Pregnant women need to plan their holidays and air travel with some extra care. Whilst the second trimester is generally considered the best time to travel, it is important to check with your doctor that there are no medical reasons not to fly before booking your tickets. 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.
Most airlines will allow pregnant women to fly internationally until 35 or 36 weeks but individual airlines may differ for a normal, healthy pregnancy and until 32 weeks for a multiple pregnancy i.e. twins or triplets. For women over 24 weeks pregnant a medical certificate is often required prior to travel as well.
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. Normally, typhoid and hepatitis A and B vaccinations are recommended for Asia and Africa, however, typhoid vaccinations are not recommended for pregnant women although there is no evidence of fetal damage, there is only limited research on the fetal effects of these vaccinations.
Traveling to areas where there is a risk of contracting malaria is not recommended while pregnant. In Australia, typhoid and hepatitis A vaccinations aren’t advised for children under six but it is recommended that children are up-to-date with their other immunizations.
Not only is the destination important but personal circumstances so pregnant women should check with their doctor as to what vaccinations they will require. A simple way to avoid getting hepatitis A and typhoid is to avoid drinking water that has not come from a sealed bottle and ice where tap water has been used.
Avoid eating raw vegetables, salad and fruit although thick-skinned fruits such as mandarins, which you peel yourself, or bananas are fine but always wash your hands with soap or antibacterial hand wash before eating. Nowadays it is easy to carry travel size bottles of gel hand wash that can sterilize without the need for special facilities as it dries in the air almost immediately.
Unfortunately expectant mothers have a higher than normal risk of blood clots which increases when flying but the risk can be reduced by wearing compression stockings. To help stop this happening, everyone, not just pregnant women, is advised to take some exercise throughout the flight at every available opportunity.
Travel insurance policies will cover costs relating t the pregnancy up to twenty six weeks but even policies that cover travel related claims after that period will not include those for the pregnancy itself.
