Flying while pregnant

A recent story in my local paper was the stuff of which travel-nightmares are made: Australian couple faces $726,000 bill for baby born early in Vancouver. To quote the article,

The baby, born at 26 weeks, needed 90 days of neo-natal care, which resulted in a bill of $707,000. It cost another $19,000 for the labour and delivery of the baby, the hospital confirmed Monday.

The couple took out travel insurance and extra coverage for Evans’ pregnancy but didn’t realize the policy would not cover the birth of the baby.

There are so many frightening aspects of this story: going into labor when you're in an airport, at 26 weeks; caring for a premature baby in the hospital for 90 days (my son was preemie and in hospital for 1 1/2 weeks and that was bad enough); and of course that huge bill.

Once your baby is born, you'll be facing a new set of problems on board!

I never traveled by plane when I was pregnant. Part of the reason was just chance: my husband and I just didn't have any trips planned, and once I got pregnant, we chose to not travel for the next 9 months. Plenty of women however do fly while pregnant, whether it's for work or holidays or just to get from point A to point B.

Before you travel
Most physicians agree that it is perfectly safe for a healthy woman with a normal pregnancy to travel by plane. However, there are some things you should think about when booking and planning your trip:

• Check with your airline what their policies are. Many airlines have no restrictions on travel by pregnant women until they're in the 35th week. After that, you may still be able to fly, but you might require a doctor's note. Some airlines will require a doctor's note as early as the 28th week of pregnancy. Mention that you are pregnant when booking your ticket to make sure there will be no issues on the day of travel.
• Make sure you have the right insurance coverage. This is especially crucial if you're traveling abroad. And as the news story about the Australian couple demonstrates, you might need coverage for things you definitely did not plan on happening.
• The second trimester might be the best bet for travel. According to what I've read online from various sources (including the Mayo Clinic), the second trimester is considered the safest time for air-travel: the risk of miscarriage is lower than in the first trimester, and the risk of premature labour is less than in the third trimester.
• Talk to your health-care provider before traveling. This is a good idea even if you've had an uneventful and healthy pregnancy. They might also be able to give you tips and information that can help make your trip better.
• Look into what kind of health-care is available at your destination. Even if you don't go into labor while away, you might still need medical attention. For example, going to a remote village with no doctors for miles around might not be advisable!

On-board the plane
Traveling by plane, especially in economy class, isn't always that comfortable even when you're not pregnant. However, there are some things you can do on board to make your trip less taxing on the body.

• Move around during the flight. This helps with circulation and helps avoid muscle tension as well. If you're like me during pregnancy, you'll probably be visiting the bathroom frequently, so that helps get you up and about! Do some on-board exercises while sitting down as well: maybe even some airplane yoga.
• Get more leg-room. If you can upgrade to a seat with more space, then that's an option. Otherwise you can always request an aisle-seat: this gives you a little more space to move, and also makes it easier to get in and out of your seat.
• Drink lots of fluids. This is important for everyone traveling by plane, but even more so if you're pregnant. You can usually bring your own water bottle on board if you buy it (or fill it) after going through security.
• Be extra vigilant about hygiene, food and drink. Most women are automatically a lot more cautious about what they eat and drink while pregnant so this is a no-brainer. I'd also recommend bringing a good supply of hand-sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes, just to reduce the risk of catching something on-board.
• Order a special meal. If you have certain dietary restrictions, or if you're experiencing some strong food-likes or dislikes during your pregnancy, it might be a good idea to see if your airline offers special meals that appeal to you more than the regular selection. On long flights, some airlines will offer vegetarian meals, meals for diabetics, low-sodium meals, and so on.
• Make yourself as comfortable as possible. Wear your most comfortable clothes and shoes that don't pinch or squeeze you anywhere. Bring a neck pillow, maybe some travel slippers, and some favorite snacks to nibble on.

You can find more information about traveling while pregnant at these sites:

• BabyCenter Canada. Babycenter's US site also offers some information about specific airlines and their policies.
• UK's National Health Service
• American Pregnancy Association

Visiting Vancouver Aquarium with my spring-breaking kids

Because it's spring break, and because we're crossing off some of the items on our spring-break wish-list, I headed to the Aquarium with my kids on a grey and rainy day this week.

The Vancouver Aquarium is definitely one of my kids' favorite destinations, and if I ask them to choose where we're going for a day out, this is usually top of the list. They love watching the animals, birds, bugs and various sea creatures, they love being able to touch, explore, and really get up close and personal with the exhibits, and they love just hanging out there in general. I like taking them there because it's a kid-friendly place that is educational and fun, and is also interesting for adults, making it a great family destination.

