Pregnancy and travel

A pregnant woman can usually take trips by plane, train, bus, or automobile up to the end of the seventh month. Travel by car may present some problems, but these are not necessarily serious. If you tend to be carsick, especially during the first two or three months, take only short trips. If you are not easily upset, riding 100 or 150 miles at a time will probably not cause you any discomfort. It is a good idea to stop for a few minutes, every 50 miles or so, especially if you are driving. Many women continue to drive during pregnancy, although some doctors advise against driving alone in the last month.

Some people think that traveling during the early stages of a pregnancy may cause a miscarriage. There is no evidence to support this belief. Late in pregnancy, however, it is wise to limit travel, chiefly because, on a long trip, labor might start at an inconvenient time. If you must undertake a long journey after the seventh month, go the quickest, easiest way. It is probably a good idea to talk with your doctor before you make plans for a major trip.

Women whose husbands are in the armed forces or have civilian assignments away from home are subject to specific regulations regarding travel during pregnancy. These rules are not uniform and may be changed from time to time. Be sure to find out exactly what these regulations are if you are a service wife expecting a baby and have any reason to think you may need to take a long trip before your delivery.

Moving

American families move so often, so far, and for so many reasons that you may be one of the wives faced with the task of dismantling and resettling a home during a pregnancy. If this is your situation, go at the job as easily as you can. Let someone else do as much of the lifting, stooping, sorting, and packing as possible. If you have children, let them do as much for you as they can. To be able to help in a family emergency gives most youngsters a warm feeling of pride.

Get your moving over before the seventh month, if possible. Moving and storage companies have had so much experience in packing and shipping household goods that they are usually expert in this work. It will pay you to choose a reliable one and let the representative take charge, under your supervision. If yours turns out to be a last minute move, your family and friends may be able to see to it for you while you are in the hospital.

The actual changeover from the old home to the new should be carefully planned. Do your best to time your departure so that you do not find yourself weary and supperless in an empty house in the middle of the night. Perhaps you can arrange beforehand to stay in a hotel or motel while someone else in your family waits for the furniture. With small children, this is almost a necessity.

Working outside of the home

If you are pregnant and employed, you are probably wondering how long you should stay on the job. That depends on how you feel, what kind of work you do, and how busy you are at home.

Jobs that keep the feet constantly in motion or require a great deal of standing, bending, or lifting are likely to be tiring. If your work is strenuous and cannot be lightened in any way, give it up after the fourth or fifth month. If it is not too heavy, you can probably go on working much longer than that, possibly into the eighth month, provided you get enough rest, eat the right kinds of food, and are reasonably satisfied with the way things are going at home. Your doctor will tell you when he thinks you should stop working. If you work in one of the lead industries, be sure to ask him if there are any special precautions you ought to take.

It is important for you to know whether or not you are entitled to maternity benefits in the place where you work and, if so, what these are. Some States have laws concerning working conditions for pregnant women, and many businesses and industries have cooperated voluntarily in the development of special codes to protect expectant mothers in their employ.

Marcus Siegel

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