Travel
Seat Belt
Is it safe to use a seat belt during pregnancy?
Yes. It’s dangerous not to. Research has repeatedly shown that the best way to protect your growing baby is to protect yourself by wearing a properly positioned safety belt every time you’re in a car or truck.
To avoid injuring yourself and your baby, the seat belt must be properly fastened. The seat belt should be a three-point restraint (that means it should have a lap strap and a shoulder strap).
Secure the lap belt under your belly, low and snug on your hipbones. Never wear the belt across or above your belly. During a crash, the sudden jolt from a belt in this position could cause the placenta to tear away from the uterus or cause other injuries.
If you’re wearing a winter coat or heavy sweater that makes the seat belt slide up on your belly, consider removing your outerwear once it’s warm inside the car.
Always use the shoulder belt, too, which should fit snugly between your breasts and off to the side of your belly. If the shoulder belt cuts across your neck, reposition your seat or the belt so it fits better. Do not place the shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.
There are now seat belt positioning devices being sold for use in pregnancy, but I would warn against their use. There are no safety standards for any of these devices, and—by respositioning the seat belt or how it functions—they may put you in an unsafe situation in the event of a crash.
Air bags offer additional protection. However, air bags do not replace the need to wear your seat belt. (In fact, an air bag can be dangerous if it opens and you’re not securely buckled up.)
When you’re driving, adjust the front seat so it’s as far away as possible from the steering wheel and dashboard while still allowing you to reach the pedals comfortably. If your steering wheel is adjustable, aim it up and away from your stomach. That way, the air bag will deploy toward your chest, not your belly.
Whether or not you’re pregnant, the safest place for you to sit as a passenger is in the back seat. Where a mother sits has not been shown to affect the safety of an unborn baby in a crash, but injuries from car crashes tend to be less serious to people who are sitting in the back seat. Again, buckle up in a three-point belt.
By the way, if you’re in a car accident – even a minor one – see your healthcare provider as soon as possible after the crash. Although you may feel just fine, it’s important to make sure both you and your baby are unharmed.
Airplane Cabin Pressure
Is airplane cabin pressure safe during pregnancy?
Yes, if you’re flying in a commercial airplane. As long as you’re healthy and both your doctor and the airline approve air travel at your stage of pregnancy, the pressure should not be a problem for you or your baby.
The cabins of commercial airplanes are pressurized to ensure passenger comfort. The air pressure is actually lower in the airplane than it is on the ground at sea level, so there’s a bit less oxygen. It’s comparable to breathing in a higher altitude city like Denver (5,280 feet above sea level) or Mexico City (at 7,382 feet).
The change in oxygen level is far too small to affect the tissue or fluid surrounding your baby. But it will cause physiological changes that help to make sure you and your baby are getting enough oxygen. These include higher blood pressure and heart rate.
In contrast, flying in the unpressurized airplane cabin of small, noncommercial planes – which may fly higher than 8,000 feet – is not a good idea, especially during the latter part of pregnancy. The change in air pressure is of little risk, but the reduced oxygen at high altitudes is more serious and can affect your baby. Many people feel lightheaded or short of breath at elevations above 8,000 feet.
Finally, if you suffer from any condition that may reduce the oxygen content in your blood (such as severe sickle cell anemia), or if you’re prone to forming blood clots or placental insufficiency, it’s best not to fly in any kind of plane until you’ve checked with your doctor.
Airport Screening Machines
Is it safe to walk through airport screening machines while i am pregnant?
Yes. Airport detectors may use a magnetic field, extremely low-energy radio waves, or minute doses of X-rays to screen passengers for unsafe objects. The amount of energy associated with each of these exposures is much too low to be harmful to you or your developing baby.
Metal detectors use low-intensity magnetic fields to detect metallic objects. The magnetic field of a refrigerator magnet is more than ten times stronger than the field of a walk-through metal detector and more than 600 times stronger than that of a hand-held metal detector.
New scanners at airports bounce low-energy radio waves off travelers to detect hidden objects. Radio waves are a form of electromagnetic energy similar to visible light but with much less energy per individual unit.
These radio wave scanners have replaced the backscatter units that were removed from U.S. airports in 2013 due to privacy concerns. Backscatter machines have also been removed from airports in Europe and many other places, but you might still come across one in some countries.
Backscatter scanners use very low-dose X-rays. A dose of radiation can be expressed in microsieverts. It takes about 500,000 microsieverts to harm a developing baby. Backscatter units result in a radiation exposure of less than 1 microsieverts, which is far too low to cause damage to you or your child.
Flying in the Third Trimester
Is it safe to fly while i am pregnant?
Yes, except for very late in your pregnancy or if you have certain pregnancy complications. In any case, it’s a good idea to discuss your travel plans with your doctor or midwife before you book your flight.
