Travel Guide During Pregnancy

Travel during pregnancy is generally safe, but taking a few precautions can put your mind at ease. The ideal travel period is the 2nd trimester (weeks 14-28) — nausea has passed, energy is high, and the belly hasn't grown too large yet.

During air travel, wearing compression stockings, getting up to walk every hour, and drinking plenty of water can help reduce thrombosis risk. Wearing the seatbelt at hip level, below the belly, is the correct approach.

During car travel, taking a break every 1-2 hours to stretch your legs is good. The lower part of the seatbelt should go over the hip bones, and the upper part should go between the breasts — not over the belly.

Before traveling, checking that your health insurance covers pregnancy complications, and bringing your pregnancy monitoring card, your doctor's contact information, and prescribed medications with you will put your mind at ease. Avoiding travel to Zika virus areas is recommended. Consulting your doctor about travel for high-risk pregnancies is best.