I’ve taken four flights so far during pregnancy and think I’ve finally taken my last one here in the mid-to-end of my second trimester. You can normally fly up until 36 weeks, but I personally didn’t feel like I needed to be flying that late in my pregnancy so decided to try to fit in my flying earlier. I felt like I’d get too uncomfortable further in and luckily didn’t have anywhere I needed to go. But even in my second trimester, flying was a bit uncomfortable so I decided to do a post dedicated to my pregnant flying tips for anyone gearing up for their first pregnant flight!
PS – if you do plan to fly later in pregnancy, I recommend this article by TPG.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do during pregnancy and it’s extra important on a plane because flying causes dehydration. Be sure to pack a reusable water bottle in your carry-on and fill it up before you board. If you forget to do it, just bite the bullet and buy an expensive bottle at the airport, you’ll be grateful later. Also, don’t be shy – ask the stewardess/steward for a full bottle and/or can of water when they take drink orders so that you can keep refilling your cup or just ask for seconds :).
I normally opt for bubbly water on flights but personally felt like just plain water was better for me during pregnancy.
Pack Snacks
In addition to making sure to hydrate, be sure to pack snacks you like. Almost all flights include a snack of some sort but you never know if your pregnant self is going to like what’s being served or if you’ll need something extra.
Read Medication Labels
Be sure to check labels and confirm that your normal flying routine is still ok when you are expecting. Read the labels, consult with your doctor and decide what’s right for you before a flight.
I have a slew of habits that I stick to when I fly, my four favorites are using MegaHydrate (promotes hydration), Skullcap (helps you sleep), Emergen-c (boosts immune system) and No Jet Lag (the name says it all). Before my first pregnant flight, I looked up each of these to see what is ok to take during pregnancy. I couldn’t find information on Megahydrate, Skullcap was “best avoided due to lack of research”, Emergen-c was recommended to be double-checked with health care provider before use and No Jet Lag seemed to be ok to continue as usual. I was really glad I did the research before my first flight so I knew what habits I felt like I could continue.
Choose Your Seat Wisely
Think about where you are sitting on the plane, personally, I like the window seat normally but during pregnancy, I loved sitting on the aisle. It’s nice to have a little extra room and easy access to the restroom.
Get Up and Move
When you are pregnant, you are more susceptible to blood clots so it is extra important to get up and move during the flight. I found that on the loner flights I was getting up fairly regularly to use the bathroom but I also tried to do a few ankle/shoulder rolls at my seat. During layovers, I took long walks through the terminal and tried to have active days outside of my airport time.
Support Your Back
I was very grateful that I always pack a sweater on a plane because I actually used mine for back support on the longer flights. You can also buy something specifically for this if you are really on top of things and think about it before your flight.
Research for Future You
I loved watching how family boarding works and even felt comfortable chatting with parents traveling with infants to get their travel tips for my future self. I took notes about what they traveled with and asked what brands they found had been best for travel gear. Always a planner, it made me feel good to be on top of research for my future self.
Has anyone else been flying during pregnancy? What are your tips for a successful flight? Let us know in the comments!