Traveling While Pregnant

With the holidays coming, you may be wondering if your unexpected pregnancy is the end to your travel dreams. The good news is it doesn’t have to be!

Can I travel while pregnant?

The Johns Hopkins Medicine says, “Traveling during pregnancy is normal, and a lot of women do it.” However, always check with your doctor to make sure travel is safe for you.

The easiest and most comfortable time to travel while pregnant is during the second trimester; however, it is typically safe a little after this point as well.

You can also get creative with your travel destinations and transportation. If you don’t want to fly, maybe take a road trip by car or train. If you don’t want to drive or sit for long periods of time, look for beautiful areas within a few hours of home. (You might be surprised by what you find!)

Tips for Traveling Pregnant

1. Timing: It is best to travel during the second trimester (14-18 weeks) or after morning
   sickness has passed but before discomfort begins increasing.
2. Destination: Avoid areas with risk of malaria such as Africa, Asia, and Central and South
   America.
3. Plan for emergencies: Check your insurance policy and research medical facilities
   around your destination (especially if it is rural).
4. Keep your health a priority: Your body is doing double duty, so make sure to care for it
   as you travel. Stay hydrated, carry nourishing snacks, schedule plenty of rest time, and
   pack your prenatal vitamins.
5. Be aware of what you are putting into your body: Food and drink may be produced
   differently depending on your location. Make sure to drink and brush your teeth with
   clean water (bottled or boiled), and don’t use ice. Cook or peel fruits and vegetables, and
   don’t consume unpasteurized dairy or raw meats and fish.
6. Create a travel health kit with pregnancy specific items. The CDC has a suggested list of
   items.
7. Airplane travel: Request an aisle seat and try to walk around every hour.
8. Get comfy: bring your favorite pillow, wear comfortable clothes, and consider
   compression socks to reduce swelling especially if sitting for an extended amount of time
   while traveling.

How can we help?

If you think you are pregnant and want to verify your pregnancy, schedule your free and confidential appointment, or give us a call at 530.272.6800. We would love to meet with you and answer any questions you may have during this time.

Links

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Staff. “Travel During Pregnancy.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Aug. 2020, https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/travel-during-pregnancy.

CDC Staff. “Pregnant Travelers.” CDC, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 28 June 2022, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/pregnant-travelers.

Johns Hopkins Medicine Staff. “Traveling while Pregnant or Breastfeeding.” Hopkins Medicine, The John Hopkins University, 2022, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/traveling-while-pregnant-or-breastfeeding.