(lively music)
- Now, if you are a traveler like me
and you're pregnant, very pregnant like me,
this video is definitely for you.
(upbeat music)
Hey, I'm Kristen Sarah and this is Hopscotch the Globe.
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I'm just over six months pregnant now
and I've been traveling nonstop since I found out.
One of the most popular questions or concerns
that I get is how is it to fly pregnant,
especially on long haul flights?
So, in this video, I'm gonna be sharing with you
my tips, my hacks on how to have
the best flight possible when you're preggo.
Number one, upgrade your seat.
Upgrading doesn't necessarily mean that you have
to have tens of thousands of extra dollars hanging around
that you can just use on a first class ticket.
It also doesn't mean business, it could mean economy plus.
Economy plus does not cost nearly as much
as a business class or first class ticket does
but it gives you extra leg room, sometimes
it gives you extra recline on your chair.
Just having that extra room to move around
(sighs) and just like stretch our your legs feels so good.
When it comes to price, it doesn't
even compare to a first class ticket.
It is budget friendly.
To give you an example, I just flew from Toronto
to Japan with a layover in Amsterdam
and my upgrade from Toronto to Amsterdam
was about 40, $50 and then from Amsterdam
to Japan it was a about $70, so that's like
just over $100 to have this extra comfort.
It was so much better flying that way.
Another thing I would recommend is
to pay, if you have to, to get an aisle seat.
When you're pregnant you pee a lot,
I'm sure you know this by now,
and also not just that, but it's good to get up
and stretch, which we're gonna
talk about, and just move around.
I personally don't like having to tap the person next to me,
tell 'em to get up every 20 minutes, half an hour
so that I can use the restroom or stretch.
I'd rather just have the freedom to get up
and do whatever I need to do without
asking someone to move for me.
Also, another little hack, the armrest
in the aisle seat actually goes up.
There's like a little trigger underneath it.
If you click that, you can lift the armrest.
Not many people know about that but now you do.
Head to the airport a little bit earlier.
Give yourself a little bit of extra time
than you usually would to check in and go through security.
Last thing you wanna feel is like you're in a rush.
You wanna feel as relaxed as possible
and make the experience as pleasant as possible.
If you're checking a bag or you decide to check in
at the airport instead of ahead of time,
when you get to the desk, tell the person
who's checking you in that you're pregnant.
You might get lucky.
If there is extra room in the other class seats,
you might get upgraded, you never know,
especially if they see that cute bump of yours.
This next one, many people actually don't know they can do
this and you do not have to be pregnant to do it either.
It's called opting out.
When you're going through security at the airport,
you can choose to opt out which means you don't
have to go through the metal detector or the x-ray machine,
you know that machine where you put your hands up
and it does the scan of your body?
Yeah, you can get out of that.
Instead, you'll get a physical pat down.
Priority boarding, this one is one of my favorites.
You know when your flight is boarding
and there is like those huge lineups
and you have zone five, well, it doesn't matter
when you're pregnant because you're a priority.
It is true when they call priority boarding
and first class, business class
people come on up, that means you.
When you're pregnant you are priority,
so you get to go to the front of the line
and who doesn't like to go to the front of the line?
Whatever you're bringing on the flight
whether it is your carryon luggage, or a backpack,
or whatever, pack lots of snacks.
Oh my God, you need to pack lots of snacks.
This is so, so, so, so necessary.
I always bring a ridiculous amount of snacks.
So, yeah, my husband comments on it every time.
He's like, "Do ya think you have enough snacks?"
and I'm like, "No, there's never
"a time when I have too many snacks."
This is especially true if you have dietary restrictions
and then add that the fact that you're pregnant
and there are restrictions for food as well,
things you can't have, it's nice to have your own
bag of food, of snacks, things that you know you can eat,
and for me, I just feel comfortable knowing
I always have food on me even if I'm not
pregnant I still feel the same way.
Try to pack as light as possible
because the last thing you want
is to have this heavy bag or heavy suitcase
that you have to lug around while you're pregnant,
and even if you are packing light,
don't be afraid to ask for help
especially when lifting your bag
and putting it in the overhead.
