Travel checklist

Dr. Jeffrey E. Katz, an OB/GYN at Brigham & Women's Hospital, advises pregnant women to take a few precautions when traveling.

"The issue about travel in pregnancy is that you would like to avoid the times when the unexpected is a little more likely to happen and travel would put you away from your primary caregivers," Katz says. With that in mind, a few tips:

Check with your obstetrician. This is especially crucial for women with symptoms of higher-risk pregnancies.

Drink plenty of water. Long plane rides carry a slight risk for phlebitis, which is a little higher in pregnancy. Katz advises staying hydrated and getting up to move around once every hour or so. Some physicians advise taking a single baby aspirin tablet (81 mg) as a mild anticoagulant before the flight.

Avoid areas lacking emergency care. Once the pregnancy is at the point of fetal viability (about 24 weeks), this is especially important.

Make sure you are insured. Before you leave, verify that your insurance company provides coverage for emergency services outside of your area.