Traveling while Pregnant, traveling with kids…you might not think it’s possible, but I strongly feel there is always time to travel. Just like there are ways to make it easier to travel with toddlers, there are plenty of tips to make it easier to travel while pregnant. Whether you are planning a babymoon or need to travel for work (or pleasure), the first step to raising your future traveler is to start early. In utero seems like a decent place to start.

During my first Pregnancy, I stayed in the United States. I was trying to save up my vacation days for maternity leave, so we took short trips to visit family all across the country. During this current pregnancy, I have decided I don’t care about the sanctity of paid time off. Traveling while pregnant means I get to spend quality time with my little family before it changes irrevocably in a few months. So I say let’s go for it.

*Disclaimer*: I did consult with two different OB/GYNs when writing this article as well as researched on medical websites. That does NOT mean this is a substitute for speaking to your own doctor/midwife/etc. Every person is different, every pregnancy is different. Though these are generally accepted guidelines, if you have a particular question, ask your medical professional.

Pregnancy Travel Restrictions

Airplane Travel when Pregnant

Khloe Kardashian recently caught social media flak for flying to Japan when she was 8 months pregnant. But sometimes, life happens and you need to travel. Most airlines do not restrict travel before 28 weeks of pregnancy. Still, if you are close to that date or you are carrying multiple babies, I recommend bringing a letter from your doctor.

Check out this list from The Points Guy detailing each airline’s travel restrictions based on gestational age.

For tips on flying while pregnant, I found this resource from The Travel Sisters, which I thought was excellent.

Cruising while Pregnant

Nonstop buffets, napping on a lounge chair with the wind in your hair, maybe a prenatal massage at the spa…cruises have a lot of benefits if you are pregnant.

Keep in mind, though, that due to safety concerns, most major cruise lines will not let you board the ship if you have entered your 24th week. So plan accordingly. If you think you may become pregnant before you book your cruise, buy travel insurance so you can get the cost of your trip refunded.

Here is a list of pregnancy restrictions based on cruise line from Cruise Compete.

Tips for Car Travel While Pregnant

• Try to keep driving days short, and get out to stretch/move every few hours.
• Buckle the belt low on your hips, and keep the shoulder belt across the top of your belly, in between your breasts.

Staying Healthy while Pregnant and Traveling

Zika

Although it may not be as prevalent now in newspaper headlines, the Zika virus is still an issue, and the CDC as well as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists still recommends pregnant women avoid areas with Zika.

What is Zika?

Zika is a virus. It is spread by the bite of a specific species of mosquito that bites both during the night and day, and can also be spread during sex.

The symptoms of Zika are mostly mild–maybe a fever, rash, red eyes, or you could have no symptoms. Doctors can test for Zika by checking urine and blood samples.

Why should pregnant women be concerned?

You can pass the Zika virus to your baby. The Zika virus has been linked to a higher incidence of microcephaly and other birth defects. There is no vaccine for Zika.

They are still doing a lot of research about Zika, so there are a lot of unknowns. As time passes, we will likely start to know more about this disease and its effects. I recently read an article about how 14% of Zika-exposed babies have evidence of health problems at 1 year. Time will tell.

For more on Zika and pregnancy, please see the CDC guide.

Here is a helpful infographic about Zika and pregnancy from the CDC and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:Zika and pregnancy, how to prevent. In general, use DEET, mosquito netting, and condoms.

Malaria

If you are traveling to Africa, South America, or Southeast Asia, check out the CDC guide to malaria by country to see if you need malaria prophylaxis. Why? Malaria in pregnancy is a serious health issue. According to the World Health Organization, contracting malaria during pregnancy is associated with maternal anemia, low birth weight, increased risk of preterm labor, infection of your baby, stillbirth and you are 3 times more likely to develop serious disease.

Malaria is a parasite that is transmitted by mosquito bites. This parasite can cross and replicate within the placenta, which is why prevention is so important.

To prevent malaria infection during pregnancy, the World Health Organization recommends:

1. use of long lasting insecticidal nets
2. in areas of high malaria transmission in Africa, pregnant women should get intermittent preventive treatment therapy
3. Talk to your doctor before you leave to consider which malaria prophylaxis drug treatment you should use. Many do have side effects but it is important, as prevention is better than treatment.

