- Metal detectors, which all passengers must pass through before boarding a plane, won’t harm your unborn baby.
- Changes in air pressure on a high-altitude flight should present no unusual problems for you or your baby.
- Try to walk every half-hour during a smooth flight, and flex and extend your ankles frequently to prevent phlebitis (blood clots in your legs).
- Fasten your seat belt at the pelvis level (below your belly).
- Make sure to drink plenty of fluids before and during your flight. Extra fluids can help prevent dehydration, which can lead to nausea.
- Elevate your feet as much as possible and walk frequently during the flight to lessen leg swelling. On long flights, expect your feet to expand a size—no matter what you do. Once you remove your shoes, you may not be able to get them back on, so be sure to take along a roomier pair, or even a pair of slippers.
- While normal air humidity can reach 57% or more, the humidity of cabin air is only around 7%. Besides being uncomfortable to your nasal passages, dry air can contribute to dehydration. In addition to drinking extra fluids, you can help prevent your nasal passages from drying out by breathing the steam from a hot cup of water. You can also take along a bottle of saline nasal spray (available at any pharmacy without a prescription), and spray it into your nose every hour or so.
- Pregnant women, like senior citizens, should always be given assistance with luggage. However, it would appear that many people are afraid of insulting a woman's independence by offering aid. Don't be afraid to ask! Be especially careful to avoid stretching and reaching into overhead compartments for heavy luggage. You don't want to strain any muscles unnecessarily.
Taking a Cruise
Traveling by ship while you are pregnant is generally considered safe. However, most cruise lines have restrictions against women sailing during the third trimester. Here are some specific things to keep in mind:
- If you are taking a cruise during your first trimester, the motion of the boat may exacerbate or initiate pregnancy sickness.
- Some cruise lines will not permit women who are 27 weeks or more pregnant to sail because of the risk of premature labor. Other lines require a physician's Fit to Travel note, stating that you are in good health, and do not have a high risk pregnancy.
- Check with the cruise line to determine whether there is a physician on board in case you develop any complications. Most small ships (with 100 passengers or less) generally do not have medical personnel on staff.
- Larger ships are more stable on rough seas. For the smoothest ride, get a cabin in the middle of the ship, close to the water line.
- Check your scheduled ports-of-call to find out about their medical facilities and other safety issues such as water supplies, disease outbreaks, etc. Less developed countries may have a shortage of trained doctors and nurses, sterile equipment, and safe blood, so it may be best not to get off the boat at those destinations.
Foreign Travel
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