Best Tips for Travelling While Pregnant
So, you are pregnant and want to travel? Or you have planned a holiday but fallen pregnant in the meantime. Well, there is no reason that you still can’t travel with a healthy pregnancy, depending on your destination. In fact, travelling while you are pregnant can actually make the perfect babymoon! You just have to be aware of a few things beforehand.
Travel during pregnancy
As a mother who has travelled through two pregnancies, I have a fair amount of experience travelling pregnant. I travelled extensively before our first baby and falling pregnant didn’t change too much. I had always planned to keep travelling with kids.
I have been on a few long haul flights at different stages of pregnancy, and even had a toddler along with me while flying solo five months pregnant across continents!
A lot has been learned a lot along the way. I had to cancel some travel plans, and change destinations which was a shame, but I was prepared to do anything to stay safe during pregnancy and travel.
9 Tips for travelling while pregnant
Below you can find some tips on how to travel while pregnant that I have found helpful. (Note that I am not a medical expert, so always consult your doctor if you are unsure about anything).
1. Timing matters especially when you fly pregnant
When you travel while pregnant the timing really does matter. Second trimester wins hands down every time.
During the first trimester, most expecting mothers sleep a lot and suffer morning sickness. I didn’t feel well the first few months. At 8 weeks pregnant I was in Thailand, most of my time was spent sleeping on the sunbeds and trying not to throw up from the smell of Thai food (which I usually loved).
Most airlines won’t allow you to travel in your third trimester so I haven’t flown during that time. I did travel locally around Italy during that period and although I felt ok most of the time, I was uncomfortable sitting in the car for long periods. If you are travelling in the car, try not to go further than a few hours unless you plan to stop often.
Second trimester was the best time to travel pregnant for me. The morning sickness wasn’t so bad, the belly wasn’t too big and uncomfortable yet, and I felt like I had the most energy to enjoy the trips.
We did a few long road trips which were ok. And then I travelled with my 1.5 year old while I was 4 and 5 months pregnant on a 24 hour flight. Other than getting up to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes, it was mostly ok.
2. Talk to your doctor
If you are worried, have a chat to your doctor before you plan your trip just to make sure everything is ok with you and the baby. As long as you have a healthy pregnancy, most doctors will be ok to give you a letter if they think you are ok to fly.
Some airlines will require documentation depending on far you are along, so give them a call to check beforehand. You don’t want to turn up at the airport without it and be turned away. Better to be safe than sorry.
3. Choose the right destination
Unfortunately, not all destinations are advised to travel to while pregnant. You want to make sure you are going somewhere safe and comfortable. Somewhere fairly close to home is probably best, or at least somewhere you know well. Also, somewhere you know has decent medicare if you should need it.
When I found out I was pregnant with my first child I had 6 week adventure trip planned travelling through Asia which included tubing in Laos, and backpacking through India. Needless to say, that wasn’t going to happen.
I opted to change holiday and instead spent a couple of weeks relaxing in Thailand in luxury resorts where I could explore when I felt ok, but then order food and sleep on demand when I was tired.
Throughout my second pregnancy, we mostly travelled locally . Mostly to places within a short flight or few hours drive.
4. Read the small print on your travel insurance
Pregnant women often assume that travel insurance will cover you if something goes wrong while you are away. But most of the time they don’t. I have heard many horror stories. Always do your research and read the fine print. If in doubt, travel close by.
5. Choose the aisle seat if you fly when pregnant
Being pregnant usually means going to the bathroom a lot. Sitting on the window seat is going to annoy you (and the people next to you) getting up and down so often. Request the aisle seat when you check in. Usually if you let them know that you are pregnant, they will do their best to make you comfortable, and if you are lucky you may even get a spare seat next to you.
Oh and if you are travelling with a toddler when pregnant, make sure you get them their own seat! I didn’t. I got lucky one way where there was a spare seat next to me, but on the return I didn’t. Travelling pregnant with a toddler your lap isn’t fun!
6. Find comfortable accommodation
It isn’t the time to be skimpy on the budget when you travel pregnant if you can help it. Finding comfortable accommodation is important as you will no doubt be uncomfortable at least some of the time.
Make sure you have a nice bed, as you will probably spend a bit of time in it, depending on how pregnant you are. Also, little perks such as a nearby pool and places to eat are nice.
7. Be selective when it comes to eating out
This really depends where you are travelling to. If you are travelling within Australia, you probably don’t need to worry too much. But if you are heading to somewhere like Bali or anywhere else in Asia, I would be a bit more picky when it comes to food.
While you don’t need to eat out at the most expensive restaurants, you probably don’t want to eat at the cheaper ones either. Make sure you are still eating nutritious meals including your veggies while away because it you will feel better for it. (Although I do remember ordering cheese toasties a lot from room service when I had morning sickness in Thailand!)
8. Drink lots of water
Keeping hydrated is important at any time, but especially when you travel pregnant. Keep a water bottle on you at all times. And depending on where you travel to, make sure it is bottled water. If you aren’t sure about it, don’t drink the tap water.
9. Always have snacks
Another thing to carry with you all time when you travel pregnant is snacks, especially if you have cravings. Sometimes you can feel lightheaded or dizzy, and having something to snack on can make you feel better.
Pregnancy travel tips
Hopefully these tips on travelling while pregnant will help you travel easier during your pregnancy and you can learn from my mistakes. Good luck on your travels and let us know how you go!
Once you have had your baby, make sure you take a look at our next post – Tips on travelling with a baby. Yes it is possible, you don’t need to stop your travels once your little one is born.
