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Travel During Pregnancy
You may have to travel as a part of your job, which can be tiring and frustrating during pregnancy. If your pregnancy is normal, you should be able to travel in the 1st and 2nd trimesters without too much trouble. Consult your doctor if you're considering travel in your 3rd trimester.
The best time to travel, if you can choose, is during the 2nd trimester. You'll have more energy and you'll feel better. Complications are less likely. In the 1st trimester, you may have morning sickness or feel tired. In the 3rd trimester, you may find it difficult to sit or to stand for long periods, and you may tire easily.
Ways to Travel
Flying should not present a problem. Most airlines allow preboarding for passengers who need extra time. Take advantage of the offer. Try to book an aisle seat, so you can stretch your legs and get up to walk more easily. Drink plenty of fluids, such as water and juice, because recirculated air in a plane is extremely dry.
Consult someone at the airline about your condition before buying tickets. An airline can refuse to carry a pregnant passenger without the written consent of her physician.
If you haven't considered train travel recently, now might be the time to do so. Trains have wide aisles and roomy seats, and the ride is smooth. Moving around is easy, too.
Bus trips and sailing are probably not good choices. On a bus, leg room is limited and the ride is jarring, which could make you uncomfortable. If you are unused to it, the rolling motion of a ship or boat can be unsettling. Seasickness could add to pregnancy discomforts you may already have. If you do sail, most doctors believe Dramamine is safe against seasickness, but do not use a seasickness patch.
Car travel may be comfortable or uncomfortable, depending on how far along you are. Limit car travel to no more than 5 hours a day (sitting longer slows circulation). Stop at regular intervals to take short walks and use the bathroom. When sitting in a car, tuck a pillow into the small of your back. Do ankle circles while riding to increase circulation in your feet and legs. Always wear your seat belt and shoulder harness.
Risks to Consider
If you travel, your discomfort level is likely to increase, especially if you are cooped up in a car or plane for hours. You may have trouble sleeping in a strange bed. If you develop a complication while you're away from home, those who have been involved in your pregnancy and know your history will not be available to care for you.
Avoid travel during the last month of pregnancy. Labor could begin at any time, your water could break or other problems could occur. Your doctor knows what has happened during your pregnancy and has a record of tests you've undergone-important information. If you check into a hospital to deliver in a strange city, some doctors won't accept you as a patient because they don't know your medical history. It doesn't make sense to take any chances.
Many women want to know if their doctor can tell when they will go into labor so they can travel. Unfortunately, no one can predict when your labor will begin. Always discuss your travel plans with your doctor before you finalize them.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Most employers offer some type of health insurance to their workers-private medical-and-hospitalization coverage, membership in a health maintenance organization (HMO) or a preferred-physicians plan (PPO). With private insurance, you can choose your own doctor. With an HMO, you choose a physician affiliated with the group. With a PPO, you may choose any doctor on a list of acceptable physicians.
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