travel?
You might find the most comfortable time to travel is during the middle of your pregnancy. During the second trimester, you may feel the most comfortable and energetic. In the first trimester, you may be battling morning sickness and may not feel up to seeing the sights. During the last third of pregnancy, you may feel uncomfortable and tired. And you're at a higher risk for preterm labor during the final trimester.
How should I get there?
Whether you're traveling by air, land or sea, there are some precautions you should always take:
- Get up and walk around at least every two hours. Stretch your legs and wiggle your toes often. This helps reduce the risk for blood clots and eases swelling in your ankles and feet.
Tips for each mode of transportation include:
By car
- Wear your seatbelt at all times. Make sure the lap portion of your seatbelt sits low on your hipbones, below your stomach. Do not place the belt across your stomach.
- Keep the air bags turned on at all times. Keep your seat as far back from the dashboard as you can (at least 10 inches), if possible. Experts say the benefits of an air bag outweigh any risks to a pregnant woman and her baby.
- Limit time spent in the car to five to 6 hours each day.
By train or bus
- Remain seated when the bus or train is moving.
- Hold on to the top of the seats or use handrails if you need to get up and use the restroom. Be extra careful when using stairs.
By airplane
- Wear your seatbelt while seated.
- Most airlines allow pregnant women to fly up to a month before their due date. Check your airline for specifics. Some might require a letter from your doctor.
- Walking through the metal detector at the security checkpoint will not harm your baby.
- Only fly on planes that have pressurized cabins. All planes of major airlines are pressurized. Private planes may not be.
- Drink plenty of water. Dehydration happens more quickly at higher altitudes.
- Choose an aisle seat toward the front of the plane. It will be easier to get up and walk around if you're seated at the aisle. The ride is often smoother toward the front of the plane.
By boat
- Check with your cruise line to see how late in your pregnancy you can travel. Some lines may only allow travel up to the 24th week of pregnancy.
- You may get seasick. Ask your doctor what medication is safe for you to take to calm your stomach.
- Make sure the ship has a doctor or nurse on board at all times.
- Check to see if the ports have modern medical facilities in case of an emergency.
Before you leave
Careful planning may help prevent bumps in the road during your travels:
- Learn where the closest hospital is to your vacation spot. You never know when you may need to see a doctor. If you are traveling to another country, bring a foreign language dictionary with you in case the doctor does not speak English.
- Bring your prenatal records along with you.
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
- Plan to take plenty of bathroom breaks.
- Have healthy snacks on hand.
- Be flexible. Travel may disrupt your normal routine. Listen to your body and only do what you feel up to.
View the original Bon voyage! Tips for traveling during pregnancy article on myOptumHealth.com
SOURCES:
- Johnson TRB, Gregory KD, Niebyl JR. Preconception and prenatal care: part of the continuum. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2007. Accessed: 05/05/2009
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Traveler's health - yellow book. Advising travelers with specific needs. Accessed: 05/07/2009
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Women's Health Information Center. Healthy pregnancy. Accessed: 03/16/2009
- Morrison LJ. General approach to the pregnant patient. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, Adams JG, eds. Marx: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier; 2006. Accessed: 05/07/2009
- American Pregnancy Association. Pregnancy and travel. Accessed: 05/07/2009
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Travel during pregnancy. Accessed: 05/07/2009
You might find the most comfortable time to travel is during the middle of your pregnancy. © iStockphoto.com/Sean Locke
