Travelling When Pregnant

It’s always an exciting time to be pregnant and adding travel to the equation can bring more harmony into our lives. How great is it to explore parts of the world? Visually taking in your unique surroundings and being far away from home. Sometimes, when we’re carrying our bubs with us in those long, horrendous flights, travelling can get a little stressful for us. So how can we make our travel experiences worthwhile when pregnant? Is there even a way to enjoy our holiday? You’d be surprised how easy it is to manage travel while being pregnant and who says we have to take away the fun from the equation?

Here are some handy tips to take on board to help your travel adventures feel like an R&R session instead of a nightmare.

Find ways to reduce stress while on your trip

• Make sure you do your research when you are about to embark on your next adventure. Because you’re pregnant, you have to take extra health precautions when reaching to your destination. Be aware of the places you’re going to, and see if you need any required vaccines before leaving home. You can also register your trip so an immediate family member or friend can help you during an emergency. You can register by going here: http://smartraveller.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx
• Leave early and be prepared for delays. To put it simply, the earlier the better. It’s more stressful having to feel like you should rush especially when pregnant. Train and flight delays are the inevitable.
• Long queues and delays can create haywire for your hormones. Read a book or listen to music to help you relax. Having a sense of humour can also go a long way!

 Do your best to eat foods that are good for you

• Being hungry is the norm when pregnant so it’s really important that you do not skip meals. If you do, this will leave you feeling sick. If you’re about to undergo a 16-hour flight, make sure you pack lots of healthy snacks to nibble on while you’re on the plane. Some suggested snack foods include cereal bars, nuts and dried fruit.
• It’s a good idea to bring a water bottle with you to avoid dehydration. Pregnant women have a high risk of dehydration while flying, so drinking extra fluid can prevent you from getting swollen feet and ankles!
• Eating schedules go out the door when you’re travelling so make sure you have a nourishing meal when you finally arrive at your destination. Make sure you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Also, consult your doctor if you are planning on travelling to a country where not many healthy options are available, and speak to them about taking more vitamin and mineral supplements.
• Instead of eating three large meals per day, break it up into smaller portions and have five or six smaller meals during the day. This will avoid heartburn.
• To avoid feeling nauseous during your flight, suck on a sweet lolly or mint to help alleviate the effects.

 Frequently take breaks

• When you’re pregnant, peeing frequently is the norm. When you’re booking flights, make sure you choose the aisle seat. This will save you hassle from going in and out of the bathroom, avoiding any disturbances for passengers nearby you.
• Most of the public toilets at airports can be dirty. If you find one that’s clean, use it so you feel comfortable. If you are travelling by car on a long road trip, make sure you take some quick pit stops to the bathroom at service stations.
• Sitting for long periods of time can really make your ankles and feet swell up so be sure to take some time to walk around every 90 mins, especially if you have a long drive ahead of you.
• Pregnancy puts a big strain on your circulatory system, meaning that you’re much more vulnerable in experiencing blood clots (thrombosis) and varicose veins. Flying increases your risk of contracting either so be sure to wear support stockings to help alleviate swollen veins and get your circulation pumping.
• Wear comfortable shoes! Wearing sport shoes (aka trainers) is always a good idea especially if you know you’ll be walking for long periods of time. Bringing blister pads can also be helpful too.

 Reserve your energy and do safe and appropriate activities

• Before you were pregnant, you were able to juggle a lot of activities especially when you had a busy week ahead of you. If you are travelling for work or for leisure, make sure you pace yourself and find time to reserve your energy. Try not to take on things you cannot handle.
• Even when you’re travelling with family and want to do a whole bunch of activities, it’s really important to schedule some down time for yourself. You need to relax and re-energise so having a bit of quiet time helps!
• Take a bath or nap where needed. You’re pregnant, it’s tough work!
• Be sensible when choosing activities to do while you’re away. Doing some yoga classes, brisk walking and swimming are all appropriate. Avoid doing rollercoasters, scuba diving and anything that puts you and your baby at risk. Safety comes first.
• If you’re unsure of doing a particular activity, research and ask questions. Knowledge is power.

 Wear comfortable clothing

• Avoid wearing anything tight especially when choosing your bottoms to wear. If you wear jeans or tights, this can make you more vulnerable to thrush. Wearing anything cotton will make you more comfortable especially when it’s hot and humid at your travel destination.
• It’s always a good idea to pack anti-fungal cream to treat vaginal thrush just in case it does happen. Always speak to your doctor about appropriate treatment options.

No matter what stage of pregnancy you’re at, always remember your safety comes first when you travel. You are way more delicate and fragile when you’re pregnant so be cautious of your surroundings and take care of yourself. Most importantly, don’t forget to relax and enjoy your much-needed holiday!