Here are some tips to ensure travel during your pregnancy is safe and comfortable.
- If traveling by airplane, bus or train, get up and move around periodically
- Wear both a shoulder harness and a lap belt when you travel in a car to protect you and the baby in case of an accident. Fasten the belt as low as possible around your abdomen.
- Sitting for long periods of time in a car or plane may cause leg cramps, discomfort, and tiredness, particularly late in the pregnancy. To keep from getting too tired during a car trip, stop about every 2 hours to stretch, walk about, and go to the bathroom.
- Drink plenty of fluids when traveling to avoid dehydration.
- Support stockings can minimize leg cramps.
- Air travel is generally safe before the last month of pregnancy. Some airlines require proof of gestational age before a pregnant woman boards a plane. Changes in cabin pressure and low humidity can affect the unborn baby if the mother has other medical problems that would restrict travel.
- Late in your pregnancy, it is a good idea to avoid long trips. By staying close to home, your baby can be born where you planned and where your medical history is known.
If you must travel late in pregnancy, ask your health care provider to refer you to someone in the area you will be visiting, and ask for a copy of your prenatal record to take with you.
