Frontier Airlines allows pregnant travelers to board provided they present an official note from their doctor (dated within 48 hours) stating they’re fit to travel and avoid foods that could expand during flight.
If you’re planning a babymoon or simply seeking one final couples vacation before welcoming baby, the second trimester could be the ideal time for travel.
Plan Ahead
Pregnancy can be exhausting and leave you with little energy for everyday activities, including traveling plans. A growing belly, increased bathroom visits and reduced energy may make keeping up with travel plans difficult during your third trimester.
While pregnant women generally can travel safely during their third trimester, it’s wise to consult your physician first when planning trips. They will assist in identifying when it would be most prudent and provide guidance as to when and how best to plan a vacation according to factors like current health issues, complications and risk levels.
As a rule, it’s advisable to avoid all air travel during your third trimester of pregnancy; however, sometimes this is impossible and an air journey might be essential – babymoon or business trips may even be planned! If traveling by plane in this stage is unavoidable for whatever reason, please talk with your physician regarding appropriate safety precautions for traveling on planes as well as getting proper paperwork and travel insurance in place prior to leaving home.
Prior to planning a travel itinerary, it’s also crucial that you consider the quality of medical facilities at your destination. Make sure to investigate hospital locations, their operating hours and whether or not they can treat high-risk pregnancies and newborns.
Don’t Stay Seated
If your pregnancy is healthy and at low-risk, traveling during your third trimester should not pose too many challenges – however, be prepared for changes like swelling bladder capacity and intermittent nausea as well as any additional precautions you’ll need to take when flying pregnant women. There may even be different airline policies related to flying pregnant women!
In general, traveling during your second trimester of pregnancy is often ideal. At this stage of gestation, most expectant moms should feel their best; morning sickness and fatigue should have subsided while your risk of miscarriage drops significantly; plus you won’t be too close to your due date yet.
However, it’s still important to keep in mind the risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) when flying long distances during any trimester. Sitting for prolonged periods can constrict blood flow in your legs, leading to potentially dangerous clots forming. To decrease this risk of DVT on long flights during any trimester, ensure frequent up and moving around, booking aisle seats if possible and wearing compression stockings when recommended by a healthcare provider.
Though many airlines allow women to fly domestically up until 36 weeks pregnant, many do not permit international travel beyond this point. Also note that cruise lines may have specific policies in place so be sure to contact them directly before booking any trips.
Take Care of Yourself
Once your pregnancy reaches term, if all goes according to plan and there are no complications, your doctor may suggest travel up until about a month prior to its due date. If preterm delivery risk exists however, travel restrictions or even prohibition may be applied more strictly, or it could even be advised against altogether.
Your energy levels may decrease this trimester and your “nesting instinct” may kick in, prompting you to clean your house or prepare for baby. Be sure to pace yourself and rest often, particularly while traveling by bus or train – leaving early will reduce stress, while rushing can increase blood pressure leading to gestational hypertension which could prove dangerous to both mother and baby.
As you will need to get up and stretch frequently during a flight or bus journey, booking an aisle seat may be wiser. Snacks might also help as nausea and morning sickness may return in the third trimester alongside Braxton Hicks contractions and other discomforting symptoms; be sure to get plenty of restful sleep and drink lots of fluids throughout your pregnancy and consult with your healthcare provider regarding safe antacids for both you and your unborn child.
Be Open to New Experiences
Do not let pregnancy slow down your dreams of exploring the world! Travel during your third trimester is generally safe; however, some precautions should be taken. Most airlines prohibit pregnant women from boarding domestic flights after 36 weeks (international travel may stop earlier). Read on as SheBuysTravel expert and mom of five Amanda Bishop explains what you should know about airline travel during the third trimester – as well as tips for traveling when expecting twins!