Traveling While Pregnant

c.cdc.gov

 

Although there are some special considerations for women who travel while pregnant— especially if they are going to a developing country—most pregnant women can travel safely with a little advance preparation. If you are pregnant and planning an international trip, follow these tips so that you and your baby stay safe and healthy.

Pre-Travel Care and Travel Health Insurance

The first thing you should do is make an appointment with a doctor who specializes in travel medicine, ideally at least 4–6 weeks before you leave. A travel medicine specialist can review your itinerary, make recommendations based on the health risks at your destination, and give you any vaccines you may need. You should also talk to your obstetrician about your trip, so he or she can make sure it is safe for you to travel. Your travel medicine doctor and your obstetrician may need to talk to each other about your care.

Next, consider how you are going to get care overseas, if you need it. Your health insurance in the United States might not pay for care you receive in another country, so check with your insurance company. Consider getting supplemental travel health insurance, and make sure the policy will also cover the baby if you give birth during your trip. If you are traveling to a remote area, an insurance policy that covers medical evacuation will pay for your transportation to a high-quality hospital, in case of emergency.

Transportation Issues

Before you book a flight, check how late in your pregnancy the airline will let you fly. Most will let you fly until 36 weeks, but some have an earlier cutoff. Your feet may become swollen on a long flight, so wear comfortable shoes and loose clothing, and try to walk around every hour or so. To reduce your risk of a blood clot, your doctor may recommend compression stockings or leg exercises you can do in your seat.

If you are going on a cruise, check with the cruise line to find out if they have specific guidance for pregnant women. Most will not allow you to travel after 24–28 weeks, and you may need to have a note from your doctor stating you are fit to travel.

At your destination, always wear a seatbelt on a car or bus. A lap belt with shoulder strap is best, and the straps should be placed carefully above and below your stomach.

Food and Water Safety

Travelers’ diarrhea is caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, and dehydration from travelers’ diarrhea can be more of a problem for pregnant women. In addition, other bacteria and viruses spread by food or water can lead to more severe illnesses that can cause problems for a pregnant woman and her baby. Therefore, if you are traveling in a developing country, you should carefully follow food and water safety measures:

• Eat only food that is cooked and served piping hot.
• Do not eat cold food or food that has been sitting at room temperature (such as a buffet).
• Do not eat raw or undercooked meat or fish.
• Eat fresh fruits and vegetables only if you can peel them or wash them in clean water.
• Do not eat unpasteurized dairy products.
• Drink only water, sodas, or sports drinks that are bottled and sealed (carbonated is safer).
• Do not drink anything with ice in it—ice may be made with contaminated water.

If you get travelers’ diarrhea, the best thing to do is drink plenty of safe beverages while you wait for it to go away on its own. However, your doctor may give you an antibiotic you can take in case diarrhea is severe. Do not take products containing bismuth, such as Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate.

Malaria

Pregnant women should avoid travel to areas with malaria. If you must go while you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about taking a drug to prevent malaria. Malaria is spread by mosquitoes, so you should also wear insect repellent for additional protection.

5 Tips For Traveling While Pregnant

tipsforbabytravel.com
February 11th, 2012

A new trend in travel are babymoons. Its basically a relaxing vacation before the new arrival. When we got the opportunity to take a month off to travel to Belize, Guatemala and Mexico, we were quick to book our tickets. I was 5 months pregnant and knew this would be the last opportunity for travel until Baby B was ready.

Since I was 5 months pregnant and it was my first pregnancy, I needed to be extra diligent with our travel planning.

Things I needed to consider were:

1) Travel Insurance – I made sure that when I spoke to get quotes on insurance that they knew I was pregnant. I also made sure that the travel insurance company was aware I had surgery on my stomach less than a year ago. I did need to buy extra insurance to be fully covered on the pre-existing condition but it meant I was covered. Its really important to be very honest and disclose everything to ensure you are fully covered.

2) Consider Your Modes of Transport – This is the time when spending a little more money on transportation is a good idea. If you can, try not be to stuck in a cramped space for long periods of time. Pregnancy can cause circulation problems, so when flying there is a greater risk of getting blood clot. When traveling by plane, try to get the isle seat so you can get up and walk around every hour, wear loose clothing, and drink plenty of bottled water. If you need to take a long bus, when it stops to pick up other passengers, get off and do a couple laps around the bus to stretch your legs.

When we were in Belize we had a 7 hour bus ride from San Ignasio to Placencia. Instead, we payed $80 for a 3 hour private taxi ride which gave us the freedom to stop along the way.

3) Food and Water – Its important to eat and drink food and water that is safe. Most doctors recommend bottled water when pregnant. When overseas, I always drink bottled water even when I’m not pregnant. When you buy bottled water, always ensure that the cap seal has not been broken. We’ve heard of stories where people will try to sell water that is not filtered in a reused water bottle.

Before we went to Belize, I was reading various conflicting reports about fruit when pregnant. I indulged in many fresh fruit shakes. I just made sure they used bottled water and we tried to eat at a reputable restaurant.

4) First, Second or Third Trimester – I traveled in my second trimester which is when most doctors recommend traveling. However, it is possible to travel at anytime. Most airlines will let you travel up to 37 weeks (but you need to check since each airline has different policies). Before any travel, you should have a checkup with your doctor.

5) Picking the Right Destination & Vaccinations – Since many overseas destinations require specific vaccinations (malaria, tetanus, etc) before entry, if you are pregnant you may not be able to get vaccinated. Therefore, you should be cautious before booking any overseas travel when pregnant. Try to pick a place which has good healthcare, in case of an emergency, and someplace you can sit back and relax with little worry.

Traveling when pregnant is the prefect opportunity for you and your partner to spend some quality, relaxing time together before the little ones arrival. Be sure to check with your doctor before you go to ensure you are cleared to fly. If you are worried about going to far from home, stay close and take a road trip instead. Wherever your trip takes you, enjoy it and relax.