When you're pregnant, you need many things to make you feel healthy, safe, comfortable and happy.  In order for you to enjoy your vacation, you should do some planning ahead to make sure that you have everything covered.

Be prepared!

· Consult your healthcare provider
Before, or while, you are planning your holiday, ask your healthcare provider for her advice. You can either get useful information that will reassure you and make you feel comfortable and safe about your plans, or get some useful info that might make you want to rethink the details of the trip.  In any case, your own health provider is the best source of information for preventive measures regarding your own particular pregnancy. 

· Medical info
Make sure that your traveling plans don't interrupt any checkups you're scheduled to do, the exact timing of some of them might be important.  You should make sure you know all the basic medical info about yourself: allergies, sensitivity, blood type, due date etc.  Most airlines will request to see medical documents that specify your due date.  And find out what medical facilities there are in the place you are traveling to.  You are probably hoping not to use any of this information, but in the remote case that you'll need such information, you'll be happy to have it in reach!

Carefully examine what your traveling medical insurance covers, so you know what sort of treatment you can expect if needed.  If you're considering traveling to developing countries, read our articles about medical hazards and vaccines.

Treating yourself to health

· Digesting
Most people face some sort of difficulty digesting food they aren't used to when they go away on holiday, but when you're pregnant it may be difficult to digest almost anything.  If you don't have constipation, then it's heartburn or indigestion, and if none of these then you may have hemorrhoids (if not a combination of all discomforts!).  Even if you're lucky enough not to have any of these symptoms, take along what you usually use to treat the discomfort: ointments, natural options etc.  You will feel relieved to just pull out of the bag what is needed to make you feel better.

· Yeast infection and Urine tract infection
Take medication for both possibilities from your physician at home.  In case of urine infection, drink plenty of water and also cranberry juice if available.  If not, parsley tea may also help to encourage urination.  It really works!  To avoid yeast infection, be sure to wear cotton underwear and clean dry cloths.  If you're going for a swim, try to get out of the damp bathing costume as soon as you can.  Any woman who has ever had yeast or urine tract infection knows it's quite easy to diagnose. It's actually quite difficult to mistake the uncomfortable annoying sensation with anything else!

· Pregnancy travel kit
Besides the medication for yeast and urine tract infections, which you just take in case, there are many things you take on a day-to-day basis during your pregnancy.  Iron, folic acid, vitamins, a natural oil to rub on your stomach, indigestion medication, creams etc.  Make sure you bring along all of the things you need for your health and your comfort,  you'll really miss them if you don't!

 
Where to go?

Use the experience you have had up until now to determine what kind of holiday suites you best.  If you are fatigued and don't have much energy to walk around, don't plan a holiday that is physically straining.  If you are a culture and arts enthusiast, now might be a good time to get a large dose of it before the expected birth, which may keep you off your feet and in the house, for a while.  In the earlier stages of pregnancy (during the second trimester), you might feel like going on a bit of an adventurous trip before baby comes along, just make sure you don't over do it.  Or you might just feel like some sea, fresh air and relaxation.  In any case, don't try and force yourself to lie around and rest if you feel like being active or vice versa, plan you holiday according the wants and needs of you and your partner.

Enjoy your traveling!

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