Thoughts: Traveling While Pregnant

I’ll be honest: I had a lot of plans for 2016 and having a baby was not one of them.  However, the universe works in mysterious ways and here I am, nine months pregnant, working to get everything done before our little piccola arrives. I recall the moment I found out- there was a mix of shock, happiness, confusion, and fear.  Although I am 37, married, gainfully employed, and a homeowner, it was a change I felt I was not even remotely prepared for. Call me shallow but one of the first things I googled that day was “Traveling While Pregnant” since we had so many trips planned for the year.

Pregnancy is a very personal journey. Many women experience every symptom in the book and many whimsically cruise by the nine months. In my case, I was somewhere in between.  I was hit with the chronic fatigue during the first trimester which affected my work but none of the nausea or food aversions. During pregnancy, everybody has something to say about the experience or unsolicited advice.  Some people even had the audacity to judge my traveling while pregnant. None of those people had an MD, RN, or Midwife after their last name. That being said, I relied on my obstetrician to give me the proper guidance. His usual greeting “hey, Jessica, where are you going next?”. This guy gets me…

Traveling While Pregnant: Dining Traveler Tips

Traveling while pregnant is a very personal experience. I traveled all the way up to week 35 and I have had a relatively uncomplicated pregnancy.  I traveled to 8 countries while pregnant across three continents and these are the things I learned:

1. Consult with your doctor before you travel. I always kept my obstetrician aware of where I was going. I also asked him to provide me a note stating my pregnancy and until what date I am authorized to travel in case the airline asks (thankfully no one did). American Pregnancy Association provides a detailed list of tips for traveling while pregnant.
2. Research medical facilities at my destination in case of a complication. I traveled in a group, alone, and with friends/husband, therefore I tailored my contingency plan based on the scenario.
3. Check the airline website ahead of time in regards to their policies.  Make sure that the airline can accommodate you during each stage of your pregnancy before you book. For example, KLM doesn’t recommend flying after 36 weeks.
4. Buy Travel Insurance.  My last trip while pregnant was supposed to be to Toronto at 35 weeks. Unfortunately, I had a small complication and was not able to travel. Thankfully I purchased trip insurance.
5. Pack light. This is definitely a must if you are traveling solo. Despite all my travels, I was still shocked on how unaware and uncooperative people can be even if they see you lugging a big belly. Like we say in the Marines, “don’t bring anything you can’t carry yourself”. I am glad I adhered to the rule. I even had a guy in the Thalys Train on my way to Holland from Belgium refuse to get up from the seat I paid for! I admit that even I, the Marine that I am can feel vulnerable while pregnant but I put my vulnerability aside and fought for what was mine!
6. Long haul flight prep. I did several long haul flights when traveling while pregnant and must say, they did not suck more or less than when I flew not pregnant. Here’s my guide on how to make a long haul flight more comfortable whether you’re with child or not.
7. Have a realistic itinerary. I was 20 weeks pregnant when my husband and I went to mainland Japan on vacation. I didn’t realize how the heat and the crowds affected me in my new state. We quickly reorganized our plans: started early, took the afternoon to relax at a park or back at the hotel, and back to sightseeing in the evenings. Needless to say, I am not the rockstar I used to be, however, I still managed to go salsa dancing in Tokyo one night!
8. Don’t listen to the haters. There are so many people that project their insecurities on others. People will say “wow I can’t believe you’re traveling” in a judgmental tone. People even told my mom “she needs to be at home instead of on the road”. Your decision of traveling while pregnant is between you, your partner, and your healthcare provider. Like I said before… I rather get opinions from folks with MD, RN, or Midwife after their last name.

   

Traveling While Pregnant: What the Doctor and other Traveling Moms Say:

1. Doctor Says:  I asked Dr Richard Newman of Capital Women’s Care in Washington, DC what are his main tips for traveling while pregnant. He said “pregnant travelers should try to keep their legs elevated during travel, get off their seat at least every hour for a short walk around the plane, and drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after the flight.”
2. Eileen Gunn of Families Go! Travel on traveling at 35 weeks for a business trip to Iceland: “I had a doctor’s note that said how many weeks pregnant I was and that there was nothing to contra-indicate healthy travel.   I also printed out the airline’s rules on how late you can travel. With a swingy winter coat it wasn’t that obvious I was pregnant and no one asked.”
3. Kara Franker, Travel Influencer and Editor in Chief of Modern Luxury Brides South Florida and The Caribbean: “I highly recommend traveling while pregnant! I went on about a dozen trips and never had any problems, but everyone is different. The key is to plan ahead: bring prenatal vitamins, pack lots of snacks and schedule plenty of down time and rest. Also it’s important to note that experts recommend not to fly during the last month.”
4. Rani Robinson-Kiganda, Director of Show content for HGTV, Travel Channel, DIYNetwork: “I recently traveled to Rome and Sorrento, Italy. I didn’t know what to expect, being 7 months pregnant. I knew that taking frequent breaks was important, so I sat down by a fountain or a beautiful cafe every chance I could. I always kept water on hand. Never left home without it. Snacks were also key! I kept fruit bars in my bag, but the beauty of traveling in Italy was that a cornetto was around every corner.”

   

The Verdict: As I mentioned before, traveling while pregnant is a very personal thing. You can get advice from a doctor, midwife, mom, or friends but YOU have to be comfortable with how often you want to travel and which destinations suit you best. My main takeaways from my experience are: having an open dialogue with my doctor and managing expectations. I feel extremely grateful I had the opportunity to work and do what I love while carrying my little girl. It will make for great stories in the future! Have you traveled while pregnant? What are your takeaways?