5 Tips For Traveling While Pregnant
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Traveling While Pregnant
things I’ve learned
I just finished my 20th flight while pregnant and learned a few things! We are officially grounded until after the baby arrives and in full nesting mode to prepare the house. While it’s still fresh in my brain, I thought it might be helpful to share a few helpful tips that I found useful and made my travel experience as smooth as possible.
This should go without saying, but I am not a doctor or a healthcare professional! I encourage you to speak to your healthcare team about any concerns and whether or not your unique situation is approved to fly/travel. I had the green light to fly up until 34 weeks but felt comfortable cutting myself off after 31. You may be wondering when the best time to travel is… I had a few work obligations and flew as early as four and then again at seven weeks pregnant, traveling the most throughout my second trimester, and I ended my last one around thirty-one weeks.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO FLY?
The “best” travel time is relative and subjective because everyone experiences pregnancy differently. I had pretty intense morning/afternoon sickness and food aversions throughout most of my pregnancy, starting early in the first and continuing well into the third trimester. So while things ebbed and flowed, some things got more manageable, and others got more challenging. I couldn’t leave the house early without these Preggie Pop nausea drops, which immensely helped with the morning sickness. While later in my pregnancy, I had some leg cramps, and that’s when these compression socks became an unsung hero. If I had to give you a general time frame, I’d say mid-end of the second trimester. I probably felt the best and could still get around comfortably. You know your body and situation best, so do what feels good and right for you!
Five tips for
easy pregnant travel
One.
Prior to booking travel, think through the logistics
Before booking your flights, you may want to consider flight times and what your travel day is going to look like, especially if a layover is required. The longest leg was about four hours, which was probably the maximum I could tolerate, but again, everyone is different. You may want to give yourself a little more time for check-in, during layovers, and don’t be shy to board when they call for people needing some additional time or assistance. Think about the luggage you want to bring, whether you are doing carry-ons or checking a bag. If you’re carrying a bag throughout the airport, I prefer to push a rolling bag rather than have a heavy bag on my shoulder.
I also generally prefer an aisle seat, but especially while pregnant, so I could get up to stretch or use the bathroom if needed. We previously shared more of BK’s best travel tips in this recent blog post!
Two.
Hydrate
This is probably the most obvious, but it’s important. The day before travel, I’d pregame with extra water. Thanks to this 40 oz mug, I typically drink between 120-160 oz, but I’d try to drink a little more. I noticed a big difference in how I felt when I was hydrated vs. not. The worst part of being hydrated is the frequent bathroom breaks, so the day of, I’d try to be strategic about my intake, buying a bottle of water once we’re through security and often relying on these hydrating packets to keep my electrolytes up. When beverage service comes around, I’d also order water (or two), and my personal favorite was orange juice with ice- delish!
Three.
Snacks, LOTS OF SNACKS
Do NOT underestimate the importance of snacks! I have low blood pressure and have suffered a few dizzy and fainting spells throughout this pregnancy and would NOT recommend flying without a bit of food in your system, even if you have an early flight and are not hungry. I love these Slate Milks, which have 20g of protein and are easy to get down before or on the way to the airport. I also kept a bag filled with granola and protein bars, saltine crackers, nuts, these lollipops, and goldfish crackers. BK also reaped the benefits of this snack bag! You never know when hunger will strike, so don’t forget the snacks!
Four.
Prioritize comfort in the air and while you’re there
As I mentioned before, it’s essential to think through the logistics of your travel day prior to traveling! This means thinking about your seating assignment and whether or not you’d feel more comfortable booking a seat with a little more space. On a few of our trips, BK had booked the aisle seat for me and the window seat for himself, and we usually hoped for the best that no one was in between us. One time we ended up booking the middle seat in between us as an extra seat for myself which was cheaper than upgrading to an extra comfort seat or first class.
Depending on the size of the plane, not all seatbelts are the same! I’ve had to request a few seatbelt extenders on a few of the smaller regional flights, and the flight attendants were happily willing to assist. You may also want to consider wearing an outfit that is easy to use the restroom in since you may be using it more often. I have a few outfit ideas in this previous post, and this post may give you some ideas on how to style these wide-leg yoga pants or jogger versions of them! You can get some outfit inspiration from my bump style guide as well.
I checked my bag and brought along my pregnancy pillow as much as I could, but there was one trip that I was limited to a carry-on bag, so I ended up shipping a pregnancy pillow to the hotel. Each hotel/resort has its own policy, so be sure to reach out to your destination’s concierge or front desk to accommodate this. I slept so much better with it, but you may be satisfied with just a few extra pillows from the hotel. Nonetheless, it was very helpful for me and worth mentioning. You know your body and your preferences best, so feel free to modify and prioritize what will work best for you.
Five.
ALL HAIL Compression socks
I deeply regret ever underestimating the power of compression socks! They helped my legs and overall flight comfort significantly, I can’t fully explain the science behind them, but I know they really helped me. After a quick Google search, it said they work by promoting improved blood flow in your legs. The socks' compression gently pushes blood flow up the leg, helping to prevent swelling and even blood clots. And that’s what they did!
I personally would put them on right before boarding or upon boarding, depending on how much space I had on the plane, and have Brian help me take them off upon arrival. If you prefer to wear them to the airport but are still trying to look stylish, I’d recommend these wide-leg pants or joggers and sneakers. I have had a lot of luck with this brand; I’ve invested in several pairs. They even have options for wider calves, which I know can be tricky for some.
SAFE TRAVELS!
Here are a few more items I’ve used and loved, especially for traveling while pregnant. I hope this trip was helpful! Be sure to check out the “travel” tab of the blog for all of my recent trip roundups, including outfit inspiration and more helpful tips. I’ve also shared a ton of pregnancy styles and favorite items on the “motherhood” tab of the blog. I hope this post was helpful. Feel free to leave any questions or tips for others expecting and traveling! I look forward to sharing our travel adventures with you once Baby K arrives and we can start traveling again. Thanks for reading!
xx CMK
