Pregnancy doesn't exclude you from being able to travel. However, if you are pregnant and needing to leave your town for any reason, talking it over with your doctor is the very first step. Then, of course, you should keep your medical records on you just in case. Taking precautions doesn't mean that you fear something will happen in your travels, you're just preparing yourself for anything that could potentially happen. Better safe, than sorry, right? Here are five tips for your pregnant travels.

1. Hydrate: We all need water to survive and when you're carrying life, it's important to keep yourself well-hydrated. Always keep a bottle of water handy. You're pregnant, so you get dehydrated more often than others. If you have your water with you, you can prevent yourself from becoming ill.

2. Snack stash: You're eating for two now, so you have to keep some type of food on hand. You never know when your baby is hungry, even if you aren't. It's important for pregnant women to eat often and nutritiously. Fast food and pregnancy don't go well together, so for both airline and car trips, you should plan to stock up on healthy faves like fruits, nuts, veggies and maybe even a little cheese before you set off on your travels.

3. Move: Blood clots are a common problem when pregnant women sit for a long period of time. If you're flying, once the captain clears you to unbutton your seatbelt, use that time to get up and move about a bit. If you're traveling by car, make sure upon various stops that you get up, get out and walk around. Any other type of ground travel, leave your seat and get your legs moving!

4. Dress comfy: Not many pregnant women wear tight clothes, but it is important to dress loosely to promote better mobility and, of course, increased comfort. This also applies to your choice in footwear. You need to be prepared for foot swelling. Lace up sneakers are ideal because you will be able to accommodate for any possible swelling and decreasing of swelling that may occur. In the winter, dress in layers. It allows you to be warm, but then if you get hot, you can take layers off.

5. Let it be known: If you're traveling by plane, train or bus, make sure you let the staff know that you are expecting. They will make it their priority to ensure your safety and comfort. Also, if something were to go wrong, they would be more apt to deal with the problem, knowing you're pregnant.

Posted in: Travel Tips
Features: Casual, Day Trips, Family Friendly, Health & Wellness