How to enjoy a road trip while pregnant

Road tripping during pregnancy doesn't have to be a burden. It can be a great way to relax, explore and have a nice adventure before your little one arrives. But, before you hit the road, there are a few things you should know. Based on my own experience taking many pregnant trips, I've put together 11 tips for you before road tripping pregnant.

Gather the info

Ok, first things first. Before you even start planning your trip, discuss it with your healthcare professional. Make sure this type of travel is safe in the stage of pregnancy you’ll be in at the time. You don’t want to plan a whole trip and wait until everything’s all squared away before learning that your doctor doesn’t want you traveling in your 7th month of pregnancy.

In my experience, the second trimester is right in that sweet spot. When my husband and I took our cross-country baby moon trip, I was past the nausea stage and hadn’t yet reached the uncomfortably waddling phase. I was over six months pregnant when we left. Toward the end of our two weeks on the road, I was starting to feel it more. I think my belly grew twice the size in those weeks, so I was ready to come home by the end. But departing when we did allowed me to actually enjoy the experience.

After you’ve cleared that up, prepare a plan. And I don’t mean which National Parks you’ll see on which days. I mean, what are you going to do in case of an emergency? If you start experiencing pregnancy symptoms that you’re unsure of, how far will you be from the nearest hospital? Do you have the necessary documents on-hand to show the doctor? You’ve never been seen by this person before, so you should ensure they have all the information they need. In most cases, you’ll be able to log in to your facility’s portal and everything will be right there. Talk to your professional about what you might need and make sure you have either a hard or digital copy to quickly access.

Comfort is everything

Try to be practical with what types of clothing you pack for yourself. For a lot of people, travel means you’ll be taking a lot of pictures, so it’s tempting to pack that cute pregnancy dress or outfit to look your best. But make sure all of your clothing (and I mean all) is something you can stand sitting in a car in for several hours. Those pregnancy jeans are great, but will they be comfortable when you’re in a seat belt and the denim starts right below your belly?

Leggings or bike shorts are always my go-tos. I pair them with an oversized sweater or breezy button-down and I’m good to go.

Just relax

You want to be sure you're not over-planning or planning activities that will be too strenuous. Make time for relaxing in the itinerary. You never know when you’ll need to just pause, so breaking up activities is critical.

One thing on my husband’s bucket list and something that I would’ve loved to do was hike the narrows in Zion. We did the research and tried to find a way to make it happen, but ultimately, we had to skip it. It was just something that I didn’t think my body would want to go through so we opted for some smaller, more predictable hikes instead. We weren’t disappointed either. Every activity we did on that trip came with it’s own unforgettable story.

Stay cool

The last thing you want to add to your discomfort is overwhelming heat. If you’re going to take a summer road trip or drive somewhere hot, be sure it’s only in moderation. Pregnant bodies are unpredictable and you don’t want to find yourself unable to enjoy the trip because you’re spending the whole time sweating. If you are going somewhere like the desert in summer, get yourself a portable fan. You won’t be sorry!

I’ve, unfortunately, experienced heat stroke while pregnant and it is no joke! And it resulted from being mostly in the shade at the beach in 90-degree weather for no more than an hour and a half. It doesn’t seem too intense, but it hit me out of nowhere because I was pregnant. Fortunately, I was close to home, so I could recover comfortably, but you may not be as comfortable on the road.

Compression socks

I know they’re not always the cutest but trust me, they’ll relieve a lot of discomfort. Sitting for long periods can cause achy legs, swelling and circulation discomfort, so compression socks can significantly reduce this.

Here are a couple of options that are a good mix of functionality and aesthetic.

SocksLane

Gripjoy

Fenglaoda

Snack caddy

It’s so important to stay hydrated and well-fed while pregnant, especially when you don’t know your next stop. Keeping all your drinks and snacks within arm's reach can get messy, though.

Having one go-to spot where it all lives will make the experience less stressful and frustrating. Below are some options for car caddies that will help you stay organized so you can spend less time searching and more time enjoying the scenery!

Side organizer

Between seats

Frequent stops

Compression socks can relieve some ashiness but it’s extremely important that you make stops every few hours. Stretch your legs, walk around, do yoga, whatever works. Your bladder will also thank you after all that hydrating.

Small nursing pillow

Now, the reason I’m not telling you bring a pregnancy pillow is because, well… they’re usually huge. I use something I like to call a moon pillow and it’s the perfect size. Unlike regular nursing pillows, it has narrower ends, so it’s not as bulky to wrap around you in a car. I can use it on my lap, against the window while I sleep and wrap it around my waist to alleviate back pain.

Find it here

Nasuea essentials

Even if you’re not in the first trimester and out of the nausea phase, these can still be helpful to have around. Pregnancy can change you in surprising ways, including food intolerances and ailments. Some improve and others show up. One of those things for you might be car sickness. Maybe you’ve never had issues with it before, but now, you find yourself queasy on long drives. Be prepared with a few options because you never know what will work for you.

My go-to’s to alleviate nausea are candied ginger, lemon drops and peppermint. But my absolute favorite remody is the nausea drops my husband got me as a stocking stuffer this year. They’re delicious, work miracles and are made by a women-owned, women-run business!

Another option is a seaband. I’ve never used these, myself. The candies usually do the trick for me, but if you need something more, Frida Mom is a trusted brand. Seabands are bracelets with a button on the inside to apply acupressure to relieve nausea.

Pink Stork peppermint Sweets

Lemon drops

Candied ginger

Frida Mom Seaband

Pregnancy seat belt

This devise takes the belt part of a seat belt that wraps around your belly and redirects it to the front of the seat keeping you comfortable and safe. In the event of an accident, it keeps baby safe and you don’t have a belt putting constant pressure on your belly.

Talk with your doctor and see if it can help.

Find it here

Take a buddy

My last tip and most important is not to do a long-distance road trip alone while pregnant. I can’t stress this enough - pregnancies are unpredictable. You really want to make sure to stay safe with a partner or friend by your side. You might have to lean on them quite a bit and not just to load and unload luggage. If you do find yourself not feeling your best, don’t be stranded. Take a buddy that will have your back and help you stay safe.

I hope these tips help you. You don’t just have to survive a road trip while pregnant. You can enjoy it!