Wear a seat belt, with the lower strap beneath the belly and the shoulder strap in the normal position, avoiding any pressure on the baby.  Keep the air bags turned on.

Driving a Car whilst pregnant

There are generally no major problems to drive when pregnant, so long as some general guidelines are followed and she can still fit into the seat. 

• Always wear the seat belt as described above.

• Keep the airbag turned on.

• Do not drive when tired.

• Avoid driving more and more as the pregnancy goes on (even short journeys can cause discomfort later in pregnancy).

• Remember that reflexes and concentration are reduced later in pregnancy, so try to only drive in good conditions and leave plenty of distance to allow reactions to any situations that may arise.

Also, do not drive to the delivery room if at all possible!  If your partner is left alone at the time of delivery, then a call to the fire, police or ambulance services is the preferred option.

Train, Bus/coach travel

These forms of transport are seen as generally safe, however they can pose their own challenges. The narrow aisles, small toilets and minimal breaks mean that things can become very uncomfortable.  When moving around, use the handrails to keep balanced and remain seated when the vehicle is moving wherever possible (use the rest stops or station stops to move around and get circulation moving properly).  Try to limit travel time to 5 or 6 hours per day.

Sea Travel

Sea travel is generally safe, however, ensure that a doctor is available on the boat in case they are needed and only use a motion sickness medicine if it has been approved by your doctor.

Air Travel during pregnancy 

Although air travel is normally seen as safe for a healthy pregnancy, permission to travel by air should be sought from your medical practitioner.  Many airlines will ask for a doctor's certificate if travelling late on in a pregnancy (check ahead of time for the requirements of your particular airline company).

The conditions in a pressurised cabin do not pose a significant risk to pregnant women (several studies have been done on air stewardesses), however, flying in a smaller non-pressurised plane should be avoided.  If there is no choice but to use this mode of transport, then try to stay below 2000 metres.

Choosing an aisle seat will allow getting up for the bathroom easier. Taking regular walks within the cabin will help with blood circulation, but keep hold of the seat backs in case of turbulence.  The seat belt should remain attached under the belly.

1. General Guidelines

2. Modes of transport