Traveling During Pregnancy: What You Should Know

Is it safe to travel while pregnant?

Pregnancy changes your life in so many ways. You may have to give up some of your favorite foods and drinks, but you don’t have to stop having adventures and exploring the world! As long as you and your little one are healthy, you should have no problem traveling while pregnant. Of course, checking with your healthcare provider before going on long trips is always best.

Pro Tip: Try to schedule any vacations, babymoons, or business trips during your second trimester. By then, your morning sickness should be gone, but your bump will still be small enough that you won’t have too much trouble moving around.

Now that you’ve got the “all clear” to travel, your next step is to make sure you stay safe and comfortable on your trip. We’ve got some tips for that!

Tips for road trips when you're expecting

Who doesn’t love a good road trip? Although sitting in a car for hours on end may not sound like the most comfortable way to spend the day, road trips can be a fun, affordable way to make memories during your pregnancy. Just make sure you always wear your seatbelt! Other tips for road-tripping while pregnant:

• Try to break your trip up so you’re only driving for 5 or 6 hours (max!) per day.
• Make frequent stops. Get out, walk around, stretch your legs, use the bathroom—just get out of the car and get your blood flowing every now and then.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and shoes.
• Bring tons of snacks and drinks!

Tips for airplane travel during pregnancy

As long as you’re less than 36 weeks pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy, air travel should be a-okay! For a fun, comfortable flight, we recommend these tips:

• Double-check your airline’s policy for pregnant passengers. Some may limit how far along you can be, and you may need a doctor’s note to be cleared for takeoff.
• Get up and walk down the aisle every hour or so to promote blood circulation. If you can’t get up, try pointing and flexing your ankles in your seat to get your blood pumping.
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration from the flight.
• Get travel insurance! Pregnancy can be full of surprises, and you don’t want to lose money if you have to cancel or reschedule your trip.

Are there any restrictions on traveling while pregnant?

The only official travel restrictions during pregnancy involve flying. Generally, you’ll need to be less than 36 weeks pregnant for domestic travel. The cutoff for international travel is usually between 28 and 25 weeks. That being said, if you’re in your third trimester or have a high risk of complications, you may not want to venture too far from your healthcare provider or midwife. 

Stay safe and comfortable during your trip

No matter how you’re traveling, you’ll want to:

• Make a list of hospitals and urgent care centers in your travel destination, just in case.
• Bring all your prescriptions and prenatal vitamins.
• Pack anti-nausea remedies (think: wristbands, ginger chews, etc.).
• Plan a comfy wardrobe with tons of layering options. Check ahead to see what the weather will be like where you’re going, too!
• Get compression socks for your travel days to help blood flow and foot swelling.

And most of all, make sure to take lots of pictures and mental snapshots. This is a magical time, and you deserve to make the most of it. Use these tips to have a safe, fun trip before you get to meet your little one!

If you still don’t know whether you’re expecting a little boy or girl, our Juno Birch™ Fetal Gender Test can help! The best part? You can do it all from your own home (or wherever you happen to be)! Click here to learn more.

Please note: JunoDx.com and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.