Air Travel While Pregnant
For women who are expecting a child then any arrangements where a flight is involved may need to be checked first. 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. These medical reasons could include an increase in blood pressure or any blood loss but if swelling has been apparent throughout the pregnancy then he will usually advise against flying.
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. Carrying a medical certificate if the pregnancy is more than 24 weeks pregnant is recommended.
It is also worthwhile checking in as early as possible as there is a greater chance of being issued a bulkhead seat for additional room or aisle seat where it will be easier for access. 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.
However, there are many places where malaria is still a problem and it is recommended that they be missed out as contracting malaria when pregnant an cause problems. 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.
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.
It is also inadvisable to eat fruit and raw vegetables and before eating wash your hands with an antibacterial hand wash. 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. Doctors also recommend taking some form of exercise when flying; ideas for which can usually be found in the flight magazine.
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.
Do you find the information here useful? If yes, visit pregnancy101.org to get all the information about being pregnant and having a baby and have a look at signs of preganancy.