There are some situations in which it’s definitely not safe to fly, such as if you:
have signs of possible miscarriage, such as cramping, pain, or bleeding
have cervical insufficiency (incompetent cervix)
have preeclampsia
are under observation for preterm labor
have premature rupture of membranes (PROM), which means you’re leaking amniotic fluid or your water has broken but are not yet in labor
Your practitioner may also recommend against flying if you:
are carrying twins or higher multiples after 28 weeks
have intrauterine growth restriction
have a history of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy
have placenta previa or another placental abnormality
have any chronic medical condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, that’s not well-controlled
have a history of blood clots — talk with your primary care physician before considering any long trips if you are in this category
Finally, it’s best not to fly during your final month, when the possibility of going into labor is greater.
If you’re planning to fly during your third trimester, check with the airline before booking to find out whether and how you need to provide documentation from your practitioner that you’re cleared to fly.
If you’re travelling someplace unfamiliar, ask your midwife or obstetrician to help you find a provider at your destination in case you need medical attention during your vacation. Carry a complete list of emergency contacts and, if you’re in your second or third trimester, a copy of your prenatal chart as well.
As long as you’re healthy and have no obstetric problems, you and your baby should have no trouble in the pressurized cabin of a commercial airliner. And you don’t need to worry about screening machines at airport security: The radiation exposure you’ll be exposed to is much too low to be harmful to you or your developing baby.
During the flight, here are some things you can do to make yourself safer and more comfortable:
For the smoothest ride, request a seat in the middle of the plane over the wing.
For more legroom, try to get a seat in the bulkhead or pay for an upgrade. Stretch your legs and flex your feet as often as possible to minimize swelling.
Choose an aisle seat so you can get up easily to go to the bathroom or just walk around and stretch—which you should do at least once an hour. That’s because pregnant women who sit still for long periods are at increased risk of developing blood clots.
Wearing maternity support panty hose (not knee-highs) can also help you avoid clots since they help keep the blood moving in your legs.
Keep your seatbelt fastened—under your belly and low on your hips—whenever you’re seated.
Drink lots of fluids (especially water) to prevent the dehydrating effects of dry cabin air.
Take frequent trips to the restroom, especially near the end of the flight. You don’t want to be stuck in your seat with a full bladder during the time it takes to land and taxi to the gate.
Avoid gas-producing foods and beverages (before takeoff as well). The trapped gas from things like cabbage, beans, and carbonated drinks expands at higher altitude, making for an uncomfortable trip.
If you’re prone to nausea, ask your practitioner if you can take prescription anti-nausea medication.
High Altitude
Is it safe to vacation a high altitude during pregnant?
It depends on the location and how you respond.
At high altitudes, less oxygen is available to you, which means you’ll tire more easily. It also means your baby will get less oxygen, which can negatively affect growth and development.
To be safe, avoid staying at altitudes at or higher than 8,500 feet above sea level for more than a few days. (Denver is 5,280 feet above sea level and would probably be fine, for example; but Pikes Peak, at more than 14,000 feet above sea level, might not be safe.)
Women respond differently to high altitudes during pregnancy. If you feel dizzy, lightheaded, are huffing and puffing, or have headaches, you can assume your baby is probably not getting enough oxygen, either. If this happens to you (even at altitudes below 8,500 feet), hop in the car and drive to a lower altitude. And if you still don’t feel well after you descend, seek medical care.
Some pregnant women should be especially careful when traveling to high altitude locations. If you have hypertension, preeclampsia, or any other high-risk pregnancy condition, high altitudes may make your condition worse. Talk with your healthcare provider before making travel plans.
As for women who live at high altitudes (8,500 feet and higher), they adjust to the “thinner” air, but their babies do tend to be smaller than babies born at lower altitudes. And although most of these babies are healthy, pregnant women living at higher altitudes are at greater risk of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, both of which raise the risk of serious complications during pregnancy and for their newborn babies.
Loud Music
Is it safe to be around loud music when i am pregnant?
Assuming you’re around loud music only occasionally, it’s probably not too dangerous for your baby’s hearing, but it’s still not recommended.
By the time you’re 22 weeks pregnant, your baby’s cochlea – the inner ear mechanism that houses all components of hearing – is fully formed. So your baby can hear what you hear, but not at the same level.
Sounds and voices are softer and more muffled, because your baby’s hearing is well protected by the muscles around your belly, the placenta, and the amniotic fluid. But each baby is different, and we don’t know what level of noise may cause damage, so it’s best not to risk it.
What’s more, loud music causes your body to produce stress hormones that can make your heart race, and that’s not good for your baby either.
Motion Sickness Medicine
Is it safe to take medication to combat motion sickness during pregnancy?
Stick to over-the-counter drugs that contain dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl). These appear to be low risk for pregnant women.