Flu

Last year in the United States, we had a serious flu epidemic. Our flu season in the Northern Hemisphere is usually during the winter months, October-March, with a peak around or after the holidays. Why do I mention it? Due to changes in your immune system while pregnant, you are at higher risk of complications if you get the flu. What kind of complications? Preterm labor, increased risk of hospitalization or death, etc. Plus, once your baby is born, its immature immune system cannot fend off the flu. Babies don’t develop their own antibodies until they are about 6 months old, so they rely on your antibodies and herd immunity to protect them.

Ways to protect yourself from the flu?

• Try to limit travel during peak flu season
• Talk to your doctor about the flu shot
• Frequent hand washing and general good hand hygiene

For more information about the flu and pregnancy,here are FAQs from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Travel Vaccines During Pregnancy

Traveling to different countries may expose you to other illnesses, such as yellow fever, dengue, hepatitis A, etc. To determine which vaccines you may need, call your doctor and take the Traveler’s Health Quiz from the CDC website. Many vaccines are safe in pregnancy, but not all of them are, so it may be better to postpone travel. For further information, read more Vaccines and Pregnancy, again from the CDC.

Leg Swelling

Women who are pregnant are at higher risk of blood clots, as well as venous stasis (leg swelling that happens when your feet hang down–gravity is literally a pain). While traveling, particularly on airplanes, leg swelling is much more common. Besides walking around the aisles or doing calf stretches, buy some compression stockings. They will be your best pregnancy travel friend.

Ask your doctor before you leave about prevention for deep vein thrombosis.

Do you have difficulty applying compression stockings? Try these tips from WikiHow, and consider compression stocking donning gloves.

General Tips for Staying Healthy While Pregnant and Traveling

1. Motion sickness can be worse when pregnant. Consider getting some Sea Bands, dramamine, benadryl, or Motion Eaze.
2. Ask your doctor for a copy of your records to bring with you. You never know when something is going to happen, and baby brain for real makes you forget sometimes vital info.
3. Drink lots of water. Bring a refillable bottle and use it frequently. Make sure the water is filtered.
4. All of the usual inconveniences of travel are heightened when pregnant. You are more prone to irritability, sudden hunger pangs, dehydration, etc. Prep for this by bringing some snacks, and expect some down time.
5. Consider buying travel insurance. Every pregnancy is different, and you need to expect the unexpected. You would hate for something to come up so you can’t travel, and then you’ve lost the cost of your trip.
6. Check your health insurance if you are traveling overseas/internationally to ensure you will be covered if you are ill while overseas. If not you can buy travel health insurance plans.
7. Practice good hand hygiene. As I mentioned above, when you are pregnant you are more prone to infections. To prevent any GI distress, colds, etc. hand washing and food/water safety are key.

Consider your Pre-Pregnancy Fitness

I am not the fittest person. I’m not even really a reasonably fit person anymore; I exercise “when I can” and mostly in the comfort of my own home because I’m too lazy to drive to a gym. True story. So when I personally am pregnant, I’m tired. I try to exercise, because I know it allows me to indulge in some chocolate cake and pizza delivery, but I would not necessarily plan an all-walking tour somewhere while pregnant. I depend more heavily on public transportation, easy walks, etc.

If you are traveling while pregnant and in the company of your pre-existing little ones, I definitely recommend having easily available transportation (or at least stroller-friendly sidewalks). To begin, pregnancy changes your body (I know, I know–this seems obvious). While pregnant, you are more likely to fatigue early, feel short of breath, and experience dizziness, all while your center of gravity shifts and your baby bump grows. Falling while pregnant can carry serious risks.

So take it easy on yourself. We can’t all be Serena Williams. Don’t swim where there is a strong undertow, drink a lot of water, bring a partner if you are going on a hike. Rest when you need to rest. Stop if you are experiencing any cramping. Talk to your medical professional. You know, the basics.

