Planning a babymoon or traveling while pregnant? Let these pregnancy travel hacks make your next trip safer and more comfortable! Scroll down for all the info!
These tips for traveling while pregnant were written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
I’m a mother of 2 who has always prioritized travel. So, I always get a TON of questions from soon-to-be-mamas all around traveling while pregnant.
Whether it’s your first pregnancy or your fifth, it can be scary! Your body is changing, you’re always hungry, and there’s so much to celebrate.
The best way to get enjoy travel during pregnancy is to learn the tricks from someone who knows. Below, you can read my top travel tips and hacks for pregnancy travel.
Give yourself some peace of mind and get comfortable (which is #1 when you’re pregnant). Then, scroll down for all my biggest secrets for travel during pregnancy.
Check Out my Nifty Travel Hacks Below to make your pregnancy travels more enjoyable!
FAQ on Travel During Pregnancy
What trimester is best for traveling?
You’re probably going to feel your best and have the most energy for travel during your second trimester, between 14 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Studies show that this is the best time to avoid any complications that are possible in your first trimester or third trimester. Plus, your medical professional will tell you to avoid air travel after 28 weeks.
Are the x-ray machines at the airport safe for pregnant women?
According to the TSA, all screening equipment, are safe for all travelers. This includes walk-in airport scanners.
Do I need travel insurance if I’m pregnant?
While making travel plans, it’s a good idea to shop for travel health insurance. But do your research. Some travel insurance companies won’t cover pregnancy while others will cover you up until 9 weeks before your due date.
Top Hacks for Traveling While Pregnant
Run Travel Plans by Your Healthcare Provider
The best way to put unease to rest and have the best plan for traveling when your pregnant is getting the green light from your doctor!
Most people are good to travel until 28 weeks. But in some cases, like high-risk pregnancies, your doctor might not recommend it. It’s just best to see what they think.
Also, tell your doctor where you’re going and give them your itinerary, if you can! They might know if there are restrictions on longer distance travel that might require a medical note. Or they can tell if your destination is safe for pregnant people.
These days, with online correspondence, doctors are also a great resource if you have questions on the go. They can guide you through travel insurance and give you tips for traveling safely.
Stay Hydrated
If you’re pregnant, you may have noticed that you’re downing water like never before! And pregnant people are more likely to get dehydrated.
So just carry bottled water with you everywhere! If you’re traveling domestically, just make sure you keep a giant reusable water bottle on you.
For international travel, you might not be sure how you’ll handle the water. So just drink bottled water instead.
Also, flying makes it extra easy to get dehydrated. Especially if you’re pregnant, you should drink plenty of water to avoid water retention and and poor circulation.
You want to avoid pregnancy complications like early contractions and kidney infections. During pregnancy, dehydration make you more prone to these things.
So, let that water flow through you! And then just double confirm that aisle seat so you can get to the restroom quickly.
Plan for Restroom Breaks
Whether you’re flying, driving, or just sightseeing, potty breaks can be a pain. But get ready, because when you’re pregnant, you’ll be going even more!
My go-to solution? Adult diapers! Yep, I’m going there right off the bat! Now, don’t intentionally fill them. Just more so rely on them as a back-up.
The fear of baby pressing on your pelvic floor or having an accident can be all-consuming. This way, if you know the nearest restroom is a while away, you’re covered.
Waiting too long between bathroom breaks is also known to cause kidney infections in pregnant women. Better be safe than sorry!
Some other basic things you can do is plan. For car travel, know where you’re going to stop to use the restroom along the way.
If you’re flying, get an aisle seat, and don’t be afraid to let your flight attendants know you’re pregnant.
At your destination, also plan! Go before you leave the hotel. Go in the lobby. Stop by the first restroom see during your sightseeing.
Dress Comfortably
Maternity clothing is already naturally comfortable. It’s basically all stretchy, to make room for your growing belly!
However, there are some outfits that aren’t quite as basic as others. When you are traveling, skip things with zippers and buttons.
Keep in mind how often you will be running to the bathroom! Those frequent trips will be much faster when you are wearing a maxi dress or simple leggings.
Avoid Swollen Feet and Legs
When you travel, you’ll be sitting for long periods of time. Space can feel cramped and you’re sitting at a 90-degree angle.
The problem is that pregnant women are more likely to experience swelling their legs and feet. But there are things you can do to combat this.
First, here’s another clothing travel tip: wear compression stockings. They’re not just for your grandmother! They are a future mama’s best friend.
The concern is that things like change in air pressure, dehydration, and sitting for long periods can lead to poor circulation. You want to prevent blood clots and varicose veins.
Compression stockings are an excellent way to avoid developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) while traveling. So wear those compression stockings proudly!
And a special note: if you’ve already been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, please take extra caution. Please confirm with your healthcare provider that you’re cleared for air travel.
