Going on vacation can be fun, but when you’re pregnant transportation can be a rather tricky business. Whether you’re going by boat, plane, or car, long trips can be uncomfortable for a pregnant woman, especially if you’re already starting to show.

To help you out, we’ve put together a few useful tips that you should keep in mind while you’re planning your trip.

Check the airline’s policy

If you need to travel somewhere while pregnant, note that the second trimester is considered to be the best time to fly. By that point, you’re more likely to be over morning sickness and your belly is not likely to be big enough to make moving around difficult. Some airlines prohibit travel for women who are more than 36 weeks pregnant.

Aside from that, many ferry companies may refuse to carry heavily pregnant women (32 weeks or more), so it’s important to double check with them before you get on board.

Pay a visit to your doc

Before you leave, don’t forget to schedule a checkup and get a green light from your doctor. Better safe than sorry, after all.

In addition, depending on how long your trip is going to be you might need to get some prenatal care at your destination. Before you leave, make sure to look up any appropriate doctors or medical facilities at your destination.

Stretch your legs

Sitting in one spot for too long can cause blood to pool in your legs, raising the risk of dangerous blood clots. Whether you’re traveling via car, boat, or plane, it’s important to get up and move around every hour or so to get your blood flowing. You might also want to consider wearing a pair of decompression stockings. These special stockings improve your circulation, preventing potentially dangerous blood clots from forming.

Pick a good seat

Unless you usually fly first class, air travel tends to be a little uncomfortable. To make the experience a little less unbearable, try booking an aisle seat instead of a window seat. This will make it easier for you to get in or out if you need to walk or use the toilet.

Apart from that, note that while bulkhead seats are more spacious compared to the normal seats, a seat over the wing will probably give you the smoothest ride.

Stay hydrated

While everyone should try to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, it’s especially important for pregnant women to stay hydrated. This is because if you get too dehydrated, it can affect the amniotic fluid and reduce the blood flow to the uterus.

When your body is pregnant, you tend to sweat more and pee more, which means that you need to drink more water during your journey to compensate. If you’re not sure whether or not the tap water is safe, stick to bottled water instead.

Be prepared

When you have confirmed your pregnancy with the accurate pregnancy test such as Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator, you can put the above-mentioned tips to work so that your pregnancy is smooth and safe during your travels.

Clearblue’s digital pregnancy test is over 99% accurate from the day of the expected period, so you will proceed with your plans (and gynae visit) in total confidence!