Congratulations! You’re expecting! But what about all those travel plans you made? No worries! Traveling while pregnant is perfectly fine. But to make it easier and more comfortable on you, we have gathered the best tips for traveling with a bun in the oven on your babymoon.
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10 Easy Tips for Traveling With a Bun in the Oven
1. Make sure you don’t sit for too long
The further along you are, the harder sitting for long periods of time will be on your back and hips and the more you are at risk for blood clots (more on that in just a sec!). Train travel is perfect for this! You can get up any time without worrying of the turbulence of a flight, or looking for a rest stop when driving. If you do go on a long flight, and your little one has discovered the fun of dancing on your bladder, you probably want to pick the aisle seat so you can get up often without bugging your seat neighbor.
2. Stay hydrated
While staying hydrated is important for everyone at any time, it is even more important when traveling with a bun in the oven. You need the extra liquids to form amniotic fluid, produce extra blood, build new tissue, carry nutrients, enhance digestion, and flush out wastes and toxins. Also, drinking more will cause you to have to go to the bathroom more often, and you won’t forget to get up and move around regularly to prevent back pain. On that note, make sure you always know the location of the closest bathroom, you’ll be using it a lot more than when you are not pregnant!
3. Wear compression socks
Compression socks are known to prevent blood clots from forming and blood from pooling. As your uterus grows, it puts more pressure on your veins, which in turn makes you more susceptible to blood clots, even when you aren’t traveling. Compression socks also prevent swelling in your lower legs and feet, and improve circulation. Swelling in the calves and ankles can occur during pregnancy, and be even more pronounced when traveling.
4. Make sure to take steps to prevent swelling
You may not be able to wear compression socks on a day to day basis, or for a longer time when traveling with a bun in the oven. But there are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of swelling in the first place. Because once your poor legs become the size of an elephant trunk, you won’t be having a whole lot of fun exploring your destination!
- Reduce caffeine intake
- Reduce sodium intake
- Increase potassium intake
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
- Wear comfy clothes that are not too tight
- Elevate and rest
5. Do foot and ankle exercises
Improving blood circulation in your legs can be very helpful, especially during your last trimester. It doesn’t just help reduce extra fluid in your lower extremities, it also help carry extra nutrients to the little one. Win win! One super easy exercise is to write the alphabet in the air with your toes. This generally increases toe and ankle mobility, and ease muscle and tendon tension on the top of the foot, not just when you are traveling with a bun in the oven.
6. Eat regular, nutritionally balanced meals and snacks
That seems logical and obvious, but traveling to a new city, or even a new country, can upend your meal plan completely. It’s crucial that you and your little one are well taken care of, so if you can, bring snacks when traveling with a bun in the oven and do some research on options that are available at your destination. This is also important in case you have certain cravings for foods that may not be widely available. A note of caution: stay away from all unfamiliar foods. You don’t know how your body will react to it, or if you possibly even have an allergy you don’t know about. Stick with what you know and keep mommy and baby safe!
7. Plan rest stops
You have arrived in this wonderful new place, and now all you want to do is go out there and see absolutely everything! But be careful and don’t overdo it. Even fun activities can lead to stress, which is not at all helpful for you or your baby. Instead of participating in tours, plan your own activities. This ensures that you can rest whenever necessary and don’t have to keep up with a group on not-so-pregnant people. If temperatures soar, carry a mini portable fan to keep you cool, and use an umbrella to protect yourself from the sun when traveling with a bun in the oven.
8. Take extra precautions to stay healthy
Wherever you travel to, you should always research the current condition and possible health risks, no matter if you are traveling with a bun in the oven or not. But if you do have a little one on the way, be super extra careful to prevent harm from you and the little nugget. Some things to do would be wear a mask in places that are crowded, and indoors when strangers are around. If you notice sick people nearby, leave immediately. Practice good hygiene, such as washing your hands often, always with soap and for 20 seconds. If that’s not always possible, carry hand sanitizer wherever you go. If advisable during pregnancy, get all relevant vaccinations. Last but not least, continue to take all your vitamins, supplements, and prescription medications and make sure you get enough sleep. Traveling with a bun in the oven requires some extra care and precautions, but it’s easy to do and fun!
9. Bring a Boppy Total Body Pregnancy Pillow
Talking about sleep – that belly will get in the way at some point, and you need to find the most comfortable way to sleep at night. You can use the boppy pillow to prop up your growing tummy, which will prevent pain in the hips and lower back. The good news is, this pillow will still be your trusty friends until long after you give birth, thanks to its multiple uses for the baby. So – if you have a way to pack a boppy pillow when traveling with a bun in the oven, don’t hesitate to pack it!
10. Have an emergency plan
Do some research on the health care system if you are traveling with a bun in the oven, and your destination is a foreign country. Find out where the closest doctor and hospital is. Even with all the precautions you never know, and in an emergency every minute counts, and there is no time to waste to look up that information. In another country, make sure you know the emergency numbers to call as well. Make sure you have a way of talking to emergency personnel, in case you don’t speak the local language. Also, always carry copies of all your medical records regarding the pregnancy with you. Should something happen this will save valuable time.
These are out top 10 tips for traveling with a bun in the oven! Enjoy your time until your little one makes its entrance into this world. And after that, make sure to check out our fabulous articles about traveling with kids, especially these 8 easy travel tips for parents!
Jenny grew up in Germany. All she ever wanted out of life was to leave and have adventures. Jenny always traveled as much as the budget would allow, and when she met her husband traveling became a full-time thing. You can follow Jenny on her blog and Facebook.