Somethings else you can do is get up and walk every hour. Book that aisle seat so you feel less guilty about this! And look for those rest stops on the road.
Also, wear comfortable shoes. They should be easy to slip on and off. Don’t worry about what anyone else things. If your feet start to swell, you’ll definitely want them off!
Pack Lighter Bags
If you’re traveling while pregnant alone and have to carry your own baggage, make it easy on yourself. Consider packing your essentials in 2 smaller bags.
It is much easier to carry a lighter bag in each hand, rather than to carry the extra weight on one side only.
And if you don’t yet have luggage on wheels, now is the perfect time to splurge! Trust me. Your travels will be much easier when you can just pull your belongings behind you!
Bring an Extra Swimsuit
With the number of changes that your body endures during pregnancy, there’s a lot to be cautious about.
One thing that many people don’t realize is that with the extra hormones your body is producing, pregnant women are more likely to get yeast infections! Not fun, especially while on vacation.
So, if you happen to be traveling to a warmer climate where you’ll be doing a lot of swimming, it’s a really good idea to pack an extra swimsuit or 2.
That way as soon as you are done swimming, you can slip into a dry suit that will help prevent you from getting a yeast infection.
Bring a Pregnancy Pillow
There are many types of pregnancy pillows, and not all of them are allowed on a plane. Most airlines allow wedge pillows and lumbar pillows. The giant ‘S’- or ‘C’-shaped body pillows are not.
Just make sure you pack your giant, life-saving pregnancy pillow in your luggage! When you’re away from home and in an unfamiliar bed, you’re going to appreciate having it.
Now, imagine this. You’re about an hour from home when you realize that you forgot your pregnancy pillow that you sleep with every night! Cue instant rush of emotions, and the waterworks.
Take a deep breath! While this hack may not be quite as comfy as your specially designed pillow, it can still help alleviate some of the pressure from your hips.
Simply request another pillow from the hotel staff.
Place it between your knees as you sleep, and when you wake up in the morning, you’ll think about how silly you were to get upset over a pillow!
Pack Meals
You are likely already going to be packing your own snacks, but why not take it a step further and pack your own meals, as well?
It’s extra important to eat as healthy as you can while you are pregnant, and doing so on the road can be tricky, and costly!
Not only that, but you may also find that your tastes have changed. Perhaps you now have an aversion to ground beef.
Or maybe the strong odor of onions now sends you running to the nearest garbage can.
Prevent having to deal with all of this simply by stuffing your cooler full of healthy meals that you can eat while you are on the go.
Avoid Motion Sickness
Pregnant women already deal with morning sickness, but you might be more sensitive to motion sickness as well. Fun, right? I have a few travel hacks.
First, ask your healthcare provider what anti-nausea OTC medications are safe for you. Also find out if they can recommend B6, which is known to prevent nausea.
They might also recommend acupuncture wristbands that are popular for preventing motion sickness. And people swear by ginger chews!
Share the Good News!
It’s usually not obvious that you’re expecting until about halfway through your pregnancy. And even then, it can still be difficult to tell.
So feel free to share your good news with those around you. I’m talking about other passengers, but also flight attendants and hotel staff.
I highly recommend mentioning that you’re pregnant to check-in agents. Sometimes, you’ll score a free upgrade!
And if you want to avoid x-ray machines at security, let them know your good news. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to go for a pat-down instead.
At your gate, being pregnant will get your on the priority boarding line. And this isn’t just a luxury. You’ll feel much more comfortable boarding first.
Flight attendants are super sweet if they know you’re pregnant. They’ll check on you, they might bring you extra water, and they’ll understand when you get up and down frequently.
There’s a pretty good chance that random strangers will be happy to help you carry some of your extra baggage! Or they might give up their seat on the subway so you can rest your legs.
They might even offer to switch seats with you, so you can make yourself a little more comfortable on the bus or airplane.
Don’t Overbook Yourself
You probably already figured this out, but pregnancy can be incredibly exhausting. Both mentally and physically!
It can be tempting to completely fill your itinerary with fun and exciting events and activities. But I suggest planning down time so you can get some extra rest.
Your body is already working overtime maintaining and nurturing that little peanut of yours. Don’t feel bad if you end up not being able to do everything you want to do.
You might have to cancel plans to recuperate a bit. And sometimes loved ones don’t understand why you can’t make it. That’s okay!
Make it clear that you’ll be doing as much as you can, but also resting for your sake the for the baby. It’s all about planning ahead.
I like to schedule a morning activity and then leave the rest of the day to nap. Then I check in with myself to see how much energy I have for an afternoon activity.
Plan for Successful Travel while Pregnant
Traveling while pregnant doesn’t have to be miserable! This is a time to celebrate this big change in your life.
It might be your last trip for a little while! Make your adventures more enjoyable so you can be present. I hope tried and true travel tips help you!