Any woman who is expecting a child will have to re-think her flight travel plans as soon as she knows she is expecting. 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. Some women experience abnormal bleeding and an increase in their blood pressure, in which case the doctor would normally suggest that flying should be avoided and in particular if any swelling has been experienced.

Whilst it is almost universally accepted that it is safe for expectant mothers to fly up until the thirty sixth week of pregnancy, it is best to check this detail with the airline involved. 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 should check in early, as they can request a bulkhead seat, which may have more leg room, depending on the airline, or ask for an aisle seat so that it is easier to get in and out. If the destination is in Africa or Asia then a vaccination against hepatitis A and B would normally be recommended but pregnant women are warned against typhoid inoculations even though there isn’t any medical evidence that it can harm the unborn child so the best advice is for the woman to speak with the doctor first.

Malaria is another problem and expectant mothers are advised not to travel to countries where contracting it is a possibility. Residents of Australia for instance are advised to be up to date with their inoculations but if they are under six years of age then the hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are not advised.

To be on the safe side it is advisable to check with a medical professional before any travel is arranged when a woman is pregnant. If in a country with hepatitis A or typhoid then the use of bottled water for drinking or even brushing teeth is an absolute necessity and ice should only be used from water that has been purified.

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. It is always worth carrying a purse sized bottle of antibacterial gel hand sanitizer, for example, which air-dries in seconds, has a fresh aloe vera fragrance and is available from most drugstores in small travel packs.

It is worth remembering that air travel can increase the already current risk of blood clots so expectant women should take precautions when flying like wearing compression socks or equivalent. Doctors also recommend taking some form of exercise when flying; ideas for which can usually be found in the flight magazine.

It is also worth an expectant mother to check on her insurance policy before she flies as some place further restrictions especially after the twenty sixth week of pregnancy.

To read more about pregnancy and baby, visit pregnancy101.org and while you are it, you can learn more about symtoms of pregnancy.

Tags : travel while pregnant
Categories : Uncategorized