So you're finally going to get your child! If you're like most people, you'll spend that last few days before your trip in a frantic state of perpetual motion. Between the many last details to cross off that list, and the sheer excitement, chances are you won't begin your trip well rested.

Given that fact, what is the best way to deal with the inevitable jet lag you will experience from going across many time zones? Of course you'll want to begin well-hydrated and as well rested as possible. Experts say it is wise to avoid alcohol in the day or so before you leave. The last thing you need at the start of your trip is a hangover.

According to an article at MSNBC.com, there are some things you can do during the flight to help your body cope.

Perhaps the most effective way to combat jet lag while in flight is to treat your body well. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of nonalcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids. Don't be afraid to ask your flight attendant for extra water.

Get up out of your seat at regular intervals to walk and stretch. You can also do exercises like toe raises, isometric exercises, stomach crunches and shoulder shrugs right in your seat. This keeps your blood flowing and prevents it from pooling at your extremities, a common phenomenon in pressurized cabins.

Be sure to read the rest of this article too, as it contains many helpful tips. I found that the flight over to Ethiopia, though tiring, felt very do-able. It helps that usually you arrive in Ethiopia in the evening, and so can very gratefully go straight to bed once you reach your hotel. This gives you a jump on switching your body clock.

Most likely you will feel tired in Ethiopia, especially during the first 3 days or so. I was always ready to go to bed very early-- staying up until 7:30 was a real accomplishment. But mostly I felt quite functional during the day.

The flight home for me was the toughest. Not only do you have a new child to care for, but also the flight leaves late in the evening, after you have been up the whole day. Ideally you'll be able to sleep some once on the plan, especially in the first leg of the journey. But the sleep tends to be very broken, and it really is a long flight.

I just had to keep reminding myself that it would not last forever. On our second flight home with our most recent baby, we ended up having to have a layover overnight in Chicago. Although that delayed our homecoming, it turned out to be a really nice way to break up the journey, and meant that we were at least a little more rested and coherent at our airport homecoming party.

Experts tell people to expect it to take you one day for every hour of time difference to get over the jetlag. Out West, the time zone is 9 or 10 hours different from Ethiopia. That means you should expect it to take more than a week for you (and your child!) to get over jetlag once home. So give yourself some time!

Additional Resources

The Jetlag Calculator

The Argonne Anti-Jet-Lag-Diet