After several weeks of nausea, sickness & tiredness, many mums-to-be find the second trimester of pregnancy a breeze…..and should definitely make the most of these blissful months!
A well deserved rest is in order before the next 18 years of your life are taken over and will never be the same again! Unfortunately, many first time mums-to-be are hesitant about venturing out and doing anything half strenuous as the constant worries lie in the back of the mind.
However, the second trimester is the perfect time to treat yourself and to make the most of your time together. Book yourselves a relaxing break away, somewhere beautiful and warm where you need do nothing more than put your feet up and be waited on hand and foot!
To ease those concerns every expectant mother has, here are some essential travel tips to alleviate even the smallest of worries:
- Flying during pregnancy can slightly increase the risk of thrombosis (blood clots) and varicose veins. The best tip for all pregnant travellers is to wear support stockings when you fly to keep your circulation flowing and relieve swollen veins.
- If you’re lucky enough to be heading somewhere exotic, sitting for a long period of time can make your feet and ankles swell and your legs cramp. To help keep your blood circulating, stroll up and down the aisle and try some simple stretches to decrease the chances of swelling.
- For extra comfort during your flight, request an isle seat, providing you with more room to stretch your legs and giving you that extra freedom to move about.
- Rules on an aircraft must be followed and just because you’re expecting, doesn’t mean you have your own set of rules. The strictest on a flight is wearing your seatbelt. For extra safety for both you and bump, fasten the lap belt under your abdomen and across the top of your thighs.
- For a smoother ride, choose a seat situated to the front of the aircraft. You may experience less turbulence and a smoother touch down.
After landing safely, disembarking slowly and letting the hubby retrieve your cases, head for your transfer and pump up the air conditioning! You’ll feel the strain of the heat somewhat more than usual but as long as you keep the two of you well hydrated, you’ll be fine.
There are a few factors which you may want to consider to help keep both mum and baby happy, safe and well while away.
- Take advantage of your hotels breakfast buffet, it’ll set you up for the day and will provide plenty of energy to keep you going. Hotel breakfasts usually offer fruit, yoghurts, fresh breads and wholegrain cereals which not only taste great but are nutritionally top-notch.
- If you have any doubts about the standard of cleanliness in the country you’re visiting, avoid eating salads, ice-creams and ice cubes in drinks.
- It’s not good for mum or baby to get too hot, so take lots of shade-breaks as well as dips in the pool to keep you both cool and refreshed.
- During pregnancy your skin is more sensitive and prone to going darker in the sun as your melanocyte-stimulating hormone levels are higher than usual, therefore it is advisable that you wear plenty of high-factor sunscreen.
- Last but not least, if you’re fortunate enough to be staying at a plush hotel which offers its guests a gym, sauna and Jacuzzi facilities, think again! Although these may be tempting and look so very relaxing, you won’t be saying that if you overheat, your blood pressure drops rapidly and you feel extremely exhausted and dizzy!
So to conclude these travel tips, the best thing that any pregnant woman can do is to listen to your body, and by using common sense your holiday should go swimmingly!
Facebook
Twitter
Email 
