Have belly, will travel

If you're travelling by car

• Set a realistic travel itinerary for yourself. Your days of whizzing down the highway for hours at a time with not so much as a single bathroom break are a thing of the past -- at least for now. In fact, if you're like most pregnant women, you're likely to find yourself mapping out your route based on washroom availability -- the ultimate roadside attraction at this stage in your life.

• If your car has airbags, you'll want to make sure that there is at least a ten inch gap between your belly and the dash. (Hint: You may have to move your seat back a little if you're mega-pregnant.) And while we're talking positioning, here's something important to keep in mind if you're the driver: you should tilt the steering wheel downward so that it's far as possible from your belly to minimize the risk of injury to your baby in the event of a car accident.

• Wear your seatbelt. Your seatbelt should be fastened across your hips and underneath your belly (as opposed to across your belly). This will help to reduce the risk of injury to you and your baby in the event of an automobile accident. If the seatbelt has a shoulder belt, make sure that it is positioned between your breasts. (Hint: If the shoulder belt is chaffing your neck, try moving your seat back a little or purchasing a seatbelt pad. That usually does the trick.)

If you're travelling by plane

• Make sure you're clear about airline policies concerning pregnant travellers before you book your flight. Policies vary from airline to airline, but most carriers require some sort of doctor's certificate from any pregnant woman who is travelling during the mid- to late third trimester.

• If you're heading to exotic locales, make sure that any immunizations that are required can be safely administered during pregnancy. It's best to avoid live vaccines and certain other types of vaccines during pregnancy.

• Get out of your seat and move around whenever the opportunity presents itself. This will help to minimize leg cramps and ankle swelling. (Don't worry about setting the alarm on your watch to remind yourself to do this: your bladder will encourage you to make washroom treks on a regular basis!) If you end up being confined to your seat for a prolonged period of time, do calf stretches or rotate your ankles -- whatever you can reasonably do to stretch your legs while you're stuck in one spot.

• If you're prone to varicose veins, you might want to pick up a pair of support hose (vascular tightening stockings) from your local medical supply store before you hop on board the plane. Flying increases your risk of developing varicose veins.

Above all, have fun and enjoy your trip. Bon voyage!