Is It Safe To Travel During Pregnancy?

Most of the pregnant women wonder if it is safe to travel during pregnancy. Here is what you must know about travelling safely during pregnancy.With proper precautions, and having knowledge on when to travel, vaccinations, and travel insurance, most pregnant women can travel safely. Pregnant women can be at increased risk of becoming infected while travelling that can affect the unborn baby. It is always important for you to consult your healthcare provider to discuss your travel plans much before you plan to travel during pregnancy. In this articleWhen Shall You Travel during Pregnancy?Beware of Malaria and DiarrhoeaFlying during PregnancyLand Travel during PregnancySailing during PregnancyWhen Shall You Travel during Pregnancy?You may face the most common obstetric emergencies during the first and third trimesters, so the ideal time to travel is the second trimester of your pregnancy. The risk of miscarriage, nausea, and tiredness are common in the first 12 weeks, making the travel risky and uncomfortable. But again, if you are having no marked complications with pregnancy, and are properly covered with travel insurance, you can travel throughout the pregnancy, but definitely after consulting your obstetrician.Beware of Malaria and DiarrhoeaPregnant women are generally advised not to travel to countries where vaccination is needed as not all vaccinations are safe for your unborn baby. Malaria causes major health problems for a mom-to-be and her unborn baby, so you must not travel to places where malaria transmission occurs as not all anti-malarial drugs are safe during pregnancy. Also, keep an eye on foreign foods and drink to prevent traveller’s diarrhoea. Do not take any travel vaccinations without consulting your doctor as they may cause harm during pregnancy.Flying during PregnancyMany commercial airlines do not entertain pregnant women above 36 weeks to travel or they ask for a written consent from the obstetrician. Check the airlines and consult your doctor before you fly. You may have a higher risk of developing blood clots known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) while flying that can be reduced or avoided if you take care of few points:Do calf exercises and a little of stretching under the supervision of expert to ease your body while you flyTake occasional walks up and down the aisle, and promote circulationDrink plenty of water and keep yourself hydratedChoose an aisle seat to walk to the washroom whenever neededWear comfortable clothes and shoesYou may wear compression stockings to reduce leg swellingWear your seatbelt below your bump as advised by your doctorLand Travel during PregnancyApart from consulting your obstetrician, things you must keep in mind while you travel by car, bus, or train are as follows:Buckle up every time you ride a car making sure it crosses below your bump as directed by your obstetrician.Do not forget to turn on the airbags as they outweigh any risk to you and your babyAvoid driving the vehicle yourselfRemain seated while travelling in buses as they have narrow aislesHold on to rails or seat backs to balance yourself when you travel by trainTo avoid fatigue or dizziness during long journeys, carry energy-giving foods and drink regularlyDo not forget to do some leg stretching exercises while you are travellingAvoid travelling by bumpy roads and avoid long distance travel by roadSailing during PregnancyCheck the ferry company’s policies as many restrict travelling for pregnant women above 32 weeks of gestation. Consult your obstetrician and go through these safety checks:Check if there is a healthcare provider on board and medical facilities if neededMake sure to carry medicines prescribed by your obstetrician for sea-sickness that are safe for pregnancyCheck with your obstetrician for any natural remedies which you can follow if you cope with nausea and vomiting while sailingPregnancy is an exciting period; you must enjoy every moment of it. Make sure your travel insurance covers pregnancy-related medical care during labour, premature birth, and also the cost of changing the date of your return trip if you go into labour. Seek medical assistance if you feel uncomfortable at any moment while or after you have travelled. Enjoy your trip, enjoy your pregnancy!What are the risks related to travelling during pregnancy? When is it not safe to travel during pregnancy? Is it safe to travel during first trimester of pregnancy? Discuss here.