Today we have a guest writer Angela Njehia, an expectant first time mom who is just a few weeks to her due date. Angela loves traveling around Kenya, and writes a travel blog called Her World, where she shares her travel adventures with the world.
Angela offers travel tips for pregnant women, as shared on her blog. At the end of the tips, she gives us a brief insight into her pregnancy journey so far.
It is common fact to any pregnant woman, that so long as there are no known pregnancy complications, travel during your pregnancy is safe during all trimesters. However pregnant woman travel is usually recommended during the second trimester. Morning sickness is less of an issue than in your first trimester and you are more likely to suffer from fatigue in the third trimester. Here are some great tips for safe and relaxed travel:
- If you are traveling by airplane, experts recommend asking for an aisle seat. This is beneficial because it allows you getting up every 30 minutes to walk and stretch, and drinking plenty of water. Please note that after 36 weeks many doctors and airlines restrict pregnant women from flying.
- If you are traveling by car, do not turn the airbags off. It has been contended that the benefits of an airbag outweigh the risks to a pregnant woman and her baby.
- When planning your itinerary, make sure to schedule time for rest, bathroom breaks, and stretching. Stretching will lessen the risk of blood clots and reduce swelling in your legs and feet.
- Whether traveling by car, bus, or train, try to limit actual travel time to blocks of no longer than 5 or 6 hours.
- If you are traveling long distances or for a long length of time, be sure to get a copy of your prenatal records and carry them with you in case of an emergency.
- If you are traveling to a foreign country, take caution when eating fruits and vegetables, milk, water, and meat, as traveler’s diarrhea is common and could lead to dehydration. Stay away from raw fruits and vegetables. Drink bottled water and only drink milk that has been pasteurized. Make sure all meat and seafood is cooked thoroughly.
- If you are traveling to a country which requires immunizations before entering, avoid travel to that country or talk with your doctor first if you cannot avoid it.
- Take time to eat. It is recommended that a continuance of eating a balanced and healthy diet during your trip is necessary in order to boost your energy. They also recommend getting plenty of fibre since constipation is common during travel.
- When wearing your safety belt in a car, always wear the lap and shoulder belt. Never wear the lap belt across your belly. Instead, buckle the lap belt low on your hipbones, below your belly.
- Before you travel, locate the nearest hospital or doctor’s office where you are visiting
And here is a little info on my pregnancy journey:
When I first discovered I was pregnant, my first reaction was to cry and then laugh, then I knelt down to pray, then of course I called my whole family to inform them. In the beginning I expected to have what people refer to as “the pregnancy glow” but in real sense, other people see it but you neither feel it nor see it. Pregnancy is much tougher than what we see on TV or what celebrities make it look like! Tiredness, nausea, dizziness, mood swings, and the list is endless…. let’s just say I have come to respect mothers in a whole different level, and especially my mother! Having three children isn’t a joke! I’m now a few weeks to my expected due date (EDD) and all I can do is pray, pray and pray! But after all is said and done, I cannot wait for that moment that I will hold my bundle of joy in my arms…..I believe it is the greatest joy, that any woman could ever feel” 
We wish Angela all the best as she prepares to become a new mom.
Do you have a motherhood story you’d like to share? Or do you have any feedback on the stories here at Mummy Tales? Email me on maryanne@mummytales.com
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Thanks for having us, we hope the tips are helpful to those pregnant mamas traveling. 🙂