When we arrived at the Aquarium this time though, I did become a little worried. The long-awaited expansion of the Aquarium had obviously gotten under way, because the usual entrance was closed, and a new (very nice-looking) entrance was open for business on the side of the building towards the parking lot. I wondered if this would mean a lot of closed off areas inside too, something I knew my kids would probably not like.

One of the new tanks in the entrance area.

However, inside the Aquarium was pretty much its old self, with some new additions. The area right inside the new entrance, which used to be a dark-ish corner of what my kids call "the jellyfish area", had some nice, new exhibits. Several pillar-shaped, floor-to-ceiling tanks had been placed there, each representing a certain place in the world: coral reef, Arctic, and so on. They looked spectacular, and the kids enjoyed being able to walk around the tanks, and not just look at them from the front.

The big snake.

There was also a big terrarium here with a really big snake that kept my son's interest for a good 15 minutes. Both kids also really enjoyed the new "Babies" exhibit, featuring tiny wolf-eels, baby jellyfish, and baby sculpins. I'm not sure how permanent this new addition to the Aquarium is, but I really liked it and hope that at least some of it stays around.

The rest of the Aquarium looked much the same as before, and that was OK with me and the kids. They have their favorite spots throughout and we visited them all.

The resident Pacific octopus.

The octopus is always a favorite with the kids, and it's one of my own favorites too. On this visit it was out and about and showing off (sometimes it just hides in a crevice instead). My kids always seem simultaneously creeped out and completely fascinated by watching it move around.

The worms.

Then we headed over to the tropical zone where the big attractions for my kids are the shark tank and the "peeking worms" (my daughter's name for them).

Scarlet ibis in the tropical zone.

After that we headed into the warm and humid rainforest gallery and looked at the giant fish from the Amazon river, and the bats, before taking a walk through the "mini jungle" with its wealth of birds, tortoises, sloths, monkeys, butterflies, parrots, and a lot more besides.

Up close and personal with some tarantulas.

The last stop in the tropical zone is always the spiders, giant cockroaches and other creepy crawlies. I tend to keep my distance at this point...

In the Aquarium's play area.

As we often do, we had brought a packed lunch and ate it downstairs by the underwater-viewing area. The kids love eating their food while perched in the windows, looking in at the dolphins swimming by. This is also where the kids' play-area is now located with stuffed animals to "examine" (just like a real marine biologist), cushions to play with and sit on, and other interactive exhibits.

There are several small tanks in this area where the kids can touch sea creatures like sea cucumbers, star fish, and sea urchins, though we were not lucky enough to be there for one of the shows on this particular visit.

One of the interactive exhibits in the Arctic zone.

After lunch we headed back upstairs and outside. It was raining pretty hard, so we just scooted over to the Arctic gallery where you can watch the belugas underwater. This gallery also has several interactive exhibits about life and research in the Arctic.

Once the kids were done exploring here they were ready to head home. We had a great visit as usual, and I'll be interested to see how all the new additions and expansions turn out in the end.

Seahorses.

Value for money
We have a family membership at the Aquarium, and I think it's worth every penny, but it isn't a cheap place to visit if you're bringing a whole family and paying regular admission: $21 for adults, $16 for youth, $13 for kids 4-12 years old (younger kids are free).

However, it is very kid-friendly, there's lots to see, and the kids can explore, touch, and really get into many of the exhibits. There's a 4D theatre (yes, four D!), and also all sorts of activities and shows on at different times during the day: feeding-times for some of the animals, dolphin and beluga shows, and so on.

When it isn't raining, it's also nice to hang out in the outdoor area and watch the belugas, otters, and sea lions. And on a really nice day, you can combine an Aquarium visit with a walk around Stanley Park.

Parrots in the Aquarium's tropical zone.

Tips
If you're going to the Aquarium, try to find some 2-for-1 coupons or similar (some tourist flyers will have them), to save money. The Aquarium also gives you $2 off the price of admission if you can show them a valid transit pass, for example a bus- or SkyTrain ticket.

We usually bring our own snack or lunch when we go here. There is a café on the premises, but I find it a bit pricey and also rather busy if it's around lunch-time. Since my kids can also be a little picky about food and snacks, it's just a better bet for us to bring our own.

The Vancouver Aquarium is a very popular and busy place on most days, and holidays and weekends are busier still. However, there are usually less people in the mornings and late afternoons.

There is a lot of parking near the Aquarium, though it tends to fill up quickly on busy days. If the weather is good, you can park your car in another area of Stanley Park (or take transit!) and make a walk to the Aquarium a part of a day out.

