What can you do to ensure a more comfortable flight? Take these precautions:
- Avoid sitting in a cramped position for extended periods oftime to help prevent swelling of the legs and blood clots—an occasional complication of pregnancy, due in part, to hormonal changes.
- Request an aisle seat and spend about 15 minutes each hour walking around the cabin, when airline personnel indicate it is safe to do so.
- Prior to flying, avoid foods that produce intestinal gas. Expansion of intestinal gas in flight can be particularly uncomfortable during pregnancy. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration caused by low humidity in the aircraft.
How can you make car travel safe and comfortable? As with air travel, long hours of sitting can leave an expectant woman with a backache and swollen ankles and feet, and at increased risk of blood clots. You can avoid these problems by stopping and walking around at least every two hours. It’s best to plan a leisurely trip without too many hours of driving in one day because travel during pregnancy tends to be more tiring.
It is especially important that you wear a seat belt. The leading cause of death in pregnancy has nothing to do with pregnancy complications—it is automobile accidents. To protect your self and your growing baby, position the lap belt below your abdomen, as low as possible on your hips, and fasten the shoulder harness above the uterus.
