Pregnancy is a wonderful time of life for most women and if you're a frequent traveler you'll find that travel can still be fun and exciting as well. Most doctors and airlines mandate that pregnant women can't fly on international flights if they are more than 32 weeks pregnant and that they can't fly on domestic flights after 36 weeks. The risk of health complications during this time is very high but the stress of travel can cause a woman to go into premature labor , and that something airlines don't want to deal with.
So that, I want to share 10 tips for pregnant women who are going to travel by plane.
What you should bring and do.
1. Talk to Your Doctor
Make sure you talk to your physician before you embark on any journey, whether you plan to take a plane or not. Your doctor will be best able to discuss your travel limitations and time frames within which you should and should not travel.
Pack your bags carefully, remember to carry all the right documentation with you, and enjoy your trip. Travel can be just as much fun while pregnant as it is any other time and perhaps even more so!
2. Carry Your Medical Records
Make a copy of your prenatal medical records and tuck them into your carry-on bag. If you do have any problems during your travels it will be easier for the doctor in your final destination to communicate with your doctors back home and understand the details of your pregnancy.
3. Take Time to Slow Down
Make sure you plan an extra day or so right after your flight to kick back and relax before you start touring. You'll probably be a bit more tired than usual and you'll want to build in a day to get over your jet lag or fatigue from all-day travel.
4. Call Your Travel Agent
If you booked your vacation as part of a tour, call your travel agent to make sure there are no restrictions as to whether or not pregnant women can participate. Some groups do have restrictions and it would be horrible to arrive at your destination only to find that you can't move along with the group.
5. Wear Loose Clothing
Wear the loosest clothing and most comfortable shoes you can get away with when flying. The change of altitude can cause additional swelling and may make you uncomfortable. Wear loose shoes or sneakers you can easily unlace if your feet begin to swell. Wearing a skirt may be easier as well, especially if you need to move around in a cramped airline bathroom.
6. Carry a Pillow
When pregnant you'll find it more difficult than most to get comfortable in your airplane seat. Leave your bulky pregnancy pillows at home, though and they won't fit on the plane. Carry a small pillow so that you can make yourself comfortable or ask the flight attendant for a few extra travel pillows.
7. Move Around
One of the most common problems women have while flying is the development of a blood clot. The risk of developing a blood clot, or thrombo-embolism, is increased when women sit still for long periods of time. Try to get up and move around as much as possible after the flight takes off and the captain clears you to unfasten your seat belt.
8. Pack Your Own Food
If you're pregnant you may be on a special diet so you'll want to pack your own snacks and foods to ensure you have something nutritious on hand at all times. Having your own food will make it easier for you to resist the call of fast food restaurants or junk food snacks served on the airplane.
9. Tell the Flight Attendants
You may be an independent woman who wants to do everything for herself but being pregnant does have its perks. If you let the flight attendants know that you are pregnant they'll make sure to take care of you on the flight and may even work to make sure you have an aisle seat so that you don't disturb others when you have to use the bathroom.
10. Always Carry Water
Pregnant women can become dehydrated much faster than others. It's important to carry water with you at all times so that you can quench your thirst before you begin to feel ill from dehydration. Just make sure you also take note of where the bathrooms are located within the airport or on your airplane.
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