What to do if you’re pregnant and planning a trip in flight?
Don’t even think about flying without these essentials in your carry-on bag. As long as you are aware of the risks and prepare accordingly, travelling while pregnant can be a rewarding experience.
Unless you have a high-risk pregnancy or other complications, your healthcare provider will likely give you the go ahead to explore into your third trimester – though flying is not permitted after 36 weeks.
Anyone who claims that flying economy while pregnant is all about the journey, not the destination, has never been on a budget flight.
Following are the Checklist which needs to be followed:
- Even if you’re not expecting, these are a necessity due to the reduced blood flow in your lower legs during pregnancy. As long as you wear these socks, you won’t develop varicose veins or risk a blood clot that could be life-threatening.
- It’s up to you which one. If you have back pain, you might want to look into getting a lumbar support pillow, like the kind you’d put in your office chair. However, some people prefer to sleep on their backs with neck support pillows or a flexible pillow that they can mold to their own preferences.
- Morning sickness is more common in women who suffer from motion sickness. What works for you on the ground will help you in the air, so bring along your ginger tea or lollipops, prescription anti-nausea medication or motion-sickness band.
- You can use these belly bands to keep your stomach in place while rushing from gate to gate at the airport or trying to settle into your seat.
- Having a few extra pairs of underwear and liners on hand can help you stay a little cleaner than you otherwise would.
- It is more likely that you will have gastrointestinal issues while travelling, so bring along any medications you have been taking at home just in case.
- Select destinations that don’t necessitate lengthy flights or multiple stops.
- Choose hotels that are known for their cleanliness, comfort, and customer service. Travel agents may be able to help you find a vacation package deal that fits your needs and budget.
- During your second trimester, between 14 and 27 weeks, is the best time to travel while pregnant. Your risk of miscarriage drops dramatically after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, so by the second trimester, you should be over the worst of your morning sickness and fatigue.
- While you’re cold one minute, you’re hot the next. Don’t leave home without this handy cover-up, which can be used as a blanket as well as a base layer.
- Just because you’re in the air doesn’t mean that your cravings are going to go away.
- Keep a stash of your favorite items on you at all times to spare yourself the agony. (Foods high in protein help curb hunger pangs; nut butters and full-on nuts are excellent choices.)