Pregnant travellers
Travelling does not pose an issue for most women while pregnant. There are, however, a few common sense precautions help keep you and your baby safe and comfortable during your trip. Firstly, you should always let your GP or healthcare provider know about your plans so that they can provide specialist advice before you go.
Special care should be taken with air travel for a number of reasons. Doctors and airlines generally advise against travelling during the first 12-15 weeks of pregnancy and after 30 weeks. Most airlines will not allow women on board if they are more than 30 weeks pregnant. Bear this in mind when planning, as passing the threshold whilst away could mean you are not allowed to fly the return leg of your journey!
24DrTravel.com provides cover for pregnant ladies, as long as there have been no complications throughout the pregnancy. If you have already had a health issue during your pregnancy be sure to check with our call centre if you have any questions or concerns.
Pregnant travellers heading to exotic locations should seek guidance from their GP regarding immunisations as the standard advice may differ during pregnancy. In some cases particular vaccinations may not be recommended and you should discuss the implications carefully with a medical practitioner. Travel to malarial areas during pregnancy is not generally recommended and it has been found that the blood of pregnant women is more attractive to mosquitoes, bringing increased risk of infection to both mother and her unborn baby.
During air travel, pregnant women stand an increased risk of developing inflammation and blood clots. For this reason, pregnant travellers should avoid sitting still for long periods of time. Take frequent walks up and down the aisle and perform the recommended in-flight exercises. Drink plenty of still water to avoid dehydration and eat light snacks to provide energy.
The advice to keep moving is not restricted to air travel and applies to any long journey. If you are travelling by train, bus or ferry, get up and walk around every hour to boost your circulation. During car journeys, stop for frequent breaks and stretch your legs. Remember to eat regularly and maintain your intake of fluids such as water, fruit juice and herbal tea.
A few extra precautions should be taken to avoid illness during pregnancy. Guidelines apply to eating and drinking abroad just as they do at home. Avoid drinking tap water unless you are certain it is safe and stay away from unpasteurised milk products. Salads and uncooked vegetables should also be avoided unless you are certain that they have been washed carefully.
Whether your trip is for business or pleasure, pregnancy should rarely prevent you from travelling but some simple precautions will provide peace of mind for you and your family. Buy travel insurance that specifically covers pregnancy-related medical care, seek appropriate medical advice before you leave and take frequent breaks during travel.
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Dr Travel Tips
- When camping, reduce the chance of insect bites by wearing light coloured clothing and avoiding perfumes.
- This is on ‘oldy but a goody’: always pack a spare pair of clothes in you hand luggage just in ‘case’ the airline loses your other baggage.
- Before you travel you should call your bank and let them know where you are travelling and the dates of your trip to avoid bank card issues.
- Some tips seem obvious but return the best value, this is one. Always retain a cheery disposition wherever you are travelling, you will receive far greater service – a smile is multilingual.
- To save space in your luggage and reduce the weight should you be charged extra, take samples of toiletries rather than packing your large ‘home size’ containers.
