Travel during pregnancy shouldn't be problematic providing you follow the advice in this article and plan well in advance. Consider the stage of your pregnancy, any issues or problems your doctor has indicated and your own physical and emotional condition so that you ensure your baby and you remain healthy.

Also, talk to your doctor about visits or tests you need to schedule, so that you are not away during the time these are to take place. These can include Rh immunoglobulin injections (for Rh negative blood types), ultrasounds, glucose screening tests and regular prenatal, physician visits.

Assuming your doctor says it is OK for you to travel, be sure you prepare a complete list of contact names and phone numbers to take with you. If you have problems during your trip and need care or attention, health care professionals or other travelers can ensure that you get appropriate care.

This information should include: %u2022 Your name, age and blood type, and any medications you are taking, as well as your health care insurance information. Also include your due date, the date of your most recent doctor appointment, any allergies you may have to medication or foods, and any immunizations you may have had before travel %u2022 Your doctor's name and contact information %u2022 Any doctor's name and phone number you may be using while you are away from home %u2022 Emergency contact information for your family (include more than one contact)

Take adequate pregnancy vitamins, medications (prescription or otherwise) so you are covered for the duration of your trip. Obtain health insurance that will cover all eventualities during travel including complications, your entire pregnancy and birth plus make sure there aren't any small print clauses regarding travel in certain countries.

Check the availability of travel insurance on your airline, or other carrier, to be sure that you are covered if you have to miss part of, or your entire, trip because of pregnancy related health problems or if you incur emergency expenses during your trip. Ask if this insurance covers complications from pregnancy and emergency transport. Carry a cell phone, especially if you're traveling alone, and be sure that your cell phone will function in any foreign country to which you may be traveling.

You can plan normal activities while you are traveling, but understand that you are likely to get tired more quickly when you are pregnant, so plan for extra rest during each travel day. Take advantage of the facilities and relax on the beach, get room service or watch a pay per view movie in your room. Eating healthy is important, and your schedule is likely to be different on the road, so take nuts, dry fruit, and cheese and crackers with you. Drink plenty of water and avoid dehydration, especially if you are flying to your destination.

Take your bathroom schedule into consideration. As an expectant mother, you are likely to need to use the bathroom often. Don't plan vacation or travel activities that require you to be out in the middle of nowhere, away from facilities. And plan extra time for 'pit stops' if you are traveling by car. Remember that your feet and legs are likely to swell during pregnancy if you are sitting for long periods of time. Wear comfortable, expandable shoes and socks and elevate your feet whenever possible. Get up and walk around whenever you can on a plane, train or bus and if you are traveling by car, be sure to walk around a bit when you stop to use the bathroom.

If you are traveling to a foreign country, you and your doctor will have to consider any vaccines you will require to determine whether they are safe to administer during pregnancy. Varicella for measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox is a live vaccine and should be avoided. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report no fetal damage from live vaccines, but they admit that their information is limited, so these vaccines should still be considered risky. Pregnant women at risk from getting Hepatitis B, tetanus and Hepatitis A should be vaccinated as these vaccines are considered safe.

In many developing countries local healthcare and the quality of available food and water are questionable. When pregnant you should try to avoid traveling to such regions. If you are traveling to a hot, humid destination, avoid yeast infections by wearing lightweight, loose-fitting clothes, and cotton underwear. Wet swimming suits should be removed as soon as possible and it might be an idea to suggest bringing some anti-fungal cream to your doctor.

Surfing, waterskiing, scuba diving, parasailing, horseback riding, skiing, water slides and extreme carnival rides should be avoided especially later in your pregnancy. You don't want your body temperature elevated when pregnant so give hot tubs and saunas a wide berth. Exercising in a gym and jogging, if you have done it before and are following a pregnancy suitable regime, is ok as is walking and hiking at low altitudes, swimming in calm water and bike riding. Always discuss your plans for exercise with your doctor first.

Be smart! Don't be afraid to take a rest if you feel you are overdoing it and feel dizzy, tired or overheated. Travel, especially to other time zones, can throw your eating schedule off and cause more problems with bloating, and indigestion. Eat little and often. Don't eat close to bedtime (allow 2-3 hours to digest your food). Prop yourself up on pillows in bed. Avoid alcohol, carbonated beverages, caffeine, chocolate, acidic foods (citrus fruits, tomatoes, and vinegar), and spicy foods. Keeping active will help keep things moving in your digestive region and fill up on high fiber foods to alleviate constipation etc.

Sitting in the front of the car and keeping the window open for fresh air will help with motion sickness. If traveling on a ship try to stay on deck focusing on the horizon and sit over the wing on an airplane. Acupuncture, pressure point bracelets are available to be worn on the wrist. Motion sickness and pregnancy morning sickness can be alleviated by these devices.

Avoid motion sickness by sitting in the front seat of the car and keeping the window open to get plenty of fresh air. If traveling on a ship try to stay on deck focusing on the horizon and sit over the wing on an airplane. You can try wearing a specially designed wristband to deliver mild electrical current to a nerve at an acupuncture point on the underside of your wrist. Motion sickness and pregnancy morning sickness can be alleviated by these devices.

Lots more pregnancy related knowledge is to be found at HealthyPregnancys.com. Visit us now at: Pregnancy.