Since I became pregnant last June, my traveling schedule did not stop for a second, on the contrary, I traveled twice as much due to fact that I had to cram in all my trips I had planned for the next 1.5 years in less than 8 months.
Traveling the world during my entire pregnancy was exciting, but it took a little more planning than I anticipated. From the exotic coasts of Brazil, to the breathtaking beaches in Hawaii, every trip had to be though-out more carefully. Between the fact that you cannot carry your heavy bags on your own, and that your prenatal vitamins need to be with you at all times, traveling alone and pregnant might seem like a scary thought.
In order to make every trip easy to manage, I have created a list of all the necessities that every future mommy should pack. These are the things I learned:
Stay hydrated and bring snacks
I have never been a fan of water, but this was probably the most important habit I had to drastically change once I found out I was pregnant. You might not be eating for two, but you are definitely hydrating for two. According to the American Pregnancy Association, pregnant women should drink eight to twelve glasses of water per day in order to ensure that their amniotic fluid is renewed and breast milk production is on track, among other health benefits. Remember that flying dehydrates you, so make sure you drink a bit more than you think you need. Don’t forget to stock up on plenty of water in the the airport store and try to bring some healthy snacks to resist the urge of buying out the newsstand’s candy bar selection. Our favorites: dehydrated fruit strips, almonds, and pita chips + hummus.
Exit row
I have luckily reached the status with American Airlines where if I do not get the upgrade to business I get placed on an exit row for extra leg room. This was a great alternative until I realized that pregnant women cannot sit in an exit row. When the gate agent realized I was pregnant, I started getting the worst seats on the plane because by the time I had checked in, all the good seats had be already taken. If you are pregnant and showing, make sure you check-in online 24 hours before and choose an aisle seat towards the front of the plane. Remember that when pregnant, you visit the lavatories much more often.
Permission to travel
All airlines recommend that you consult your doctor before traveling at any point in your pregnancy. My airline said that in order to play it safe, I should get a “permission-to-travel” letter from my doctor. Honestly none of the airlines I traveled with asked me for this. My doctor mentioned that unless you have a huge belly, which I never had, you will be asked for this letter. If you think your belly is big compared to others, take the letter from your doctor and take your due date into consideration for the return trip, too. Last thing you want is to be stuck in your vacation destination because you miscalculated the days! Most airlines do not allow you to travel internationally within 30 days of your due date (week 36) and domestic travel within 7 days of your due date (week 39) if expecting one baby. With multiples the rules are different.
Prenatal Vitamins
You should always pack extra prenatal vitamins bottle in a different bag in case you run out or you lose them. I didn’t follow this rule for the first couple months, and let me just say it was always a disaster to find a pharmacy and try to say prenatal vitamins in either Portuguese or German. When you know you will be needing something as important as this, make your life easier and pack a couple bottles for every trip.
Stay active
As I reached my 7th month, my doctor said that blood clots are very common in pregnant women that sit still for long periods of time. Since I was taking 10 hour flights up until my 8th month (week 35), I had no other choice than to wear ugly compression socks in every flight. No matter how ugly they are, use them because they might save your life. Compression socks keep the blood circulating in your feet and ankles. This will help you avoid blood clots, which can be deadly, and when they captain turns off the seatbelt-fasten sign, get up, take a stroll up and down the aisle, stretch in the bathroom (if you can manage to fit, I am 5’9 and I miraculously did) and pump your feet up and down every hour.
Time your trip
If you’ve had terrible morning sickness during your first trimester, then traveling is probably not for you at this moment. The second trimester (14-27 weeks) may be your best bet for a relaxing baby-moon. By now, your hormones should be giving you an energy boost so you should feel energized and ready to go. Also, try to pick a not so out-of-the-way destination, traveling at altitudes over 12,000 feet can be risky, and you can find exotic beaches and destinations that are only a few hours from your front door. Hint: We love the Villas at Ventanas al Paraiso. Such a romantic and private place for you and your loved one to get some well-deserved alone-time before person #3 comes along.
Take advantage
During my first couple of months I had a high-risk pregnancy, which meant I could not carry anything heavier than 10lbs. This of course was the biggest burden to my hectic travel schedule, but that didn’t stop me. Since telling fellow passengers in the TSA line or while boarding the plane that I had a high-risk pregnancy was a bit uncomfortable, especially when you do not look pregnant, I decided to put an elastic compression band in my arm and without giving my full story, everyone was more than willing to help me out (sneaky, I know).
TSA body scan
In most airports, passengers walk through metal detectors, which use a low-frequency electromagnetic field to look for weapons. At the low levels a metal detector emits, this exposure is considered safe for everyone, including pregnant women. However, there is a new kind of body scan that is becoming more common, the Backscatter. This is the one you need to place your hands above your head. If you see that is the one they are using, request a pat down so you and your baby can stay as safe as possible.
