Travelling while pregnant used to be frowned upon, but lately. more and more women are jetting off while they’re expecting. In fact, babymoons have grown in popularity in recent years and a lot of couples are flying away for one last adults-only holiday before their little bundle of joy arrives. While it can be very rewarding, planning the trip and travelling with a baby bump needs a lot of preparation.
With that in mind, there are a few things to take on board when you’re thinking of travelling while pregnant, so here are 5 ways to travel safely with your bump
1. Pre-travel tips and requirements
First thing’s first – check with your healthcare provider that it’s OK for you to travel. After 12 weeks, your chance of miscarriage becomes much lower. However, do make sure you check with your GP before you book anything. Some airlines also require you to provide a doctor’s note to say you’re safe to fly, so ask your GP for one of these, too. This is especially true if you’re more than 27 weeks pregnant.
Make sure the country you’re visiting doesn’t require any vaccinations, as not all are safe for pregnant women to get. Which leads us to our next point…
2. How to choose a holiday
Where you go on your holiday is a hugely important thing to factor in, and there are certain countries that mums-to-be shouldn’t travel to. These include countries where measles, mumps, yellow fever or Hepatitis B is prevalent. The NHS says that any flights longer than four hours can lead to an increased risk of blood clots or deep vein thrombosis, so it might be an idea to pick a place that’s not too far away!
3. Travelling in different trimesters
Each semester of pregnancy brings with it different feelings, both physical and emotional. Most women who are travelling during their pregnancy are advised to do so during their second trimester. This is because your risk of miscarriage greatly decreases after week 12, and your bump won’t be as big and uncomfortable as during your last. Many women decide to travel between their fourth and sixth month of pregnancy and it’s safe to do so.
4. Specialist requirements
Your requirements might not be the same now as before you were expecting. So it’s a good idea to check if there are certain things you shouldn’t do. In fact, while pregnant it’s a good idea to avoid cured meats, street food and get travel insurance. While you might have gone on lots of holidays without any travel insurance, it’s not a good idea to do so while pregnant, no matter how safe you might feel.
5. Health considerations
Listen to your body. It’s really important to be aware of any changes you may be experiencing during your pregnancy, in particular if you have noticed you are becoming more tired or getting heartburn. If you have any considerations for your health, make sure to take those on board when you’re travelling and if you’re tired, take a rest.
Travelling as a mum-to-be can be a great experience, but it’s definitely one that requires a bit more planning than usual!
This is a guest post and the views and opinions expressed in the post are those of the authors.
