Pregnant women need to plan their holidays and air travel with some extra care. The gynecologist would be the first person to contact to see if any special arrangements need to be made and if there are any medical reasons why it is unsafe to fly. If you have experienced high blood pressure or bleeding during your pregnancy, or if you are prone to swelling, such as in your ankles, your doctor may recommend you don’t fly.
Although it is normally safe for a pregnant woman to travel up to the thirty sixth week or thirty second if it is a multiple birth, individual airlines will differ so a check well before the flight is worthwhile. Some airlines will actually ask a pregnant woman if they have a certificate of pregnancy which is usually advisable after twenty four weeks.
Pregnant women are advised to arrive at the airport check in desk earlier to have a better seat allocated to them, one with easier access or room. People traveling to Africa or Asia would normally be expected to have inoculations for hepatitis A and B but expectant mothers are advised against those for typhoid despite the fact that there is not evidence to support that there will be any damage to the fetus.
Pregnant women are also advised against traveling to any country where malaria is prevalent. Certain restrictions also apply if there are young children and if those under six are involved then vaccinations for typhoid and hepatitis A are not advisable in Australia.
Always check with a doctor as to which vaccinations are required as they will vary depending on an individual situation and itinerary. Always refuse to drink water unless it is bottled with an unbroken seal and the same goes for ice in drinks if you want to avoid contracting hepatitis A or typhoid.
In some countries eating most fruit and any raw vegetables is also dangerous as is failing to sterilize hands before eating. A good accessory to take on a vacation is the new type of fast drying antibacterial hand gels which come in travel pack size and can be slipped into a purse.
Pregnancy can increase the risk of developing blood clots, which can cause deep vein thrombosis so it is advisable to wear flight socks or tight stockings (available at drugstores) to aid blood circulation and reduce the chance of DVT.While in flight do the recommended exercises described in the in-flight magazine and to walk around the plane regularly when the seatbelt signs are off.
Most travel insurance covers women up until 26 weeks of pregnancy, though this excludes childbirth or the health of a newborn child and although you can still buy standard travel insurance after this point but it doesn’t cover anything related to the pregnancy.
If you find the information above educational and useful, read more about pregnancy and birth at pregnancy101.org and have a look at what are the signs of pregnancy.
