Hi gals,
Found this useful for those whose is going to travel aboard for holiday or for work. Extact from Baby centre. 8 smart Strageties for pregant travellers.
Reduce stress
There's one sure way to avoid travel stress while pregnant stay home for nine months. But what fun is that? By using some simple planning strategies, you can reduce your travel anxieties and get the most out of your time on the road, even when raging hormones leave you ready to scream or cry.
First, arrange everything in advance that you can, including your seat assignment on an airplane (an aisle seat works best for frequent trips to the bathroom), any special-order meals, and accommodations at your destination. Next, travel light. Ideally, pack only what you can roll on wheels or carry easily with two hands. That way, you won't be stuck if you can't find a porter or a kind stranger, and you won't risk injuring yourself by lifting too heavy a load. Bring a carry-on bag with vital supplies, including a headset for music or a good book for relaxation. When you're ready to go, schedule plenty of extra time to get to the airport, the bus or train station, or your destination by car. That way, when the seemingly inevitable delays occur, you'll have a built-in margin for error. Finally, don't forget your sense of humor if and when you get stuck in a long line or on the tarmac, you'll need it.
Conserve your energy
Just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you can't enjoy an active vacation or take a productive business trip. You can still pursue many of your normal activities, whether it's hiking, visiting museums, or dining out for business or pleasure. But you'll probably tire more quickly than before you were pregnant, so don't expect to maintain your usual pace, and make down time part of your daily schedule whenever possible. Taking a bath, napping, putting your feet up, reading on the beach, and even spending a quiet evening with room service can keep you feeling rested and energized throughout your trip.
Eat and drink smart
When you're pregnant, it's doubly important to eat regular, healthful meals. But since your eating schedule may be disrupted on the road, it's a good idea pack your carry-on bag with plenty of portable snacks, such as nuts, dried fruit, and crackers with low-fat cheese. If you're flying, call your airline to preorder any special meals, such as a fruit plate or vegetarian whatever you need to satisfy your dietary requirements or pregnancy cravings. Carry bottled water and drink it regularly. It's always important to avoid getting dehydrated, a particular problem when flying. Drinking extra fluids will help prevent water retention, too.
Once you arrive, seek out regular, nutritious, well-balanced meals with plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, and protein. (If you're traveling in a foreign country where the water quality is uncertain, however, remember to avoid uncooked vegetables and fruit that you haven't peeled yourself.) Always carry healthful, energy-boosting snacks and bottled water in your purse or bag, since you never know when you'll need them. If you're having trouble eating regular meals, or you're finding that some foods and smells now turn your stomach, try eating five or six small meals a day. They may go down easier than three big ones, and frequent, light eating will reduce your chances of heartburn as well.
Prepare for pit stops
As an expectant mom, you're probably running to the bathroom three or four times more often than usual. Airplane facilities are cramped and public restrooms can be dirty, so when you find a clean, comfortable bathroom, use it. Even when you can't find a luxury commode, play it safe and use the restroom. Try to anticipate when you'll need to hold your water between rest stops on the highway or before boarding the plane and make a stop just before. When planning your car trip, remember to factor in plenty of time for frequent stops.
It's not always easy to find a suitable restroom when you're on the road, so be prepared for cramped or dirty facilities or no facilities at all. Some women find it helpful to pack toilet paper (remove the inner cardboard tube and flatten the roll for compact carrying), sanitary wipes, and antibacterial hand cleaner. For car trips, you can bring along your own restroom for emergency pit stops in the form of a large plastic yogurt or cottage cheese container with a lid. If you're flying or traveling by train or bus, opt for an aisle seat so you can get to the restroom without having to climb over other passengers. Seats near the front or rear of the plane are usually closest to the restrooms.
Make it easy to answer nature's call by wearing clothes that are quickly shed. Choose pants or skirts with a top or dresses instead of one-piece jumpsuits or overalls. When you're in a rush, the fewer fasteners, the better.
