Is it safe to travel during your 30th week of pregnancy?

Question

Im getting ready to drive from WV to NC, about a 9 hour trip, and I was wondering is there anything I should look out for with being 30 weeks pregnant at the time of the trip? Do you guys have any advice for making the trip more comfortable?

Im not going to fly Im going to drive. I know you shouldnt fly while in the late stages of pregnancy. Thanks

I wouldnt be traveling if it wasnt very important..my Fiancee is comming home from Iraq and I found out I was pregnant just after he left so hes never even seen me pregnant with his baby. And No i wont drive alone.!

Answer 1

Unless your doc says no, than go for it. You still have 10 weeks to go, the delivery isn't imminent.

I was cleared to fly for a friend's wedding at 32 weeks with both of my pregnancies. The second time I was flying with a 2 1/2 year old and hubby didn't go.

I would actually prefer to fly and get the trip over with. You will probably need to take frequent bathroom breaks, which is great because you shouldn't sit still too long. Being pregnant puts you at an increased risk for blood clots. (slight risk so don't over react just get out and walk around for a few minutes every couple hours ... like to the bathroom)

I would get a copy of you med records from your dr. so if every thing starts to go wrong the docs taking care of you have your history.

I think 30 weeks is a great time to travel. Not so huge and uncomfortable as you will be at the end and passed all the 1st trimester drama.

I would bring some of those thermal heat wraps. Great for sore muscles from sitting so long.

So glad to hear that your hubby is coming back from Iraq. (and I mean that in a good way ... not being political. my hubby is military too)

Answer 2

If your pregnancy is not high-risk, you should be fine. Full-term pregnancies are 40 weeks, so 30 weeks isn't that close. When in doubt, ask your doctor. S/he will advise you as to what s/he thinks is reasonable.

Stop to stretch and walk around (for circulation) and make use of a restroom often. Do and/or take things that would normally make you comfortable, and try to stay as relaxed as is possible on a trip that long.

Have a cell phone fully charged, if possible, in case anything does happen. Take snacks with you as well.

(As for planes, as long as your doctor clears it, airlines will let you fly up until 38 weeks. Again, you can't be high-risk, but other than that, you can do it. Nor more worries than doing normal day-to-day activities.)

Answer 3

My husband and I have taken a couple of long driving trips (8 hours +) during two of my pregnancies (and probably will with this one as well).

There are two pieces of advice that I have to pass along to you:

First, take along some foods that you can easily eat on the road. Maybe a little cooler with some foods that you know you have had no troubles with during your pregnancy. Definitely take along lots to drink. I would get hungry along the road and stopping to eat was expensive.

Secondly, and most importantly? PEE!!! I'm not kidding. I know it sounds silly to tell a woman who's about 30 weeks pregnant to pee. Believe me, I'm only 6 weeks and I'm already spending more time in the bathroom.

But during our first long trip while I was pregnant, I tried to hold it when I had to go. I didn't do it intentionally, but being tired and not wanting to stop at every rest stop I just didn't go as much as I should have. I ended up getting UTIs from holding it instead of finding places to go. You don't want that to happen, so, as the old saying goes, "when you gotta go, YOU GOTTA GO"!!!

You might want to think about taking along some cranberry juice and drinking it regularly just in case you can't go as often as you should or would like to. The cranberry juice will help stave off any UTI that might be lurking in your future.

Good luck and have a safe trip!

Answer 4

I travelled 1600 miles round trip with my fiance when I was at about 30 weeks, and I was fine. You just have to make sure to be comfortable, wear your seatbelt properly, and take breaks to pee, stratch your legs and get a snack. I was fortunate, my fiance stopped every so often anyhow cause he doesn't really like driving long distances, so I never had to ask to stop. Your back might hurt a bit, I would recommend a pillow behind it, I had to lay my head to one side of the headrest to stretch enough to relieve my back (only while i was in the passenger seat), but that wasn't too bad. If you can take off your shoes while in the car, it's more comfortable, and sleep when you can.

Answer 5

I would advise you not to travel anywhere, especially by train or air plane, because by that time, you would be in your third trimester of pregnancy and you could go into labor at anytime. The lack of medical supplies that trains and air planes offer can be dangerous to you and the baby. My advice would be for you to stay home until you have your baby. If you are having contractions right now, you should go to the doctor, they might give you some medicine to stop that and you have to be on bed rest. I wish you the best of luck and I hope you take my advice into consideration:) Do you know what you are having?

Answer 6

Take a ton of pillows, some comfy clothes, and stop often to move around and stretch (and pee). The main discomfort you may have is increased swelling due to the lack circulation.
Keep your water intake up- you might think about drinking less to keep your stops to a minimum, but while traveling you'll need as much, if not more water.
And have fun of course!

Answer 7

the only reason ou shouldn't fly is becuz you could have yourbaby on a plane. you should be fine driving even you are only 30 weeks. if you were like 36 or more i'd worry about it. just watch for signs of labor. drink plenty of water. stop get out and walk around a bit so your legs don't go numb and start to camp up. which i'm sure you won't have problems with cuz you'll have to go to the bathroom. but you should ask your dr becuz i don't have your file in front of me to really say anyway.

pre-term labor signs
Cntractions every 10 mins or more often
Change in vaginal discharge (leaking fluid or bleeding)
Pelvic pressure
Low dull backache
Cramps like with your period. (Also possiby may feel like you need to poop but can't.)
Abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea.

Also watch for bursts of energy...

Answer 8

its not recomended to travel that long this late in pregnancy. sitting that long increases your risk of blood clots in your legs, and you are probably going to be very uncomfortable. the drive will also probably take a lot longer than 9 hours as you will have to stop and pee kgod only knows how many times. IS your dr aware of your travel plans? I guess follow whatever advise the dr gave you.

Answer 9

I think u shouldnt during my pregnancy my doctor put me on bed rest during my 30s and iam still on bed rest even doe i just had my baby 12 weeks ago i should be off by the end of this month u got 2 be safe and heal so take ur time

Answer 10

When I was at that stage of pregnancy, my midwife said that as long as I was prepared for the possibility of delivering the baby away from home, it was fine.