(There’s not enough data to completely rule out risk for most drugs in pregnancy, because few studies test drugs in human pregnancies.)
Avoid the prescription drug scopolamine (Scopace). It’s not dangerous for your baby, but it can cause side effects such as dizziness, tremors, fatigue, and confusion that would be uncomfortable for you.
It’s always a good idea to check all of the ingredients on the label and call your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medicine to make sure it’s safe for you and your baby.
Radiation on a Plane Flight
Will the radiation i am exposed to on an airplane flight harm my unborn baby?
“Radiation” is a terrifying word to expectant mothers, so you’ll be glad to hear that plane travel is generally safe in this regard.
Whether we’re on land or in the air, we’re exposed every day to cosmic ionizing radiation, which emanates from the sun and other stars. On the ground, the Earth’s atmosphere offers some protection from the radiation. At high altitudes, the air is thinner and radiation levels are somewhat higher, but they’re not usually high enough to be of concern to the occasional traveler.
Radiation levels can be a lot higher, though, during solar flares — bursts of electromagnetic radiation caused by disturbances in the sun’s atmosphere. Fortunately, solar flares are rare and last only a short while.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posts solar radiation storm alerts on its Web site. Some experts recommend that pregnant women check the site before flying and consider postponing their trip a day or two if a storm is forecast.
Some experts think that cosmic radiation could pose a small risk to flight crews and frequent fliers, and there is ongoing research to assess these risks. In some countries, pregnant crew members are reassigned to low-altitude flights or given jobs on the ground for the duration of their pregnancies. But for infrequent air travelers, pregnant or not, the risk from cosmic ionizing radiation under normal solar conditions is considered negligible.
Travel to Developing Countries
Is it safe to travel to developing countries during pregnancy?
Travel in developing countries can be hazardous for anyone. If you’re considering this kind of trip while pregnant, here’s how to weigh the risks.
First, two blanket caveats. For general safety reasons, it’s best to avoid areas where political unrest is prevalent. And if you’re within three or four weeks of your due date or have pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or preterm labor, it’s recommended that you not travel by air.
If you’re having a normal pregnancy, there are two primary issues to consider when travelling to a developing area: What immunizations or other preventive treatments do you need? And what is the risk is of food- or water-borne illness in the area you’ll be visiting?
The traveler’s health page for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides excellent information about which vaccines are recommended for specific destinations. But you’ll need to talk to your doctor about which vaccines are safe for pregnant women and which ones aren’t.
In general, you want to avoid “attenuated-live” vaccines, which use a weakened form of the virus they’re designed to protect against, because there’s a slight risk that they can cause a mild form of the disease itself. Also, antimalarial drugs are recommended for travelers to some developing nations, but they’re not recommended for use by pregnant women.
As for contracting illnesses from the food or water, be aware that when you’re pregnant, you’re more susceptible to “traveler’s diarrhea” and other gastrointestinal problems that commonly arise in some developing areas. And if you do get sick, you can end up with a more severe, longer-lasting bout of the illness. (This is partly because pregnant women get dehydrated more quickly.)
In most cases a gastrointestinal infection won’t cause serious harm to you or your baby, but some foods (such as unpasteurized soft cheeses) can harbor bacteria that could be harmful. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website has excellent information about how to eat and drink safely during pregnancy. For example, it’s best to use only bottled water on your trip and avoid raw or undercooked food.
It’s important to remember, too, that some more remote areas don’t have the medical resources to adequately care for pregnant women, so consider staying in major cities.
One more thing to keep in mind if you’re travelling by air: If you’re going to be on the plane for more than a few hours, wear compression stockings and get up and mover around frequently. Prolonged sitting can increase the risk of getting blood clots in your legs (deep vein thrombosis), which you’re already at higher risk for when pregnant.
Traveling Alone
Is it safe to travel alone during pregnancy?
In most cases, yes.
Before you plan a trip, you’ll want to take into account the security situation in the country where you’re traveling as well as any diseases that are prevalent there and how easy it is to access good medical care.
You’re probably somewhat more likely to need unexpected medical care while pregnant, but the majority of women will get through their pregnancies without any emergencies.
If your pregnancy is high-risk or you have a serious medical condition, you’ll need to be more cautious. A quick call to your medical provider’s office can give you more guidance on your situation.
The equation also may change depending on whether you’re traveling alone in a remote areas or where no one speaks your language. A solo hike into the wilderness is not a great idea. But visiting family or traveling for work to a nearby city is not likely to be a problem.
Solo travel can be a great time to bond with the baby in your belly. You’re likely to have plenty of alone time with your little one. So if you do travel alone, take some time to share the special moments with your traveling partner.
Vaccines
Is it safe to get vaccinated during pregnancy?
