First things first, I’m pregnant! WHAAAAAAT!? I know. It’s crazy. I also cannot believe that the universe is giving me of all people a baby. The little one will make its appearance in January according to my OBGYN. So, until then I’m just stuffing my face and trying as hard as I can to exercise a little which has been hard because, guys, I feel like complete shit most of the time. Seriously, how do women do this more than once? All moms deserve a Goddamn medal or a Tesla! Wine and a Tesla! With that being said, as a knocked up lady (who clearly misses wine and wants a Tesla), I’ve been talking with my doctor a lot about travel and reading up on pregnancy dos and don’ts.
As you guys know, F and I travel a lot. In fact, I’ve been on three trips since I found out I was pregnant because it’s how I roll in life. But, I want to make sure that while I’m prancing around the planet I’m being safe and keeping my baby (who so far is kind of an asshole) safe and happy, too.
Am Pregnant, Will Travel.
If you’re pregnant or are planning on becoming pregnant (or your partner is pregnant) and you have some trips planned, you probably have a lot of questions. Did I miss anything? Please put it in the comments below!
It’s Safe to Travel
It’s perfectly safe to travel up to 36 weeks if you have a healthy pregnancy. Check with your doctor just to make sure they don’t have any concerns but as far as the vagina experts of the United States are concerned, it’s fine.
Check with your Airline
Some airlines will require you to have a letter from your doctor if you fly after 28 weeks. Check your airline’s pregnancy policy before you buy a ticket so you know what you’re getting into.
Get a Flex Ticket
There are a lot of unknowns in pregnancy. It’s really annoying for someone like me who gets stressed out when I feel out of control of my life. With that being said, always, ALWAYS buy a flex ticket when you’re traveling whilst pregnant. Even if you’re in your first trimester. One minute you might be fine, then out of nowhere, you could be barfing your guts out nonstop for days and weeks at a time. Trust me, as someone who traveled in her first trimester, nothing is more frustrating than being on a girls trip and barfing on the road during an afternoon of shopping (I would totally do it again, but you might not feel the same way).
Keep Moving
Move around on the flight A LOT. One of the many joys of pregnancy is you’re more prone to blood clots. If it’s a long flight, take after your great-grandmother and get some compression socks. Get up every hour and walk around and stretch.
Book an Aisle Seat Near a Bathroom
Get a seat that’s easy to get in and out of and is near the bathroom. You’ll need to pee constantly (and maybe puke) and you don’t want to do the whole, “excuse me, can I get up, please,” thing every thirty minutes.
Drink so Much Water
Drink a ton of water. Another joy of pregnancy is you’re prone to bladder infections and you get dehydrated much, much faster and easier. So bring metal or glass water bottles with you (at least two) and drink water constantly. If you’re still nauseous, try to put some lemon or ginger in the water to help.
Know How to Get to a Doctor ASAP
Know the healthcare system of where you’re going. If you’re traveling to a foreign country, learn how to get to a hospital or OBGYN before you go. Trust me, the last thing you want to do is be in a foreign country and realize you need a doctor ASAP and not know how to find one or how it works.
Make Sure You Are Vaccinated!!!
Make sure you’re vaccinated! This is a big one. In the US (and many countries) we get the MMR shot as a kiddo and most of us believe that means we’re vaccinated forever. IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT. As we get older, a lot of us stop being immune. Why does this matter? Not every country requires vaccinations and Rubella (German Measles) causes horrible birth defects. You DO NOT want to come into contact with Rubella while you’re pregnant. Right now, Europe is struggling with a Measles outbreak (France, Italy, Romania) and so it’s not that outlandish to check your destination via the CDC (center for disease control) for ANY cases of Rubella. From my understanding, regular Measles is not dangerous to your baby but Rubella is extremely dangerous. Also, I’m NOT a doctor so please ask a real medical professional about this.
Have Fun
Remember, women have been having babies forever and ever in tougher conditions than most of us. Somewhere in the world, there’s a pregnant woman leading her Ox up a mountain. Feel confident that more likely than not everything is going to be just fine because your body is literally made for carrying a baby (even before we had air conditioning). Go travel, have fun, and make some new memories. It’s going to be great.
