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For baby and
you...
Keep hydrated.
Take a big bottle of water (16-24 oz.) with you on the
plane. Also, with many airlines cutting back on the
food and snack service they provide, it's important
to take along a lot of healthy snacks. Good ones are
bagels, dried fruit, popcorn (unsalted) and pretzels.
(Source: Kathy Loebel, Advisory Panel, Pregnancy
Today)
Wrong place, wrong time...
Should you go into labor on a plane, depending on how
long the flight is, you may ask for an emergency landing.
After you've landed, ask to be taken to a level three
hospital, or tertiary center, with OB services. And,
if you go into labor while staying at a hotel, your
concierge should have the name of the closest tertiary
center with OB services.
(Source: Kathy Loebel, Advisory Panel, Pregnancy
Today)
Bathroom breaks...
Pregnant women who fly might want to reserve an aisle
seat, since they will need to get up to use the bathroom
and to walk around much more often than normal.
Buckle Up...
On a car trip, [or during a flight] it is, of course,
vital to wear a seat belt and pregnant women should
feel absolutely no fear that this will constrict the
fetus.
Not All Diarrhea Medicines
Are Equal...
Traveler's Diarrhea is a common stomach problem that
occurs to travelers in foreign countries. It is not
life-threatening, but can be very uncomfortable and
inconvenient. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) recommends: "It is best to consult a physician
rather than attempt self-medication, especially for
pregnant women and children." Many over-the-counter
diarrhea medicines are not recommended for pregnant
women. So check! check! check!
Pregnant Yes...Alcohol No...
Since drinking alcohol is an accepted and expected part
of many peoples' vacations, pregnant women must be prepared
to be firm and refuse drinks, even if they are guests
in a local's house.
Avoid Skiing Holidays...
Pregnant women should maintain the same level of fitness
as before pregnancy, on vacation as well. If you were
a hiker or swimmer before becoming pregnant, these activities
are perfectly safe as long as over-exertion is avoided.
Downhill skiing is not advisable, though.
Editor's Note:
Elisa All is the editor of both Pregnancy Today, the
magazine as well as http://pregnancytoday.com,
a wonderful Internet resource for moms-to-be. Elisa
graciously contributed the above tidbits from her site
as well as excerpts from a recently published article
entitled, "Have Tummy Will Travel." |