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Go Forth While Multiplying

By Catherine | | No Comments

Holiday planning for the pregnant traveler

Nervous about taking a holiday while pregnant?

Well, there’s no need to forgo all travel plans just because you’re with child. With the okay from your healthcare provider, a few common-sense precautions and a couple of handy hints to keep you safe and comfortable, you can enjoy a getaway up to a few weeks shy of delivery day.

Whether it’s your first baby or you’re adding to your existing brood, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

First Trimester
The first trimester can really knock your socks off. Extreme fatigue and potential nausea don’t make for pleasant travel companions, but if you feel up to it and your doctor/midwife gives you the green light, you can certainly take a trip at this time.

Now is not the time to scale Everest or explore the jungles of Borneo, but a relaxing sun-drenched vacation or sophisticated city excursion might be just what you need. Hey, it might be the last time you feel comfortable in a bathing suit for a while, so go show off that flat(ish) belly while you still can. Just make sure you take it easy and don’t try to pack in too much activity (see activities to avoid). Eat well, stay hydrated, put your feet up and get plenty of rest.

Second Trimester
The second trimester is for many the best time to journey. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, between 14-24 weeks is the safest time for pregnant women to travel as the risk of miscarriage and premature labor is lowest then. Mom-to-be should be past the exhaustion and wooziness of the first trimester, but not quite at the more cumbersome third trimester stage.

Third Trimester

By the third trimester, most maternal instincts are focused on preparing the nest rather than flying the coop, but travel is not out of the question towards the later stage of gestation as long as you and your obstetrician/midwife deem it safe to do so.

Any time prior to about 37 weeks is a good time to indulge in a babymoon or other such grown-up getaway, preferably not too far from home or at least nearby decent medical facilities should you happen to go into labor.

Be cautious of extremely hot climates, dry deserts and high-altitude locations, as you want to avoid unnecessary stress, dehydration or low oxygen levels at this stage.

Ensure you have adequate health insurance if you’re going out of country – sometimes pregnancy is an “excluded condition,” so check the fine print on the policy to see if you’re covered.

And bring your obstetrician or midwife’s phone number with you, just in case.



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