9. If You Are Going to Fly
Avoid long flights, especially nonstop
overseas or cross-country flights. It’s difficult to make long journeys
without being able to move around much.
When flying, preorder special meals if
your flight includes food. Choose low-sodium or vegetarian if you want
to avoid foods that might cause you problems.
Today many flights do not serve any food,
so bring your own. Choose foods that travel well, such as cheese and
crackers, fruit, a prepackaged salad or a sandwich made at home.
If you experience nausea when traveling,
carry crackers or another bland snack food to nibble on. Prop up your
feet when you sit for any length of time.
Bring your own empty water bottle through
security, and fill it up before you board the plane. This allows you to
have water or other fluid available whenever you need it.
Get up and move when you can during a
flight. Try to walk at least 10 minutes every hour. Sometimes just
standing up helps your circulation. Ask for an aisle seat close to the
bathroom.
Observe seat-belt signs, and stay seated
during most of the flight, especially during turbulence. Your balance
may not be as good while you’re pregnant.
If you’re 36 weeks pregnant (or more),
bring a letter from your healthcare provider saying it’s OK for you to
fly. Be advised: Even with a letter, a captain has the authority to
keep you off the plane, but it doesn’t happen very often.
Time-Saving, Energy-Saving Tip
Planning to fly during pregnancy? Find
out about gate checking your bags and other equipment. If you have your
child’s stroller or bulky carry-on luggage, you may be able to check it
in at the boarding gate before you get on the plane. The airline will
place it in the cargo hold last and take it off first at your
destination. It will be waiting for you at the gate when you get off
the plane or transferred to baggage claim for you!
10. Ways to Travel
Flying should not present a problem. Consult someone at the airline about your condition before
buying tickets. An airline can refuse to carry a pregnant passenger
without the written consent of her healthcare provider. Many airlines
allow preboarding for passengers who need extra time. Take advantage of
the offer. Drink plenty of fluids, such as water and juice, because
recirculated air in a plane can be extremely dry.
If you haven’t considered train travel
recently, now might be the time to do so. Trains have wide aisles and
roomy seats, and the ride is smooth. Moving around may also be easier.
Bus trips and sailing on ships may not be
good choices. On a bus, leg room is limited and the ride is jarring,
which could make you uncomfortable. If you’re unused to it, the rolling
motion of a ship or boat can be unsettling. Sea-sickness could add to
pregnancy discomforts you may already be experiencing. If you do sail,
most healthcare providers believe Dramamine is safe against
seasickness, but do not use a seasickness patch. Talk with your
healthcare provider about other methods to deal with the problem.
Car travel may be comfortable or
uncomfortable, depending on how far along you are. Limit car travel to
no more than 5 hours a day (sitting longer slows circulation). Stop at
regular intervals to take short walks and use the bathroom. When
sitting in a car, tuck a pillow into the small of your back. Do ankle
circles while riding to increase circulation in your feet and legs.
Always wear your seat belt and shoulder harness .
11. Inconveniences and Risks to Consider
If you travel, your discomfort level is
likely to increase, especially if you’re cooped up in a car or plane
for hours. You may have trouble sleeping in a strange bed. If you
develop a complication while you’re away from home, those who have been
involved in your pregnancy and know your history will not be available
to care for you.
It’s best to avoid travel during the last
month of pregnancy. Labor could begin at any time, your water could
break or other problems could occur. Your healthcare provider knows
what has happened during your pregnancy and has a record of tests
you’ve undergone—important information. If you check into a hospital to
deliver in a strange city, some healthcare providers won’t accept you
as a patient because they don’t know your medical history. It doesn’t
make sense to take any chances.
Many women
want to know if their healthcare provider can tell when they will go
into labor so they can travel. Unfortunately, no one can predict when
your labor will begin. Always discuss your travel plans with your
healthcare provider before you finalize them.
12. Pregnancy in the Military
Are you pregnant and currently on
active duty in the military? If you are, you have made the decision to
stay in the Armed Forces. Before 1972, if you were on active duty and
became pregnant, you were automatically separated from the military,
whether you wanted to be or not!
Today, if you want to stay in
the service, you can. Each branch of the service has particular
policies regarding pregnancy. Below is a summary of those policies for
the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
