Traveling is usually a lot of fun, but when you are pregnant, you may feel a little uneasy about taking a long trip, especially if it involves an airplane. Fortunately, air travel is often safe for pregnant women, unless it is late in the pregnancy or your prenatal care provider has other reasons for concern. The following tips can help you to have a safe and comfortable journey.
As with many things involving your pregnancy, it is important to discuss any travel plans with your prenatal care provider. Your provider can advise you on whether it is safe for you to fly on the dates that you are planning to travel and can provide you with copies of your prenatal care records to take with you, just in case you need to seek medical attention during your trip. Before you travel, check with your health insurance provider to make sure that your coverage extends to the area where you are going.
Check with your airline to see whether you can have a seat that is close to the bathroom. Your frequent restroom visits are not likely to take a break just because you’re on an airplane. Also, even though airplane bathrooms are not comfortable, resist the temptation to ease up on your water intake in hope of making fewer restroom visits. It is essential that you stay hydrated, and you may even want to drink extra water to compensate for the fact that airplane air is often very dry.
When you pack your bags, travel as light as possible so that you do not have to strain to lift heavy suitcases. If you must bring something heavy, do not hesitate to ask for help with it. Keep yourself comfortable and happy during your flight by wearing comfortable clothing and shoes. Dressing in layers is often helpful. Pack plenty of snacks, too. You may also want to bring along a neck pillow, or your favorite pillow from home in case you want to take a nap while you are in flight.
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