5 Tips for Travelling While Pregnant

If you follow me on social media, you might have seen that I have been travelling recently. When I talked about flying, I had a number of people reach out to me wanting to know how I handled pregnant travelling! I’ve done a bit of travel during my pregnancy, and I am learning a lot through both my own experience and with some help from the Sweat Community. I wanted to share some of this with you! 

For some people, travelling during the first or second trimester is the easiest but that really depends on how your body is feeling. Morning sickness can make travel a bit of a nightmare (no one wants to be on a plane and rushing to the restroom every few minutes!) so it is important for you to feel as comfortable as possible. 

Having personal and medical support is really important before you decide to book a flight or arrange a trip. Whether you travel for work or for pleasure, it is good to do some research and planning first. 

To make travelling while pregnant easier, read through this blog to help you plan and enjoy your trip.

What to consider for safe travel during pregnancy

For comfortable and safe pregnancy travelling, there are a few things to consider that can impact where you travel to. 

Your healthcare professional will probably advise against any destination that requires a live vaccination prior to travel or anywhere that may pose a high risk of developing an illness. Make sure you factor in how much walking you will have to do, what access you will have to medical care (in case you need it) and also, where is the nearest toilet?? You may laugh at that last one but I’m sure plenty of mums are nodding right now!

For mums-to-be who are in their first trimester of pregnancy, you may be dealing with morning sickness, which can make you feel even more fatigued. Eating well when you're pregnant helps. Try to have some snacks on hand, such as dry crackers, to help settle your stomach. Eating may be the last thing you feel like doing but grazing on some bland foods can help get you through. If you often get travel sickness, speak with your healthcare professional. You don’t want to risk dehydration by trying to deal with two kinds of sickness.  

Something I touched on in my blog on modifying workouts during pregnancy is the risk of overheating. During pregnancy, it can be harder to regulate your body temperature, so you may be at a higher risk of overheating. If you are travelling during hot weather, try to avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day and avoid doing too much activity without a break.

Tips to make pregnant travelling comfortable

Pregnancy is an exciting and life-changing time! Whether you are having a break before your baby arrives or you travel a bit for work, these tips can help you make your next trip a bit more comfortable.

Check-in with your doctor

One thing I don’t love about living in Australia is that we are SO far from everywhere. A trip to New York can take nearly a full day, which means on top of dealing with changing time zones and jet lag, you’re also spending a lot of time sitting down. 

While there isn’t necessarily anything harmful about flying or car travel during pregnancy, you should get the okay from your doctor or healthcare professional first. They can chat you through any potential concerns or complications before you take off and they will be able to give you advice specific to YOUR pregnancy journey. Having this conversation can be really helpful if you are feeling a little anxious about flying when you are pregnant, so ask as many questions as you can!

Once you enter the third trimester, some airlines may ask pregnant travelling passengers for a letter from your doctor, confirming your due date and that you are not at risk of complications, so be prepared just in case. 

Stay hydrated

This isn’t just important for women who are pregnant travelling but for everyone travelling! Staying hydrated can help to reduce the risk of swelling, something you can be especially prone to during long flights. Try to avoid having too much caffeine and instead stick to water or a small juice every now and then.

Stand up and stretch

Particularly if you are on a long flight, try to regularly stand and move around if it is safe to do so. Pregnancy can place you at a slightly higher risk of developing blood clots during long flights, so even taking a few moments to point and flex your toes while you’re sitting can help! That can help to boost your circulation and keep the blood flowing.

Wearing loose clothes that aren’t restrictive can make a big difference to your comfort level, especially when you’re trying to sleep. The last thing you want on a long trip is to be wearing clothes that are digging into your skin. 

One of the other joys of pregnant travelling is you often can’t move as easily and quickly as you once could! If you get the option to pick your seat on a flight, an aisle seat can be a good option because it makes it easier for you to get in and out of your chair to stretch, plus you don’t have to try to squeeze past other seats on the way out. 

Don’t carry a heavy suitcase

Leaving Australia to fly over to America meant leaving a nice warm summer to fly into winter weather. I’m sure you know that travelling for a week or more usually involves carrying a bit of luggage. For me, a change in the season meant packing lots of jackets and warm clothes! Did I also mention that I took a pregnancy pillow with me? 

One way to minimise the amount of weight to be carried is to pack what you can into a rolling suitcase. These are much easier to drag with you. Ask for help if you have to load heavy luggage into a car or an overhead locker and take it easy carrying any additional bags too. A number of airlines and travel companies do offer extra care options for pregnant travellers, so it is worth asking when you are ready to make a booking. 

Get lots of rest! 

Try to rest as much as you can both during travel and once you reach your destination. Fatigue is really common, particularly as you enter the third trimester of your pregnancy and you need to listen to your body. While on the plane, I kept my pregnancy pillow close handy so that I could try to sleep but I also tried to allow time for rest once I landed as well.

While taking a holiday can be really relaxing, there can be lots of stresses with travel too. You can’t control everything but minimising the need to rush is important. Give yourself as much downtime as possible and pace yourself — even if that means adjusting your plans.

Make the most of pregnant travelling!

While there are lots of things to think about and to prepare for when it comes to travel during pregnancy, you can still have a wonderful time! 

Try to minimise stress by doing some research and talking with your healthcare professional before you leave. That way, once you set off on your trip, you can focus on enjoying yourself and having a good time. If you’re feeling good, fitting in a low-impact workout that's approved by your doctor can be a great way to alleviate jet lag and get the blood flowing. Don’t push yourself — even a light walk is beneficial.   

Do you have any travel tips for pregnancy? I’d love for you to share them in the comments.