Flying with kids: a step-by-step walk-through to reduce anxiety

Preparation is a great help when you're flying with kids. Preparing yourself and your children ahead of time by talking about what will happen on your trip, reading about air planes and air travel, and planning what to bring can make your trip go a lot smoother. This is true for anyone traveling with kids, but it's especially true if your child is scared of flying, suffers from anxiety in unfamiliar situations, or has other special needs.

My son has some special needs. For example, he has trouble with any situation that is out of his routine, any situation where he isn't quite sure what will happen next, and also anything that involves strange, loud noises. Not surprisingly, those traits can make for a very nervous flyer.

One of the things I know helps him is doing a detailed, step-by-step walk-through of what will happen on our trip. These days he pretty much knows the drill, but he will still ask me about what is coming up next on our journey over and over again: not because he doesn't remember, but because it reassures him to hear it repeated.

Here is the walk-through I've used, and still use, with my kids. I usually start going through it about a week before we travel. Because my kids have more travel experiences now and are a bit older, I don't need do go into quite as much detail as when they were younger. My 5-year old daughter will sometimes tell me "but mom, we already know this!". She doesn't need the walk-through as much as her brother did and still does, but it has benefited her as well, and still helps prepare her by reminding her of what is coming up.

1. Getting to the airport
This step can be upsetting for many reasons for kids, especially if one parent is not coming on the trip, but just dropping the other family members off. Some kids might also feel uneasy about leaving home for an extended period. Or, like my son, they might even feel some anxiety about leaving the family car parked at the airport.

Talk to your kids about how you will get to the airport, and if needed what will happen to your vehicle while you're away. For my son, it helps to reassure him that yes, we are parking the car at the airport, but it will be there when we come back.

2. Check-in
This is usually the first wait your kids will have to deal with at the airport. Prepare them by telling them that there might be a lineup, and that you will have to wait your turn. Also explain what the check-in procedure is for. In my experience, kids handle waits and other frustrating travel-experiences better if they know why things are happening. I usually tell my kids about how the airline employee will check our tickets, our passports, and put tags on our luggage so it goes to the right place.

For my son, it can sometimes be difficult to part with the luggage, especially since he really likes pulling one of our suitcases ("the green one") himself. However, it does help that he knows ahead of time that this will happen, and that we will pick up the suitcase once we arrive at our destination (or so we hope!).

3. Security
Security means more lineups, and this time with the added hurdle of having to part with your hand luggage so it can be scanned. This is a step that can definitely be easier if your child knows about it ahead of time. Also explain to your child that they will have to remove their jacket (and maybe their shoes) at security.

Some kids really don't like this step at all. Mention that they will have to walk through the metal detector by themselves, and that they will then be able to pick up their belongings on the other side.

4. Waiting at the gate
Waiting at the gate can be hard for kids who just want to get going (who doesn't?). For my kids, it helps when I explain that each plane has to be prepared for travel. It has to be cleaned, checked, fuelled, luggage has to be loaded, and so on.

My children sometimes pass the time by looking out the windows and following the steps of flight preparation out on the tarmac: fuel trucks, cleaning staff coming out, food trucks arriving, etc.

5. Boarding the plane
With my kids, the most important preparation for this step is to remind them that they can't choose just any seat on board: we have our seat numbers and that's what we look for. Also, I try to decide ahead of time who gets to sit where, especially if we have one aisle seat, one window seat, and one middle seat. The kids might still complain about how they sit, but it does make things go smoother if we've decided this before we get on board.

6. On-board
The main things I talk about with my kids to prepare for a long flight are that yes, we will be on board for a long time, they might get bored, but there will also be some fun stuff to do: movies, games, maybe an activity pack from the airline, and eventually we will reach our destination and disembark.

This is also when I talk about some simple rules for behavior: don't kick the seat in front, don't play with your tray table, and don't yank or push on the back of your own seat. All those things are very annoying for fellow passengers, so those are the rules I'm most strict about on board. Also, the kids have to know that they must wear their seat belts for takeoff and landing, and sometimes during the flight as well.

With my son, who tends to worry quite a bit about such things, I also talk about that the noises on board, and that they are all airplane noises (we've read and talked about those a lot over the years). He doesn't much like turbulence either (who does?), and we usually talk about that too: what it is, and what to do (sit down, and put your seat belt on).

7. Disembarking
More waiting! Many kids will get very restless when they have to wait for the doors to open once the plane is at the gate, and it helps if they know why it's happening: the plane has to be in position, the gate has to be in the right place, and so on.

