16th Week of Pregnancy: Traveling while Pregnant

In this article:
What's Happening with Your Body
All About Baby
How Big Is Baby?
Most Common Pregnancy Questions
Multiple Madness
For Your Partner
Fun Fact
Follow The Chronicles of a Real-Life Pregnancy

Continued from page 2

Multiple Madness

Twin Travel during Pregnancy
In a singleton pregnancy, most women are able to travel well into the third trimester. In a twin pregnancy, however, chances are you won't have that luxury.

Before you embark on a rip-roaring vacation while pregnant with multiples, check with your doctor. According to Dr. Susan Warhus, MD, author of Countdown to Baby, "The biggest concern is preterm labor." Women with low-risk singleton pregnancies can usually travel until 36 weeks, but women pregnant with multiples will need to stay closer to home sooner. "Every pregnancy differs, but a general guideline to stop traveling for twin pregnancies might be 24 to 26 weeks," says Dr. Warhus.

If your doctor does clear you for take off, Dr. Warhus suggests the following tips:

• Get a note from your doctor allowing you to travel and get on an airplane, if applicable.
  
  
• While traveling, walk around and stretch your legs every few hours. Prolonged sitting increases your risk for developing potentially life-threatening blood clots.
  
  
• Empty your bladder often. Holding in urine contributes to urinary tract infection, which can be uncomfortable and might also trigger preterm labor.
  
  
• Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. Dehydration can cause increased heart rate for you and the babies, and can also contribute to preterm labor.
  
  
• When traveling by car and plane, always use your seat belt. If your belly has become too big for it to fit comfortably, call your car dealership and request a seat belt extender or ask a flight attendant for assistance.
  
  
• Bring along a copy of your prenatal medical records. That way, if you need to visit an unfamiliar hospital or medical clinic, the medical staff there will have your blood type, ultrasound, and other important information available about you and your pregnancy.

For Your Partner

The Power of Involved Fathers
Because the focus of pregnancy is primarily on the woman and unborn baby, many men enter fatherhood not understanding the importance of their roles. However, fathers are incredibly vital in their families' lives, as current research clearly points out. Recent findings have shown that when fathers believe that they're essential to the lives and health of their children, they become more involved.

But what difference does your presence as a dad really make?

Children of fathers who are involved in their lives are more likely to perform better in school, display higher levels of social competence, and experience fewer behavioral problems, according to studies performed by the US Department of Health and Human Services. These lucky kids are more likely to have healthy self concepts and be equipped to deal with life's challenges, experience better about their lives as adults, and also tend to have healthier marriages. Even more incredibly, daughters of involved fathers have higher self-esteem and begin sexual activity later in life than girls of less involved fathers.

One of the biggest reasons for this remarkable difference between children of delinquent fathers and children of dotting fathers is that being loved, adored, attended to, and stimulated by two people increases a child's sense of self, her intellect and social skills, and so much more.

This certainly doesn't negate the power of mothers, but rather reminds you that father involvement makes a significant difference in the life of your baby. Don't ever forget how much of a positive effect your involvement has on your child … no matter how old he or she is.

Fun Fact

According to the Travel Industry Association, married couples love to travel, married couples are the largest group of travelers at 62 percent, as cited in the 2004 Domestic Travel Report. No doubt many of these couples are taking babymoons (akin to a honeymoon, a trip aimed at giving you togetherness time with your partner before baby)!

Follow The Chronicles of a Real-Life Pregnancy

How do other women experience pregnancy? Get an inside look at one woman's very personal journey to motherhood with candid week-by-week accounts. Find out what happens to Sarah Love in week 16 of her pregnancy.

Wondering what is in store for you and your pregnancy? Skip ahead to next week!

Curious to see how we calculate important pregnancy dates? Be sure to review our Pregnancy Chart!