Pamper your feet and legs
Sitting anywhere for long periods of time can make your feet and ankles swell and your legs cramp. When you're driving, be sure to take breaks at least every hour and a half to stretch and walk around. If there's an empty seat next to you on a plane, train, or bus, put your feet up. When flying, take off your shoes, put on a pair of thick socks that you can walk around in, and elevate your legs by resting your feet on your carry-on luggage under the seat in front of you. Since your feet will probably swell whether or not you take off your shoes, wear comfortable footwear with expandable elastic panels, ties, or adjustable straps.
Pregnancy puts a strain on your circulation, which can leave you susceptible to thrombosis (the formation of blood clots) and varicose veins. Sitting for hours on a bus, train, or plane or in a car during pregnancy increases your risk of clots even more. Keep your blood circulating by strolling the aisle or getting out of the car every hour and doing some simple stretches every half hour. If you're sitting or standing, stretch your leg, heel first, and gently flex your foot to stretch your calf muscles. When you're sitting, rotate your ankles and wiggle your toes. If you're prone to varicose veins, wear maternity support panty hose, which relieve swelling and aching in your legs by compressing the veins to keep blood flowing.
For the traveling mom-to-be, nothing is more important than choosing comfortable, supportive footwear. The best shoes or sandals have a contoured footbed to help prevent aches and a thick, skid-resistant sole for good traction and to offer support for walking. Sneakers built for high-impact aerobic sports fit the bill; strappy high heels and mules don't. Bring an extra pair of shoes and blister pads, too, since even broken-in footwear can rub the wrong way.
Find out about vaccinations
It's best to find out about your immune status and then get any crucial vaccinations at least three months before getting pregnant. If you haven't, and you must travel to an area where serious disease is widespread, you and your healthcare provider will have to weigh the theoretical risk of the vaccine against the potential danger the disease poses to you and your baby. Generally speaking, pregnant women should avoid live vaccines such as those for varicella (chicken pox), and measles, mumps, rubella. Because live vaccines are made from live viruses, they could potentially infect you and your unborn baby with the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there's been no reported harm to a fetus from the accidental administration of these live vaccines, but information is limited, so it's still a risk that expectant moms shouldn't take.
Some other vaccines, such as those for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, and tetanus, are considered safe and are recommended for pregnant women who are at risk of getting these diseases. For more information, see The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) chart listing safe and unsafe vaccines.
The bottom line: If you have the option, don't travel during your pregnancy to countries where the threat of disease is high and a potentially risky shot becomes an issue. In many of these countries, the quality of local healthcare and the safety of food and water are often questionable as well.
Head off yeast infections
Pregnancy makes you susceptible to yeast infections, and they're even more likely to strike if you travel to hot, humid climates. (Fungal organisms thrive in warm, moist environments.) To discourage yeast infections, wear lightweight, loose-fitting, breathable clothing, including cotton underwear. Leave tight jeans and pants at home. After a swim, change out of your wet bathing suit as soon as you can. Before you leave, talk to your healthcare provider about bringing along an anti-fungal cream, just in case.
Steer clear of risky activities
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women avoid sports with a high likelihood of contact or falling. That means no snow skiing, waterskiing, surfing, horseback riding, or ice skating while you're on vacation. Scuba and other "pressurized" sports are also out since dangerous air bubbles can form in your bloodstream as you surface. Waterslides and many amusement park rides are risky as well, since a forceful landing and sudden starts and stops can harm your baby. Some studies show that raising your temperature during early pregnancy can increase the risk of birth defects, so you should avoid hot tubs, too.
That doesn't mean you should spend your vacation sitting on the sidelines. If you're a healthy woman who exercised before pregnancy, you can continue your fitness routine, depending on your fitness level, proficiency at a given sport, and how far along you are in your pregnancy. Plenty of activities are generally safe, such as walking (including moderate hiking at low altitudes), swimming in calm waters, riding a stationary bike or doing yoga at the hotel gym, and easy jogging (if you jogged before you were pregnant). Be sure to discuss your exercise plans with your heathcare provider, since some activities that might be okay early in pregnancy could put you at risk for falling later on, when your balance may be off. Also, women with high-risk pregnancies may be advised against exercise altogether.
A final note: Use your common sense. If you feel overtired, overheated, or just plain uncomfortable while exercising, slow down or stop.
