There was a time when “experts” and doctors would treat a pregnant woman like she was made of delicate glass. They’d tell the pregnant woman that she shouldn’t do much of anything, apart from getting plenty of rest and eating “for two.” They’d put serious restrictions on things from exercise to travel to sexual activity.
Today, we know better. We know that moderate exercise isn’t harmful to a woman while she’s pregnant. Quite the opposite. Mild to moderate exercise during pregnancy is a good thing, and it helps to keep the woman’s body fit and ready for labor and delivery.
The same is true with travel. There’s no reason that a pregnant woman can’t travel. There are some things, however, that she should keep in mind when traveling while pregnant:
- Some airlines have rules about flying while you’re pregnant. Some won’t allow you to fly after about 30 weeks, and some are more lenient. There are a number of reasons for this, but the bottom line is that it’s always best to follow the regulations, not necessarily for your own health but because that’s what the airlines require as part of buying a ticket.
- Flying after about 35 weeks is a bad idea. You’re full term, and really could go into labor at any point. You don’t want to be on a plane when that happens.
- Traveling far from home during late pregnancy has risks. Not the least of which, of course, is the possibility that you’ll go into labor hundreds of miles from your health care provider. This can really interfere with your birth plan, so you’ll want to try to avoid those long trips in late pregnancy if at all possible.
- Car rides are fine during pregnancy, but you need to pay attention to your circulation. While this is true any time you travel, it’s especially important during pregnancy. Make sure you’re taking frequent breaks to stretch your legs. Chances are pretty good you’re not going to ride for more than an hour and a half or so without needing a bathroom, anyways.