Food and Drink Restrictions Don’t Really Change, but Local Perceptions Do

So, in all honesty, I spent a LOT of time during my first pregnancy Googling how other cultures approach nutrition in pregnancy. I learned a lot about how different cultures approach food do’s and don’ts. I mention this for 2 reasons:

1. You may have noticed that, once you are visibly pregnant or announce your impending motherhood, random strangers will stare at you, silently (or outright) judge you, and feel perfectly free to offer you unsolicited advice and opinions. I bought an iced tea once at Starbucks so I didn’t fall asleep at the wheel on my drive home, and endured some serious public shaming.
2. Other cultures have different views of pregnancy. Many cultures celebrate it, but a little preparation can go a long way, especially if you don’t want the staring. Check out: 25 Pregnancy Beliefs from Around the World, this interesting article about Beliefs and Food Practices During Pregnancy in India, and this article from Parents Magazine about Birth Customs Around the World.

That being said, if you are from the United States we have a laundry list of food dos and don’ts. You hear things like no fish, no caffeine, no alcohol, no lunch meat, etc. In reality, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends a balanced diet with proteins, grains, fruits and vegetables. I am not here to add one more nutritional lecture to your life.

If you are traveling to a different country, they may have different perceptions of what food is and is not “safe” during pregnancy. In this article from Healthy Way entitled Eat This Here, Not There, they discuss different attitudes towards nutrition in pregnancy.

Since attitudes vary from country to country and culture to culture, finding foods that you feel comfortable eating may be challenging. If you are trying to avoid fish high in mercury, use a website like the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch or Purdue University’s Fish 4 Health. If you are trying to find out if that delicious looking French cheese is pasteurized, you can certainly ask. Generally if it is cooked, the heat kills the listeria. I also adhere to the “I’ll have what she’s having” philosophy. If you see another local pregnant woman eating something that looks delicious, maybe just order that. At least you will have good company.

In regards to alcohol, yes, some other cultures are more relaxed about alcohol consumption during pregnancy than the United States. I spoke with two different American OB/GYNs who both stated that an occasional glass of wine or beer would likely be OK (the amount needed to cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a LOT more than you think) but again, each woman is different, each pregnancy is different. If you want to know, ask your medical professional.

What to Bring

The real issue with packing for a trip while you’re pregnant is that it can be difficult to anticipate your growing belly. Sometimes your bump will look absolutely the same for weeks, then suddenly it will pop the buttons of your jeans or work pants in the middle of your day(yup, that happened to me). So, my first advice is to embrace the elastic waistband. You can try all sorts of other devices to keep your pants/skirts up, and I’ve tried them all. Nothing substitutes an elastic waistband. Except maybe a loose dress, maxi or sundress. Try to avoid anything above the knee because as your belly grows, your hemline will start to creep north, and it’s hard enough to keep your legs crossed with a baby belly.

In regards to footwear, be comfortable. Again, pregnant women are prone to leg/foot swelling, and you will not feel good if you cannot get your shoes on your feet (I once sobbed uncontrollably to my husband about this for 15 minutes—ahh hormones). Flip flops may also not provide enough support (unless you are babymooning at a luxurious beachside resort), and you don’t want to fall while pregnant. It puts you at risk for placental abruption, preterm labor, etc. I’m not saying don’t bring your stilettos (heck, I wore them all through my first pregnancy), but keep in mind your shifting center of gravity.

Sample Packing List for Travel During Pregnancy

1. Compression socks
2. Comfortable footwear
3. Elastic waist trousers or loose dress
4. Sunscreen and mosquito repellant
5. Consider a portable fan
6. Motion sickness treatment
7. Tylenol
8. Medical records or letter from your medical professional
9. Toothbrush (hey, dental hygiene is important)
10. Swim suit (nothing feels as good during pregnancy as buoyancy)
11. Snacks
12. Refillable water bottle

Final Thoughts on Travel During Pregnancy

Whether you are planning a romantic or family-centered babymoon, or work-related travel, traveling during pregnancy is worth the use of vacation time. Try to plan some down time, do a little online prep work, and have a great trip!

Do you have a babymoon story? I’d love to hear it! Leave me a comment below with your story.

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