Traveling While Pregnant

We all have dreams of throwing pennies into the Trevi Fountain in Rome, or drinking out of a coconut on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii while being hand fed cheese and grapes…. Or maybe that’s just us. When you find out you’re pregnant, it can seem like your whole world is shifting overnight– you’re expecting a child! Whether it’s a child you plan to keep or one you’re carrying as a Surrogate for another expecting family, the next nine months are going to come with a lot of changes.

While in many ways it is true that your whole world is changing, that doesn’t mean that your dreams for the next nine months have to completely change. But what if many of those dreams include travel, or are about the traveling itself? The good news is that traveling for most of your pregnancy shouldn’t be a problem, as long as you are cognizant of risks and how to avoid them.

Some questions that might arise when you consider traveling while pregnant are: Is it safe? When is the best time to travel while pregnant? How can you get ready for your trip and what kinds of things should you bring with you to make your trip as carefree as possible?

We’re here to ease your fears and answer all of the “must knows” for traveling while pregnant. But first, we can definitely say if you have a trip planned, you do NOT have to cancel it (unless advised otherwise by your doctor). You can still travel while pregnant and make that wish in all of the fountains in Italy!

Is it really safe to travel while pregnant? 

In simple terms, it is perfectly safe. Whether your dream is to do a cross-country road trip in your car or visit a few countries in Europe in one go, you do not need to worry.

If you plan to take a road trip via car – even one state away – you and baby will not have to worry about added danger from pregnancy-specific risks, outside of the normal risks of being in a car. Having someone to split driving shifts with will definitely help your body and your mind rest while you’re on the road, and it can be a little less lonely. This also acts as a safety net in case there are any medical hiccups that arise. You can have someone that would make sure you get the help you need. 

If your dream destination can only be reached via plane, you should run it by your healthcare provider and/or doctor. This is especially pertinent if you plan to travel out of the country.  Some airline companies only allow you to travel up to a certain time in your pregnancy, or they may require you to bring extra paperwork or documentation. While the logistics may be different, the safety level does not differ in either mode of travel. 

If you have a healthy pregnancy and don’t have any health conditions, like diabetes, there is absolutely no reason to worry about travel of any kind. If you do have a pre-existing health condition, it is probably best to run your travel plans by your doctor to get a second opinion and make sure it’s safe. Even if you don’t, there’s no harm in running it by them anyways! Not only will it give you additional peace of mind in your plans but they can also make sure you won’t miss any necessary appointments or care visits while you’re away or reschedule them if they happen to be for when you planned your trip.

We recommend, no matter the mode of travel, not going alone unless you absolutely have to. 

When is the best time to travel? 

This question definitely depends on YOU. If you’re in your first trimester, as almost everyone knows, you’re probably going to experience some morning sickness. The fact that you’re carrying a life inside of you can also be an adjustment for some, which may result in you feeling you want to stay stationary. Most women have reported they feel most comfortable traveling in the second trimester, as the morning sickness and tiredness is usually less intense. Your belly is typically (though it varies from pregnancy to pregnancy) not super big yet, which means you can still walk and move around with as much ease as possible.

Additional pros to traveling during your second trimester as opposed to your third, is simply that you’re less likely to go into labor! Even if you plan to travel early on in your third trimester, an early birth is always a risk at this point. All in all, the preference is yours!

What should you definitely bring while you’re traveling? 

It is essential to bring whatever makes you feel the most comfortable and will help you enjoy your trip to the fullest extent– the last thing you need during your pregnancy is additional stress.

Some necessities include vitamins or medications you have been routinely taking, including prenatal vitamins, your passport if you’re traveling out of state and/or your license and identification, and a copy of your medical records / health insurance and your provider’s phone number. If you’re a Surrogate, having your Intended Parents’ phone number and contact information would be great–that way you can keep them updated on how you’re feeling throughout your trip and send them photos of you and the baby seeing all the sights! Additionally, as a Surrogate you may need to approve your travel plans with your matched Intended Parents.

Other items on your packing list may include:

• A comfy pillow to ensure you get all the sleep you can
• A reusable water bottle to keep you hydrated on the go
• Your favorite snacks
• If you have trouble sleeping, bring your favorite sleep aid
• If you are in your first trimester or get nauseous on flights, or you’re traveling by boat, bring anti nausea medication (as approved by your doctor)
• Comfortable clothing and shoes 
• If you’re planning to fly or be on a boat or in a car for a long period of time, consider buying compression socks, which help with potential swelling and the increase of blood flow. 
• A mask, hand sanitizer, and antibacterial wipes to make sure you don’t catch an illness or virus while you’re away
• Another recommendation for flight travel is to bring along a sheet mask for your face. There’s nothing like some extra pampering on a long-haul flight, particularly when pregnant!

Covid-19 and Travel: 

With the Covid-19 pandemic still going on, safety is of the utmost concern when traveling, especially if you’re pregnant. Since it has been shown that pregnant mothers can pass the Covid-19 virus onto their babies, sticking to CDC guidelines while traveling is highly advised in order to keep both you and your baby(ies) virus-free. 

Most countries are accepting visitors, whether foreign or domestic, as long as you’re vaccinated. If you are vaccinated, traveling out of the U.S. usually doesn’t come with a mandatory quarantine or isolation period. If you are not vaccinated, some countries still accept a negative covid test from within 48 hours of your planned departure, to and from your destination. Note that it’s often the case that travelers can alternatively provide documented proof of recent recovery from the virus as evidence of immunity, in place of proof of vaccination. For more information on specific locations and their coronavirus restrictions, the information should be easily accessible on the internet. 

Note that it’s often the case that travelers can alternatively provide documented proof of recent recovery from the virus as evidence of immunity, in place of proof of vaccination.

Keeping all of this in mind, consult with your doctor and then travel away! Be sure to take lots of photos to show your future child as proof they were a little world traveler before they were even born, or to share with your Intended Parents you are carrying for. Depending on if they are planning on being transparent with their future child(ren) about surrogacy, they may want to show them these photos of you traveling with them in your belly!

If you are interested in learning more about surrogacy, egg donation, or expanding our own family through alternative family planning methods, please contact the team at Simple Surrogacy today.