Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about traveling during pregnancy. While there are some risks associated with travel for pregnant women, healthy pregnant women can travel safely with a few precautions.
Dr. Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, an obstetrician at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says the main thing pregnant women need to worry about is deep blood clots in their legs. To prevent these, you should make frequent stops to walk around and keep blood circulating in your legs. Meanwhile, the safer you are in the car, the safer your baby is. Keep air bags turned on and wear your lap and shoulder belts. Position the lap belt just below your baby bump. It’s best to limit travel time to no more than five or six hours a day.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/obgyn to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in gynecology and obstetrics.
Next: Traveling by plane.
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September 2008
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