I'm Pregnant, Can I Take Vacations
A mom-to-be should get in as much vacationing as she can before her nine months are up and caring for a little one becomes a 24/7 job. Although traveling while pregnant is OK, it's more advisable to do so during the second trimester. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists notes, most emergencies happen in your first or third trimester, and the type of movement required by travel can become uncomfortable after 28 weeks of pregnancy. With that in mind, plan for your trip with the following traveling and pregnancy tips in mind.
Standard Car Trips
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists estimates that you spend no more than five to six hours driving each day. Although five hours of driving won't take you on a cross country road trip, it will take you away for a long getaway weekend in the country. Always wear your seat belt in the car, and take regular breaks to stretch.
Air Travel
Always talk to your doctor before booking that transatlantic flight, but keep in mind you are generally safe to fly during your pregnancy. Check with your airline because it may restrict you from flying during the last month of your pregnancy or require that you obtain a medical certificate. At MayoClinic.com, Roger W. Harms, M.D., recommends selecting an aisle seat to give you the most room on your flight. Drink plenty of water on the plane to avoid dehydration from the naturally dry cabin environment.
In 2015 the RCOG in the UK revised their pamphlet about Air Travel and Pregnancy.
This revised information is for you if you’re considering travelling by air when pregnant. The information is relevant for all lengths of flights.
Trips to Avoid
Types of trips should wait until post-pregnancy. Cruises can be relaxing, but they can expose you to foodborne illnesses such as norovirus. These diseases spread rapidly to passengers cruising together. Check with the Centers for Disease Control to see if the cruise line you're considering has passed a food safety inspection. Overall it may be best to delay your cruise. You also may not be able to take the same type of nausea medication for seasickness.
International travel may not be advisable either, particularly to areas where malaria is a concern, such as South America, Central America, Asia, or Africa. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists suggests sharing concerns with your medical provider before making any decisions. Although avoiding these trips may be disappointing, think optimistically. You can look forward to planning a romantic vacation to celebrate a special occasion when your baby's older.
Special Travel Precautions
Since you are so focused on your health during travel, you could easily overlook something. You may not realize you left behind your bag or that someone has pickpocketed you when you're so focused on your condition. Protect yourself before you travel by establishing identity theft monitoring in case you become the vulnerable target of a scammer. Lost wallet notifications, identity threat alerts and credit monitoring can help you respond effectively to any threats. Learn more about Lifelock, a company specializing in these services, by visiting it social media pages.
The Centers for Disease Control suggests that you pack a pregnancy health kit. Include basic first aid items, and take prenatal vitamins, hemorrhoid cream, yeast infection medication, talcum powder, and a blood pressure monitor. Your doctor can advise you on what medications are essential and safe to take during pregnancy. Don't forget an arsenal of healthy snacks to cure those spontaneous hunger pains while traveling.
This article has been written by Joshua Moore for The Pregnancy Centre.