Travelling during pregnancy: care and recommendations during the trip

Being pregnant should not stop you from travelling, if and when your pregnancy is not at risk, but it is normal to have some concerns.

Taking necessary precautions, covering vaccines and travel insurance, and knowing when to travel, most women can travel safely during their pregnancy. Wherever you go, it is convenient to find out where the closest medical centers are located in the event that you need urgent medical attention. A good idea is to take your maternity medical history with you so as to be able to provide the doctors with relevant information, if necessary.

It is also not a bad idea, if you’re travelling abroad, to take out travel insurance that covers any contingency, such as medical care related to the pregnancy or birth, premature birth or the cost of changing your return dates if the baby comes early.

When to travel during pregnancy

Some women prefer not to travel during the first 12 weeks of their pregnancy due to the nausea and fatigue of these first stages. The risk of miscarriage is also greater in the first three months, whether you travel or not. Travelling during the last months of pregnancy can also be exhausting and uncomfortable which is why many women find that the best moment to travel or getaway is in the middle of the pregnancy, between four and six months.

The following is general advice to ensure a safe and hassle-free trip:

Flying during pregnancy

Flying is not harmful for a pregnant woman, but it is recommended to consult your doctor before flying to address any health issues or complications concerning your pregnancy.

The probability of complications is higher after week 37 (around week 32 for twins), besides, some airlines do not allow you to fly during the last stages of pregnancy in order to avoid any problems. It is recommended that you find out the airline’s policy on this matter. Long-distance travel (more than five hours) entails a small risk of blood clots (deep venous thrombosis or DVT).

If you are travelling by plane, drink lots of water and move about regularly – every 30 minutes or so.

Travelling by car during pregnancy

Fatigue and nausea are common during pregnancy, which is why, when travelling by car, it’s important to drink often in order to stay properly hydrated, eat natural foods that provide energy (such as fruit and nuts) and stop regularly to rest and stretch your legs.

Keep the air circulating in the car and use the seatbelt with the strap crossing your chest and the abdominal band across the pelvis, below your bump and not above it. Traffic accidents are one of the most common causes of injuries in pregnant women which is why you should avoid long trips on your own.

Travelling by boat during pregnancy

Maritime companies have their own restrictions and may refuse to take pregnant women to a large extent (more so for over 32 weeks). It is recommended to consult the company’s policy before reserving.

For long trips by boat, such as cruises, it is important to find out if there are facilities on board for assisting pregnancies and verify the medical services available at each port of call.

For safe travels: SoMum

The new wearable from Solán de Cabras with its app, is very effective for ensuring safe travels during pregnancy, as it controls daily hydration levels in real time.

Furthermore, it includes health and nutritional advice, measures calories consumed and steps taken, and provides alerts for weight control and helps follow the evolution of the entire process.

In order to calculate the daily recommended hydration, Somum uses factors determined by specialist doctors, such as physical characteristics, the specific need for hydration at each specific moment of pregnancy (including breastfeeding), and specific data pertaining to the environment such as exterior temperature. All this information is linked to the daily activity carried out by the future mother, which is collected by the smart bracelet.