Prenatal vitamins, be sure to take them out
of your main suitcase and bring them with you
on your flight especially if you're taking
a long flight so you don't forget to take them.
When you get on your flight, if they can't already see,
that you're pregnant, for me I don't have a problem,
tell the flight attendants that you are pregnant.
Every time that I've done this, they have been so
extra nice, brought me extra water, extra pillows.
I even got a postcard and a little keychain
on my last flight telling me that they
wish me nothing but the best of luck.
It was just super sweet.
Compression socks, something that
I have not used until recently.
Compression socks are these special socks
that are pretty expensive but a really good
thing to have when you're pregnant and flying.
Travelers use them in general.
You don't have to be pregnant to use them
and benefit from them, but when you are pregnant,
you're more prone to blood clots.
Wearing compression socks when you're flying
keeps your circulation flowing which is super important
and also helps prevent blood clots.
Wear loose clothing or don't wear clothing.
Actually I probably wouldn't be allowed.
Would I be allowed on the flight if I looked like this?
I feel like people would just let me
because, again, you're pregnant,
you can get away with anything.
Get off your butt every hour or two and exercise.
It doesn't matter how ridiculous you look.
Actually, you're gonna look adorable
doing some squats down the aisle like this, like this.
Yes, people will look and some might think
you're a little odd but who cares because it's good for you!
It is super important for everyone to get up
during a flight every once in a while to get
that blood flowing, that circulation flowing,
but when you're pregnant, it is extra important to do so.
I get up every hour, every hour,
sometimes max two hours, and I do my exercises.
So, I do my squats, I do my like leg stretches,
my arm stretches, I move my feet around.
Sometimes there are even stairs, if you're
on a double decker flight, that you can walk up and down
or just walking up and down the aisles
a couple of times before going back to your seat.
Get that H2O.
It is important for everyone to stay extra
hydrated when they're flying, but is
especially important for pregnant women.
As you probably know if you're
pregnant, we get extra thirsty.
When you're flying, you get even more thirsty
and it's good to keep hydrated.
It's really good for your body, so keep that H2O flowing.
Avoid caffeine drinks and anything that's extra sugary.
Stick to water, some juices.
Give that belly a massage,
and your feet, and your arms, and your legs,
and your hands, and just pamper yourself.
It's good to massage yourself when you're in a flight.
It feels good, passes time, it's good for your circulation
again, especially because your hands and your feet tend
to swell just in general when you're pregnant
but extra when you're flying, so it just feels so nice
to just massage it out and get that blood flow going,
and perhaps the most important
of all is make sure you can fly.
Every woman is different.
Every pregnancy is different.
So, it's important to talk to your doctor
or your midwives ahead of time to tell them
your travel plans and see how you are
and what the advice they have to give to you.
Also check with the airlines to make sure you can fly
because a lot of airlines don't let you fly
if you're 36 weeks or more pregnant,
and 32 weeks if you're having twins.
Last thing that they want, and probably
you want, is to give birth on a plane.
Sounds like a horror movie.
(spooky music)
Another thing to consider, doesn't really have much
to do with flying but it's important point to make,
is if you are traveling internationally
whether it's by car, or flight, or train, or whatever,
make sure your travel insurance covers you
because some will only cover you up
to a certain point during your pregnancy.
There are many that will not cover you
when you're eight weeks before your birth date.
So, make sure you check with your travel insurance
to see that you're covered so that
you can have that peace of mind.
Alright my beautiful pregnant women out there
who have travels ahead of you, just know that you can do it.
Don't let anyone tell you that you can't travel
when you're pregnant 'cause you can do it.
I'm living proof.
I've been doing it for the last six months
and you can be comfortable doing it.
I hope my tips and my hacks help you
have a great flight and a great trip
because you deserve it and so does that cute bump of yours,
and if you are new to this channel,
don't forget to subscribe because we got a lot more
travel hack, travel tips, travel inspiration
videos coming your way that you don't wanna miss.