Travel During Your Pregnancy
In most cases, pregnant women can travel safely until close to their due dates. But travel may not be recommended for women who have pregnancy complications.
When to travel in pregnancy?
The best time to travel is mid-pregnancy (14 to 28 weeks).
This is the time when you will feel your best. You are also at the lowest risk for spontaneous abortion or premature labor. During these weeks, your energy has returned, morning sickness is improved or gone, and you are still able to get around easily.
You should have a prenatal check-up before you leave. You also may talk about whether you are up to date on vaccinations and symptoms to watch for while traveling.
Generally, women are not allowed to travel by air after 36 weeks for domestic travel, and after 28 to 35 weeks for international travel. The decision on whether to travel and how far to travel at any time during pregnancy should be a joint decision between you and your healthcare provider. Travelling in the final months of pregnancy can be tiring and uncomfortable.
Flying in pregnancy
Flying isn’t harmful to you or your baby but discuss any health issues or pregnancy complications with your doctor before you fly. For healthy pregnant women, occasional air travel is almost always safe.
Most airlines allow pregnant women to fly domestically until about 36 weeks of pregnancy. If you are planning an international flight, the cut-off for traveling may be earlier.
The chance of going into labor is naturally higher after 37 weeks (around 32 weeks if you’re carrying twins), and some airlines won’t let you fly towards the end of your pregnancy. Check with the airline for their policy on this.
After week 28 of pregnancy, the airline may ask for a letter from your doctor confirming your due date, and that you aren’t at risk of complications. Your ob-gyn or other health care professional can provide proof of your due date if you need it.
Car travel in pregnancy
It’s best to avoid long car journeys if you’re pregnant. However, if it can’t be avoided, make sure you stop regularly and get out of the car to stretch and move around.
You can also do some exercises in the car (when you’re not driving), such as flexing and rotating your feet and wiggling your toes. This will keep the blood flowing through your legs and reduce any stiffness and discomfort.
Wearing compression stockings while on long car journeys (more than 4 hours) can also increase the blood flow in your legs and help prevent blood clots.
Tiredness and dizziness are common during pregnancy so it’s important on car journeys to drink regularly and eat natural, energy-giving foods, such as fruit and nuts.
Keep the air circulating in the car and wear your seatbelt with the cross strap between your breasts and the lap strap across your pelvis under your bump, not across your bump.
Road accidents are among the most common causes of injury in pregnant women. If you must make a long trip, don’t travel on your own. You could also share the driving with your companion.
Cruise Ship during Pregnancy
Cruise lines have implemented strict pregnancy policies that place restrictions on travel for pregnant women starting just ahead of their third trimester, due to concerns about potential pregnancy complications and the possibility of preterm birth.
With few exceptions, the lines will not accept passengers who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy at any point during the sailing.
The cruise lines have put these policies in place with the safety and well-being of mothers and babies in mind, since most lines are not equipped to safely care for a newborn that is delivered prematurely.
Healthy tips for traveling while pregnant
- Try to plan ahead for any problems or emergencies that could come up before you travel. Check that your health insurance is valid while you are abroad. Also check to see whether the plan will cover a newborn, should you deliver while away. You may want to think about getting a supplemental travel and medical evacuation insurance.
- Research medical facilities in your destination. Women in the last trimester of pregnancy should look for places that can manage complications of pregnancy, toxemia, and cesarean sections.
- If you will need prenatal care while you are abroad, arrange for this before you leave. Talk with your healthcare provider or midwife to figure out the best way to handle this.
- Know your blood type and check that blood is screened for HIV and hepatitis B in the areas you will be visiting.
- Check that safe food and beverages such as bottled water and pasteurized milk are available at your destinations.
- If flying, ask for an aisle seat at the bulkhead. This gives you the most space and comfort. If morning sickness is a problem, try to arrange travel during a time of day when you generally feel well. Seats over the wing in the midplane region will give you the smoothest ride.
- Try to walk every half-hour during a smooth flight. Flex and extend your ankles often to prevent blood clots in the veins (thrombophlebitis).
- Fasten your seat belt at the pelvis level, below your hips.
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Aircraft cabins have low humidity.
- Try to rest as much as possible while away. Exercise and activity during pregnancy are important. But try not to overdo it.
DVT or Blood Clot Risk
DVT is a condition in which a blood clot forms in the veins, usually in the leg. DVT can lead to a dangerous condition called pulmonary embolism. This is when a blood clot travels to the lungs. Research shows that any type of travel lasting 4 hours or more—whether by car, train, bus, or plane—doubles the risk of DVT. Being pregnant is an extra risk factor for DVT.
If you are planning a long trip, take the following steps to reduce your risk of DVT:
- Drink lots of fluids without caffeine.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing.
- Walk and stretch at regular intervals.
- Compression stockings that compress the legs, either below the knee or full length, also can be worn to help prevent blood clots from forming.
Talk with your ob-gyn or other health care professional before you try these stockings. Some people should not wear them (for example, those with diabetes mellitus and other circulation problems). Also, compression stockings can increase the risk of DVT if they are too tight or worn incorrectly.