Traveling While Pregnant: Tips for a Safe Journey

Pre-flight jitters, a suitcase that won’t zip shut, and a baby on the way? It’s no wonder travel anxiety reaches new heights when you’re anticipating a trip as an expecting mom.

Traveling while pregnant can entail some adjustments, especially depending on how far along you are. But it can also be a beautiful way to celebrate what lies ahead—so long as pregnant travelers stay informed about what your body needs during each trimester.

Before any significant trip, it’s typically recommended to run your plans by your doctor to ensure you’re cleared for travel and avoid pregnancy complications. For instance, some pregnant women have health conditions, like preeclampsia, that may make traveling hazardous with a growing baby in tow.

Beyond that, traveling while pregnant is all about considering your and your little one’s needs during each trimester. Below, we break down what you’ll want to consider for each third of pregnancy and other pregnancy tips for first-time moms so you can take off on your next journey informed and prepared.

Traveling While Pregnant: First Trimester

From round-the-clock fatigue to persistent morning sickness, many women are surprised by how early pregnancy comes on so strong when their bump hasn’t even made its arrival! The following tips can help ease first-trimester symptoms while ensuring your usual land, sea, or air travel rituals don’t harm your baby.

Double-Check Your Toiletry Bag

In the habit of taking a pouch full of pills aboard to make flights more comfortable? Before you jet off, be sure to reevaluate any medications you typically use during flights.

For instance, some anti-nausea medications also won’t fly if you’re pregnant. There are also some hazards associated with using aids like Tylenol PM to nod off. To make your toiletry bag audit easier, here’s a quick list of medicines that carry some risk for pregnant women:

• Nyquil – Nyquil contains alcohol, which pregnant women should refrain from ingesting for the duration of pregnancy.
• Pepto-Bismol – American Family Physician clears this medication for use in the first trimester, but not in the second or third. However, some doctors refrain from recommending it entirely due to the lack of research behind these claims, as it could heighten the risk of bleeding disorders.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen are OTC medications used to deal with mild to moderate pain. They work by inhibiting prostaglandins, which control how blood vessels behave to regulate circulation in the body.

When you’re pregnant, prostaglandins play a key role: you’re circulating more blood and fluids than usual, as you and your baby need that extra input to stay healthy. For this reason, it’s generally considered unsafe to use NSAIDs as a pregnant person.

• Paracetamol (Tylenol) – Recent research raises concerns about Tylenol’s safety. However, because Tylenol has long been considered safe for pregnant people, many OBGYNs continue to recommend it.

If your first aid kit is looking a little hollow, don’t despair: There are lots of safe, supportive tools you can use to quell pain and dispel nausea (whether the morning or the cabin variety). You might try:

• Using vitamin B6 to deal with nausea or vomiting, they can also take unisom over the counter to help with nausea, and it also works as a sleep aid if it’s a long flight.
• Taking along some peppermint tea to settle the stomach
• A cooling eye mask to help soothe headaches
• Bringing along plenty of snacks to relieve heartburn

Don’t Skimp on Fluids

Air travel is notorious for zapping moisture, as the cabin air you breathe is filtered from the low-humidity atmosphere outside.

But when you’re pregnant, it’s important to keep hydration levels high. Around 12 cups (96 oz.) is the recommended daily quota for pregnant people. If you’re flying, consider boosting your intake to make up for the dehydrating effects of flights (and any lattes you ingested to perk up for a red-eye flight).

Opt for an Aisle Seat

One of the most common symptoms of early pregnancy is an increased need to go to the bathroom. If that sounds like you, but you aren’t able to book an aisle seat, consider letting a flight attendant know your situation when you board. It’s less of a hassle than asking your neighbor to let you pass every 30 minutes, and you’d be surprised how many fellow passengers would be willing to swap with you!

Traveling While Pregnant: Second Trimester

Good news, second-semester moms-to-be: weeks 14 through 28 are widely considered the safest and most hassle-free when you’re expecting.

Most pregnant people experience a renewal of energy after first-trimester fatigue and nausea; compared with your third trimester, your load is light, and your baby won’t be making their debut for another few months. That said, there are some guidelines pregnant travelers should consider before they’re ready to jet-set.

Run Travel Plans by Your Doctor

Maybe you planned your getaway before you knew you were pregnant. If so, it’s worth double-checking your itinerary to ensure the activities you arranged are safe for you and your baby. Pay extra caution if:

• You’ve planned activities at high altitudes, like hiking
• You’ve planned waterfront activities, particularly if the area you’re visiting carries a higher risk of viral or bacterial infections
• You have a history of miscarriage
• You have a history of ectopic pregnancy
• You have a heart condition
• You’re carrying twins (or more)
• You have high blood pressure or diabetes
• You’re over 35 years old, and this is your first pregnancy

Several other health conditions may complicate certain activities if you’re pregnant. It’s always a smart strategy to run your plans by your healthcare provider to ensure you won’t put your baby at risk of pregnancy complications.