It depends on the type of vaccine you’re considering. Doctors recommend that pregnant women not get vaccines that use live, attenuated (weakened) viruses, such as the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and chicken pox vaccines. But they strongly recommend that moms-to be do get these two: the flu (influenza) and Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis)vaccines.
Vaccines not recommended during pregnancy
Theoretically, the MMR vaccine could lead to a rubella (German measles) infection in a pregnant woman, but studies to date show the real risk to be nonexistent.
Coming down with rubella (German measles) during pregnancy is known to cause mental retardation, deafness, eye problems, and heart defects in babies. But many women have received the MMR vaccine while pregnant and delivered healthy babies. If you got the MMR in the early weeks of your pregnancy before you knew you were carrying a child, keep in mind that the risk for birth defects is purely theoretical and has never been found to be real.
The measles and mumps parts of the MMR vaccine are also live, attenuated viruses. While some studies have shown that the infections can raise the risk of birth defects, this has not been proven. There’s also some concern about a possible link between these infections and miscarriage. Again, the risk of contracting either measles or mumps from a vaccine is theoretical.
The chicken pox vaccine is also made from live, attenuated virus so it’s best to avoid it during pregnancy. However, contracting chicken pox now can itself be dangerous for your baby. If you’ve never had the illness, see our article for steps to take to protect you and your baby.
Vaccines recommended during pregnancy
Two vaccines are specifically recommended for pregnant women: the flu (influenza) vaccine, which should be given during the first or second trimester of pregnancy; and the Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis) vaccine, given when you’re 27 to 36 weeks pregnant to guard against whooping cough (aka pertussis). Both have excellent safety records.
The flu vaccine is recommended because pregnant women are seven times more likely to come down with a severe and even fatal case of the flu than women of the same age who aren’t pregnant.
The Tdap vaccine vaccine is recommended during pregnancy – even if you’ve had the shot before pregnancy. If you get the shot between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, your body produces pertussis antibodies that you can pass on through the placenta to your unborn child.
Antibodies from moms save babies who are too young to get the vaccine. Every year in the United States, between 20 and 30 babies die from whooping cough, almost all of them younger than 2 months – the age at which babies receive their first Tdap shot.
Vaccines for Travel
Is it safe to get vaccines for travel while i am pregnant?
It depends on the type of vaccine.
To play it safe, pregnant women should avoid live vaccines such as those for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chicken pox). Because these vaccines are made from live viruses, they could potentially infect you and your unborn baby with the disease.
The Centers for Disease Control has received no reports of harm to babies whose mothers have accidentally gotten live vaccines. But information is limited, so it’s still a risk that expectant moms shouldn’t take. If you need a live vaccine, you’ll want to get it at least one month before you get pregnant.
One exception to avoiding live vaccines during pregnancy is the yellow fever vaccine. For most women, the risks of exposure to the yellow fever virus (a threat in some areas of the world) are thought to outweigh the risks of vaccination during pregnancy.
Some other vaccines, such as those for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and tetanus, are safe and recommended for pregnant women who are at risk of getting these diseases. And there are two vaccines that you definitely should get during pregnancy: the Tdap (whooping cough) and the influenza vaccine (flu shot). Both are recommended for pregnant women, whether or not they’re traveling.
The Tdap is recommended during each pregnancy to pass protection against pertussis (whooping cough) on to your baby. And the flu shot is recommended each year for all women who will be pregnant during flu season. (The nasal-spray flu vaccine, however, contains live virus and should not be taken during pregnancy.)
Talk with your healthcare provider at least a month before you travel internationally about any vaccines you might need. You’ll want your routine immunizations up to date, and you’ll want to learn about any region-specific diseases, too. There are many vaccine-preventable diseases that — while not common in the United States — are still prevalent in other parts of the world.
If you haven’t been vaccinated and you must travel to an area where serious disease is widespread, you and your healthcare provider will have to weigh the theoretical risk of a particular vaccine against the potential danger the disease poses to you and your baby.
The CDC provides the latest information about which countries require vaccinations and which diseases currently pose a threat in a particular area. Some countries require a vaccination certificate even if the disease is not currently a problem. (In some cases, this certificate can be waived.)
The bottom line: Whether you’re planning a trip or not, it’s best to find out about your immunization status and get necessary vaccinations at least one month before getting pregnant. If you have the option, don’t travel during your pregnancy to countries where the threat of disease is high and a potentially risky shot becomes an issue.
Bumper Cars
Is it safe to ride the bumper cars at an amusement park when i am pregnant?
No. As the name suggests, bumper cars bump you around quite a bit. When you collide with other bumper cars, your belly can bang against the steering wheel or other parts of the car, as in a motor vehicle crash. This trauma can cause bleeding or placental abruption (separation of the placenta from your uterus), and that’s dangerous for you and your baby.