Pregnant and Traveling: 16 Handy Essentials for Comfy Flights
Through taking flights while pregnant, I found things that help make the trip more comfortable. Here are my personal recommendations of what to pack for flying during pregnancy.
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Table of contents
- Shoes with laces that loosen
- Compression socks
- Belt bag (or waist bag)
- Travel neck pillow
- Prenatal vitamins in a pill box
- Pregnancy books
- Maternity leggings
- Luggage that stacks
- Eye mask (Sleep mask)
- Your doctor’s contact info (and a way to contact them)
- A trove of a ton of snacks
- TUMS or an antacid
- Belly Band
- A big refillable water bottle
- Face mask
- Layers or a scarf
During my first pregnancy, I flew four times, with flights in my first trimester, second trimester and the very beginning of my third trimester.
Am I a pro at flying while pregnant? I wouldn’t say I’m the world’s greatest expert, but I certainly figured out ways to stay comfortable and happy during my time in the air.
In this list, I’ll go through the things I took along, when I used them, how I used them and where you can get them. I’ll also tell you why I think they’re worth bringing in your carry-on or personal item for your flight while you’re pregnant.
Shoes with laces that loosen
My feet normally kind of swell up and get bigger during flights, so I could only imagine how careful I needed to be with pregnancy feet!
I wore Allbirds Pipers (see my Allbirds Pipers review) on a few flights while I was pregnant, and these simple travel shoes let me loosen the laces like crazy, so that my feet didn’t swell.
To be honest, I recommend kicking off your shoes during a flight if you’re flying while pregnant, and only putting them on to use the restroom!
Compression socks
Compression socks get a big “YES” from me! I wore them on all my flights while I was pregnant. They help with circulation and blood flow and can relieve pain and swelling. I’ve tried quite a few and these are the winners:
(Also pictured: my light child-raising book reading, and my belly band)
Belt bag (or waist bag)
I am all for taking a travel fanny pack when I travel away from home, whether pregnant or not!
On one of my business trips while I was pregnant, I first wore my travel fanny like a waist bag, and then switched to belt bag mode when I realized my baby bump was too big for me to access it properly. Ha!
A few of my favorite belt bags to take along are:
- lululemon belt bag (see my full review of it here)
- Canvelle oversized fanny or regular fanny pack
- Quince neoprene belt bag
Travel neck pillow
I like to rest my head on a pillow during a flight, and if I’m pregnant, I want to be super comfy. A neck pillow is my answer to that. While I’ve listed a few of the best travel neck pillows already, my favorite is the Cabeau Cooling Evolution Pillow (it has airflow vents).
Prenatal vitamins in a pill box
This is an easy thing to forget, but when you’re pregnant, taking along a prenatal vitamin for each day of the trip is a MUST!
I’ve taken an assortment of prenatal vitamins, from liquids to gel capsules. One thing I can recommend taking along is a little pill box!
Pregnancy books
Early on in my pregnancy, I committed to reading a variety of pregnancy books, from stories about birth, to raising a baby. There was no better time for me to pack in some reading than on a flight! Here are a few books I read:
Maternity leggings
This one’s easy! I flew in maternity leggings every time for the flights when I was pregnant. I recommend the leggings from BLANQI, Quince and Nike Maternity.
Luggage that stacks
Believe me when I tell you that if you plan to lug a backpack through the airport and you’re pregnant, it’s a bad idea. The best idea is to take a small daypack that has a trolley sleeve (like my little Troubadour Ki Backpack, pictured here) and stack it on a carry-on suitcase for smart rolling all through the airport!
This is the easiest method for a body that is already pregnant and tired. On this trip when I was in my second trimester, I’m using the Away Carry-On from Away Luggage.
Eye mask (Sleep mask)
While none of the flights I took while pregnant were super long, red-eyes or overnight flights, I did want to create an ideal nap environment in case I was seriously exhausted. While pregnant, everything was unpredictable for me, so if I wanted a nap, I wanted a good one!
I sleep best when I’m lulled to sleep with both the sounds of an airplane, and some darkness. Some flights are too fast, or bright, to create a good sleep situation, so an eye mask helps a lot.
Currently, my go-to eye mask is the Quince Beauty Sleep Mask. I made sure to get a dark color (Black), which works like a charm. It’s soft, it’s made of silk and it’s pretty affordable.
Your doctor’s contact info (and a way to contact them)
We went to Mexico City when I was 10 weeks pregnant. That was my first flight after learning that I was expecting a baby.
I had some bad luck, and got food poisoning that wouldn’t end. We decided it was best to call my doctor.
Very fortunately, we were in Mexico and both had the AT&T plan that let us call the US for within our monthly rate. If we had been farther, we would’ve had to place a very expensive phone call, or do it over Skype or Whatsapp. I don’t even know what we would’ve done to call my obstetrician’s 24-hour nurse line.
I also recommend having your login info ready for signing into your OB or doctor’s healthcare platform where you can message them about questions. If they have texting, that is even better. This is the same advice I give in my tips for your babymoon guide.
A trove of a ton of snacks
When I was pregnant, eating big meals was annoying for me. My stomach had shrunk, and I preferred to eat a small meal or snack every hour.
The time I took a business trip while pregnant, I was able to liberally spend my daily budget on expensive airport snacks, and I tried everything I wanted!
If you don’t plan to shop the pricy options at the airport, bring along granola bars, snack containers and baggies of things like granola, nuts, dried fruit, cut-up veggies and crackers: the more, the better.
A few snacks I like to have in my bag at all times are a GoMaco Bar, a LARA Bar and any of the number of favorites in this list of vegetarian snack ideas for travel.
TUMS or an antacid
I never got crazy heartburn during pregnancy, but I went through a phase of feeling better if I took a TUM after a spicy or saucy meal.
Especially for when we went to Mexico, I knew that after my nightly tacos, I’d be popping a TUM before bed.
Belly Band
When I flew during my third trimester around week 33, I was already wearing a belly band to help support my baby bump. I liked the compression, and even if I wasn’t sure how it was helping specifically, I felt like it gave my back a bit of a boost.
On a travel day when your body gets stressed, this is a really good thing to have! Of course, if you don’t like the feeling of a belly band or you’re not used to them, then there is probably no point in taking one along for the flight.
I have a belly band just like this one.
A big refillable water bottle
Every person, pregnant or not, will say that having a water bottle is crucial during a flight. For pregnant women, it is especially important!
This is because some flights are better than others about giving out water. In fact, some flights I’ve taken (budget airlines in Europe) don’t even give a drop of water! Everyone’s expected to bring their own beverage.
Luckily, I have had good luck with US airlines and especially when I “look very pregnant,” I’ve been able to ask for a ton of water while I’m doing my little walking laps through the aisle to stretch my legs.
I really like my huge lululemon water bottle or a big Stanley Quencher.
Face mask
Wearing a face mask to stay clear of germs is up to everyone’s preference. If you are high-risk or have pregnancy complications, maybe you’re considering wearing a face mask during the flight!
I recommend a KN-95.
Layers or a scarf
During my first trimester, I was always cold. I was always putting on a jacket, or a sweater, and a scarf was always a welcome bonus.
On airplanes, it can get even colder! I recommend bringing a light sweater and/or a windbreaker (I usually wind up wearing both of these), and a versatile scarf.
Here are my favorites:
- Bluffworks Travel Scarf (has a hidden pocket for valuables!)
- Seraphine Maternity Parka
- Quince Maternity Hoodie
These are good to have with you regardless of where you’re going. I recommend keeping them handy around your shoulders or in your personal item while boarding.
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