Safety first
Before embarking upon any vacation while expecting, ask your OB/GYN for his/her advice and directives. After receiving your doctor-doled approvals and encouragements, see if your caregiver knows of a recommended practice at/near your holiday locale -- just in case of emergency. Be sure to take your cell phone along with contact numbers where you can reach your prenatal care team while away from home. In all likelihood, you’ll never need either; but you’ll feel more relaxed knowing you’ve got your bases covered!
Timing is everything
Think about how long it will take to reach your destination. If you cannot sit in one place without significant discomfort for more than 45 minutes, a three hour car trip might be ill-advised. Likewise, if you plan on flying the friendly skies, make sure your anticipated flight time doesn’t push your seated comfort limits. The occasional tarmac delay does occur. Additionally, if your pregnancy progress week-count indicates you are potentially close to delivery, your doctor -- not to mention your airline -- may prohibit a late in pregnancy lift-off.
Consider your condition
If you are beset with nausea, you might be wise to stick around home base until your waves ebb a smidge. If by day’s end your ankles are the size of your thighs, make sure your excursion is one that allows for regular intervals of recumbence. If your emotions are uber-unpredictable -- to the point that you’re unsure if you will even enjoy a vacation, reschedule or rethink. Conversely, if you are experiencing a window of renewed energy and vigor, call your travel agent!
Don’t pack lightly
Even though Baby is still “contained,” you already need to increase your tote-ables! If you cannot get a good night’s sleep without your full body pillow, by all means, pack it. If you have intermittent waves of nausea and find relief only with a certain brand of saltines along with a caffeine-free ginger ale chaser, by all means, pack ‘em. If you consult your collection of pregnancy manuals daily for support, pack ‘em. And whatever you do, don’t carry your own luggage! (Stoke your wallet with plenty of singles for taxi drivers and sky caps if you are airport-bound.)
Drink up!
No vacation cocktails -- you must continue to hydrate with your voluminous quantities of OB/GYN-mandated H2O; both to, from, and during your time away from home. Yes, you will need to pee more often (as if you aren’t already). Yes, on the road and in the air restrooms aren’t the most accommodating, but better to endure the momentary squish and release than to stray from your recommended intake. Imbibe!
Take care of your tootsies
Keep your feet up as best you can. Wear support-providing, appropriately sized (don’t squeeze into those pre-pregnancy shoes if your feet are of the swollen variety) footwear. If you are going by air, invest in some sensational slip-ons to ease the security check experience. Wear comfy kicks when traveling by car as well. Anything you can do to increase your ride relaxation is a smart move!
Loosen up!
Yes, presentation is important; but ultimately, you will want to dress for comfort. You can do so stylishly! Let the first of your travel expenses be an outfit that will help you feel glam while getting from place to place. Once your outward appearance is travel-ready, get your mindset in place. Ease up your attitudes. Abandon your annoyances. Befriend public bathrooms. Smile when your belly is fondled by the fortieth stranger. If travel typically makes you uptight when you aren’t pregnant, make every effort to reduce your stress-inducers now that you are. After all, the intent of your trip is to relax, so just do it!
© 2007, Cheryl Lage for ePregnancy