Planning to take your belly on the road? Here are some tips on staying comfortable whether you're travelling by plane, train, or car.
Before you leave home
• Discuss your travel plans with your doctor or midwife. If you're experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or your due date is fast approaching, your caregiver may want you to stay relatively close to home (e.g. within a three hour drive) in case some complications arise or your baby decides to make an unscheduled early arrival. Even if your caregiver gives you the go-ahead to venture a little farther a field, she may want you to take a copy of your prenatal record with you. That way, if you unexpectedly run into complications while you're travelling, the doctor on call at whatever hospital or clinic you end up visiting will have the lowdown on your medical and obstetrical history.
• Make sure that your health coverage is adequate if you will be travelling out of province or out of country. Most health insurance policies for travellers do not apply to women who are more than seven months pregnant, so be sure to let your travel agent know about your pregnancy when you're purchasing such coverage.
• Dress in layers of comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. As your prenatal instructor no doubt told you, the hormonal changes of pregnancy cause your body temperature to shoot up while you're pregnant. If you make the mistake of hopping on board an airplane wearing a long-sleeved wool dress, you won't have the option of removing a layer or two if you become overheated (unless, of course, you intend to carry your entire maternity wardrobe in your carry-on luggage or you're willing to pull a Demi Moore at 20,000 feet).
• Pack some healthy snacks to enjoy while you're on the road. Rather than having to rely on french fries and other fast foods while you're travelling -- not exactly the most stomach-friendly cuisine if your world is being rocked by morning sickness! -- you may prefer to eat fresh fruit, granola bars, and healthier (and less nauseating) foods instead. And don't forget to tote along a purse-sized bottle of water if you're going to be travelling by plane: you'll want to have your own ready supply of water on hand to counter the dehydrating effects of air travel just in case the beverage cart doesn't make it down the aisle as quickly as you might like.
• Bring a small pillow or rolled-up towel with you. Placing it in the small of your back will help to reduce the amount of back discomfort you experience as a result of sitting in one position for prolonged periods of time.
