ASK ELIZABETH
Question: I feel like you have been doing a bit of traveling while pregnant which is so fun! Do you have any advice for traveling when pregnant? I may be planning a trip but am a little nervous about it all! Thanks!
It is true! I have already flown to Orlando & back as well as San Diego & back while being pregnant and I have some trips upcoming as well! I remember finding out I was pregnant and asking the doctor about my list of travel plans that I had already had! I had no idea if it really was okay to fly and travel when pregnant and what any of the rules were! She reassured me of everything and gave her stamp of approval for all the trips as long as I continued being healthy in the pregnancy. Traveling while being pregnant is totally possible but it is a little different than the travel days & trips you are used to – at least for me!
I would love to share with you seven travel tips that I have learned from traveling while pregnant!
7 Tips for Traveling when Pregnant
#1 GET YOUR DOCTOR’S APPROVAL & A NOTE
This was the first thing I did because I am a rule follower! I wanted to make sure that my doctor gave me the stamp of approval before my trips. She has said yes every-time and already approved future trips. Every doctor is different, but mine just said I can’t go over an hour away after 37 weeks (which by then I don’t think I would want to! haha) Make sure you check with your doctor about travel plans because every pregnancy is different.
Also, airlines will sometime require a doctors note for flying after 20 weeks. When I was at my last appointment before my trip, my doctor made sure to get me the letter to carry with me while traveling saying I am allowed to go and to call them with questions. I felt like a kid again with a note from home! If your doctor doesn’t bring it up at your appointment, ask for it and they will get you one! It will put you at ease for traveling and avoid awkward conversations with the airline staff.
#2 DRINK LOTS OF WATER
This is important in general if you are pregnant and in general if you are traveling so it is doubly so when you are pregnant and traveling! I know peeing on airplanes & in airports is the worst but you need to stay hydrated. Make sure to bring your empty water bottle with you through security and fill it up right away. I brought my Nalgene and tried to drink a full one while waiting in the airport, another one on the plane, and one once at my destination. Staying hydrated will help you and your baby feel better and be able to deal with the travel stresses.
#3 CHECK YOUR BAG & BRING AN EASY TO CARRY PERSONAL BAG
This is really importation especially if you are traveling alone. You do not want to be carting around extra weight at the airport. I checked my bag and had a smaller personal item that I took on the plane with me. You don’t want to be putting extra strain or exhaustion on your body. It may take you 15 more minutes to pick up your bag after your flight but it will be worth it to not have to try to shove a bag in the overhead compartment on the plane. Travel light literally for your back and your baby!
PS: Make sure that personal bag has headphones, healthy snacks, your water bottle, and a fun book – like Bringing Up Bébé!
#4 WEAR COMPRESSION SOCKS & COMFY CLOTHES
Since airports & airplanes mean a lot of sitting, invest in a good pair of compression socks! They help so much with blood flow and you can totally rock the sockos like me 😉 (socks with chacos!) Also pick your outfit accordingly. Sometimes it is fun to look fancy when flying – now is not that time! Make sure that you are wearing something that won’t cut into your back or belly. I went with my Ingrid & Isabel Women’s Maternity Active Leggings and a t-shirt. I also brought along a sweatshirt to wear if I got cold or tie around my waist if I was warm. Comfort is KEY when traveling while pregnant!
#5 GET AN AISLE SEAT
This is literally the best when you are pregnant! You can easily stand up and walk around to stretch your legs and hit up the restroom as many times as you need! My doctor recommended standing up every hour of the flight to stretch and get blood moving – it was nice to have an aisle seat because I could just stand up at my seat and stretch real quick.
#6 BRING YOUR PREGNANCY PILLOW & OTHER DAILY COMFORTS
Since you are checking a bag anyways, bring the big suitcase so you can stuff your pregnancy pillow in one side. I did this both times and I will again! It is the best to bring your pregnancy pillow with you! Already on vacation your sleep schedule gets messed up. You don’t want to be not sleeping at all because you can’t get comfortable on the hotel or guest bed. With your pregnancy pillow you can rest better and that will translate into a better vacation! Also make sure to pack those sleep shorts you love because they fit your bump, your prenatal vitamins, and your belly cream you put on before bed. Anything that you do at home for your pregnancy, bring with you to make you comfortable on your trip!
#7 LISTEN TO YOUR BODY (ALLOW FOR A SLOWER PACED VACA)
You are pregnant after all and cannot do all the things you used to do. Listen to your body and make sure to act accordingly. On my last trip to San Diego, we had slower mornings waking & eating breakfast before we hit out on all our adventures. Then we came back before dinner to make food at home and have a slower evening before bed. We did a lot but we also made sure to rest. Your body can do a lot of things while pregnant but you don’t want to push your body too far especially on vacation! Be okay with a different kind of vacation to take care of you and your baby.
Those are my seven key takeaways from traveling pregnant! I would love to hear any tips you have for traveling when pregnant! Leave them in the comments. Also feel free to ask any other pregnancy related questions you may have! I’d love to get them answered for you! They might just turn into an Ask Elizabeth post of their own!