Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy one relaxing last holiday before the baby arrives. Although many expectant mums may be nervous about flying, if you take the right precautions you will be perfectly comfortable and safe. Follow our top five tips for flying when pregnant.
Speak to Your Doctor
Whatever stage you are at in your pregnancy, it is essential that you speak to your doctor before you leave. Ask them for a medical certificate that states you are safe to fly; although most airlines won’t ask you for one of these it is good to have one just in case of any difficulties at the airport.
Your doctor will also be able to give you advice on how to stay safe onboard and give you any medication that may help make your flights more enjoyable.
Staying Comfortable Onboard
Airplane seats are not renowned for being the most comfortable – particularly on long flights; therefore you need to find your own ways to stay comfortable onboard. When you’re checking in, request that you can have seats with extra space. The aisle seats are the most comfortable and it is much easier for you to get out and walk around if you need to. You’ll also find that you’ll have a much smoother ride if you are seated in the middle of the plane. Airlines will not allow you to sit in the emergency exit seats if you are pregnant.
Sitting down for long periods of time can be incredibly uncomfortable, even if you’re not pregnant. It is important that you regularly stand up and walk around to keep your circulation going. You should also do a few simple stretches every half hour or so as circulation problems are very common in pregnant women.
Dress Appropriately
What you wear can make a big difference to how you feel on your flight. Make sure that you wear loose clothing made from breathable fabrics – remember comfort comes before fashion when flying!
When you’re pregnant, your risk of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) is greatly heightened, so invest in a pair of DVT preventative in-flight socks. These are very inexpensive and you can buy them from most major airports.
Choose your Destination Carefully
If you are heavily pregnant or don’t feel comfortable sitting down for long periods of time, then you should be careful what destination you choose for your holiday.
There are plenty of places you can visit without having to endure long flights. Try to pick destinations that are close to home such as South-East Asia or even around Australia.
Another thing to take into consideration when choosing where you are going to go is what medical facilities there are available. Complications can happen at any stage of pregnancy so you want to feel safe knowing that you have access to adequate medical help should you require it. Make a note of local hospitals around where you’ll be staying before you leave.
Check Airline Restrictions
All airlines have restrictions on pregnant women flying with them. While some of them will let you fly very close to your due date, others are a lot stricter.
Before booking your flights make sure that you understand their restrictions and that you won’t find yourself being unable to fly. As we mentioned before, always ask your doctor for a medical certificate saying you are safe to fly no more than three days prior to your departure just in case they ask for it.
About the Author: Post by Richard Greenwood on behalf of Flight Centre. Richard has a love for travel which has taken him across much of Europe, USA, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Flight Centre is a leading travel agent in a range of countries including Australia, UK, Canada and offers cheap flights across the world and holiday packages to tropical destinations including Bali holiday packages.