Buckle Your Seat Belt Beneath Your Belly

Whether the seatbelt sign is on or off, it’s best to keep yours on when you’re seated. Just be sure to strap your seat belt in below your belly if you’ve started to show. This can help protect your baby if any sudden in-flight turbulence occurs.

Traveling While Pregnant: Third Trimester

The final stretch is perhaps the most challenging trimester for travel. In some cases, you may have to postpone your plans until after your baby is born; in others, a positive attitude and willingness to adapt may help ease the physical discomfort and stresses of travel.

Whatever your plans are, be sure to keep the following suggestions in mind before it’s time to hit the road. Additionally, consider applying one or more tips for getting ready for a baby as well.

Check Your Airline’s Pregnancy Policy

Many airlines have a cutoff for passengers over 36 weeks of pregnancy to reduce the risk of surprise mile-high deliveries. If you’re traveling internationally, that cutoff may be earlier (as early as 28 weeks along).

Consider Compression Socks

Frequent flyers know wearing loose-fitting clothing can make flights a lot more comfortable (and even cozy!). But because pregnant people are circulating up to 50% more blood than non-pregnant people, they’re at a higher risk of blood clots. Spending multiple hours in your seat during a flight can heighten this blood clot risk.

Getting up to stretch your legs every half-hour is one way to help offset this risk of blood clot formation. If you want to play it even safer, consider wearing compression socks on the plane. By putting gentle pressure on your ankles and calves, you can help minimize your risk of blood clots on a long, sedentary flight.

Take Along Your Medical Records

If you require care while you’re away from home, you’ll want to have access to your prenatal and medical records to ensure local providers are informed of your needs. You may also want to research surrounding clinics and hospitals near your destination so you know where to head if the need arises.

International Travel While Pregnant

Depending on how far along you are and where you’re going, trips abroad can introduce a whole new set of considerations when you’re pregnant. Going the distance is a good reason to get in touch with your provider ahead of time, but in the meantime, it’s worth addressing the following concerns:

• Vaccinations – It’s important to ensure you’re up-to-date on your vaccinations. In particular, the CDC recommends pregnant people stay current on their risk of viral infections like Zika or malaria in their destination countries. While pregnant people are dissuaded from getting certain vaccines during pregnancy, others, like the inactivated flu vaccine, are recommended.
• Drinking water – Many US regions enjoy excellent potable drinking water from the tap, but many other countries don’t have the same infrastructure. To avoid bacterial infections or traveler’s diarrhea from the local tap, it’s best to stick with bottled water. Avoid cooking with tap water, and be sure to check with staff about their sourcing when dining out.

Bear in mind that pregnant people can’t use iodine tablets to make water potable: doing so could interfere with your growing baby’s thyroid development.

• Plan ahead to keep your prenatal appointments – If you’ve planned an extended trip, stop in for your prenatal just before and after your travels.
• Talk to your insurance provider – Most travel insurance plans will lapse when you’re out of the country. If you talk to your provider and learn your coverage won’t apply, you can look into travel insurance and health insurance that includes prenatal care. Not only can it put your mind at ease so you can enjoy your trip, but you’ll thank yourself for the considerably reduced expenses if you wind up needing care while you’re away.

Lift Off to Motherhood With SneakPeek

Getting off the beaten track before your baby makes a landing can be a wonderful way to put this exciting upcoming chapter into perspective. Make sure you’re informed all throughout so you don’t fall for common pregnancy myths. If you’re already looking ahead to life after pregnancy, check out SneakPeek’s DNA-based Early Gender DNA Test.

With this at-home gender blood test, you can learn your baby’s gender as early as 6 weeks into your pregnancy. You’ll take your sample from home, send it to SneakPeek labs, and we’ll triple-review your results and send them back on the same day we receive your sample.

SneakPeek’s over 99% clinically proven accuracy¹ and complete privacy protection have earned us the trust of more than 1 million moms around the country. To find out more of what makes SneakPeek Test OBGYN’s #1 recommended at-home early gender test, check out SneakPeek today.

This post has been reviewed for accuracy by the following medical professional:

Dr. Heather Soper, Certified Nurse Midwife

Dr. Heather Soper brings over 15 years of experience in women's health and obstetrics to her role as the owner of The Genesis Resort for Birth. Complementing her clinical practice, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at James Madison University, where she educates nursing students with a focus on compassionate, patient-centered care. Her advanced training and dedication to midwifery are evident in her contribution to both academia and the wellness of expectant mothers.

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