Pregnancy Travel Tips – Dr. Bhagya Lakshmi
Being pregnant doesn’t mean that you have to be stuck at home. During pregnancy, whether you are going on a business trip or on vacation, there are ways to stay healthy and stay safe while traveling.
You can travel during the period of pregnancy, provided you take certain precautions. So, most of them either travel by air or by road i.e by car. If you are travelling by car then there are certain precautionary measures which you should take.
1st Trimester:
Talk to your doctor and confirm that it is safe and that you have no problem medically in order to travel. Considering conditions such as cervical incompetence, diabetes, hypertension, twin pregnancies, no history of DVT etc, you can probably travel.
2nd Trimester
Travel by Road:
The 2nd trimester is the best period to travel. If you’re travelling by road in a car, see to it that you always wear a seatbelt in such a way that the belt should come below your bump but not on your bump. Before you travel, make sure that the place you are going to travel to is safe and there are not many cases of corona and your neighbours are not suffering from COVID infection.
Sit backwards comfortably, keep moving your legs at regular intervals. Carry your own water bottle and food. But, try to stop at frequent intervals so that you can get down and move your legs and hands. Use washrooms frequently but try to see that you use decent and clean washrooms.
Clean your hands with sanitizer as often as possible and keep the surface of the car also clean as much as possible. In case there is a collision or any small injury during your travel, meet the doctor immediately and ensure that all are fine for both you and the baby.
Travel by Air:
There are a lot of people who want to fly long distances. Again the 2nd trimester is the best time to travel. Travel before you attain 34 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. Most flights do not allow you to travel beyond 34 weeks. Take permission from your doctor and all your checkups before you plan to fly. Make sure that you are not having any sugar, BP, Thyroid etc. If there are any such issues, see to it that you take the right medications during your travel.
See to it if you have any previous history of DVT or any family history of DVT. If you are obese, weighing more than 100kgs or you are having hypertension, ensure to wear a compression so that the blood supply is kept good and you don’t land-up to the DVT during your travel as long travels are more risky for developing defy thrombosis. This thrombus can go to the lung and can create lung issues or so and try to take a seat which is towards the edge so that you are able to stretch your legs.
Try to get a seat in front or closer to the washrooms so that whenever you want you can go use the washroom. If the flight is not turbulent, you can get up and walk in between and keep moving your legs and hands. If it is a turbulent flight make sure to sit in the flight and don’t get up, move and fall. Drink water as much as you can so that you don’t go into dehydration. Avoid alcohol and beverages. Eat small snacks in between so that the baby is given a constant supply of food.
As you go back to your destination, you must have a checkup or assessment with your doctor to make sure that everything is fine.
Wherever you travel, follow all these precautions for a safe trip.