8. Transferring to another flight
When we're catching more than one flight, I will definitely prepare the kids for that ahead of time. We will talk about how many flights we have to take in total, and that we have to get off each plane, and then head through the airport to the next gate and the next flight. On our trips to see family in Sweden, we usually have to catch three flights, and I'll do the "1 down, 2 to go!" countdown with them as the trip progresses.

9. Waiting for the luggage
This is something I highly recommend preparing your child for ahead of time, especially if they haven't traveled by plane before. Otherwise they might wonder why you have to stop and wait again, or they might get anxious if it takes a long time for your suitcases to appear (it makes me anxious for sure!).

With my kids, I also mention some simple safety rules, such as no sitting on or touching the conveyor belt, and no getting in the way when other travelers are trying to get their luggage.

Is it worth the effort?
This kind of detailed step-by-step walk-through might seem like a lot of work, but really, all you do is talk to your child about what will happen on your trip: you just go into a little bit more detail. For me, it has definitely been worth it: my son has overcome a lot of his fears and anxieties about flying, and is now quite the seasoned traveler.

Exactly how you do this kind of preparation with your own kids will of course depend on your own situation, but I think some form of this approach can be very useful when traveling with any child, special needs or not.


Tips & resources
Many parents of kids with special needs might be familiar with visual calendars or planners (my son uses one at school for example). This is a type of planner, usually for daily, weekly, or monthly activities, that uses pictures (sometimes with words) to communicate with a child and help them know what is coming up next.

A visual planner with a step-by-step breakdown of what will happen when you're traveling by plane could be a great help for many kids. And not just for kids with special needs, but also younger children, or kids who are very fearful of flying. I haven't used one for my son for our trips, though if I'd known about them when he was younger, I would have probably done so.

If you are interested in creating a visual planner for your trip, there are products and resources available to help you do that.

• Products like  Timer Companion Schedule With Fabric Strip, Choiceworks Visual Support Systemand PECS Daily Schedule Board (Picture Exchange Communication System)can be useful.
• These days, there are also apps for that (of course!). For example:  First Then Visual Schedule. GoodKarma, the company behind this app also has their own website.
• Autismspot has a nice write-up on creating a visual calendar
• Autisable has some specific travel tips for kids with special needs 
• For more general travel tips, you can also read my post Traveling with kids who have special needs.

Photographic memory: Alhambra, Spain

Court of the lions, Alhambra, Spain.

I was going through some old photos this week, and found these snapshots I took a long time ago when I visited the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. It is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen, and one day I hope I can take my kids there and show it to them.

Arabesques.

Marble, alabaster, and water everywhere. Such a gorgeous place.

The use of water throughout the palace is amazing.

One of the many pools in the palace.

Traveling with my kids: 10 beaches I'd love to visit

My family loves beach-time. Whether it's in Maui, here in B.C., or even in Sweden, we always enjoy hanging out at the water's edge. Of course, there are lots and lots of gorgeous beaches around the world, and here (in no particular order) are 10  beaches that I'd love to explore with my kids.


1. Whitehaven Beach, Queensland, Australia
I'd love to go here because the photos I've seen show a magnificent, long stretch of white sand and turquoise water. Also, going here would mean we were visiting Australia, and that is something I'd love to do with my kids.


2. Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue, Seychelles
Great snorkelling, white sand, crystal clear water, all far away from the rest of the world. A beach-dream come true.


3. Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
What can I say? I'm a sucker for turquoise waters and white sand. Safe swimming and easy snorkelling also sounds extremely appealing!


4. Plaka Beach, Naxos, Greece
It's been far too long since I was in Greece, and this beach makes me ache to go there again.


5. Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA
Sand dunes, light houses, ocean, hiking, wild horses, and "wild and natural beaches". Yes, this is definitely a place for my family.


6. Siesta Key, Florida, USA
One of the features mentioned in the online articles about this beach is that it's a great place for finding seashells. Which means my kids would fall in love with this place.


7. Khao Lak, Thailand
Snorkelling, scuba diving, and 12 km of beach? Sounds good to me.


8. Pink Sands Beach, Bahamas
I've never been to the Caribbean, and I feel this is definitely something I need to remedy. This beach looks amazing in photos and sounds very appealing in the write-ups I've read.


9. Playa Samara, Costa Rica
Sand, ocean, fishing, jungle, and coral. A winning combination in my mind.


10. Lamu, Kenya
This island off the Kenyan coast sounds amazing. And if I could combine a visit here with a safari, it would be a definite dream come true.