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Taking a break when pregnant is a great idea - a few days away will help you relax and make you look even more radiant than you already are!
There are, however, one or two considerations to take into account before you set off and often it is a good idea to check with your doctor or midwife whether it is safe for you to travel. Usually it will be, but talk it over first.
If you do decide to travel, try to ensure you at least know where the nearest hospital is. Additionally, if might be a good idea to keep a copy of your medical records with you; they will help health professionals who do not know you in an emergency.
It is sensible to take it easy before the baby arrives. Activity holidays and whirlwind tours of several different destinations could exhaust you when the pregnancy itself may be reducing your ability to be physically active. A holiday away from extremes of heat and altitude is probably a more sensible option. But fit pregnant women who have continued with moderate physical activity should not feel too restricted on their holidays.
Some doctors advise against travel in the early months of a pregnancy, when the risk of miscarriage is highest. Also, travelling in the last few weeks of pregnancy is not advised because of the risk that you could go into labour far away from the doctors and midwives who have been following your pregnancy and know your medical history.
Car travel, trains and coaches
Whenever you are travelling in a train or a coach get up now and again and walk around to help your circulation. Many pregnant women find the developing baby puts pressure on their bladder, so they have to go to the toilet frequently. It is a good idea when going by train or coach to position yourself near the toilet, at the end of a carriage or in an aisle seat. If travelling by car, plan for stops along the way.
Legally, pregnant women should continue wearing a seatbelt. Place the diagonal strap between the breasts and the lap belt under the bump and across the thighs. Always wear the seatbelt as tight as possible. Any slack can increase the chance of injury.
Air travel
If you are travelling by air, it is important that you check with the airline you are flying with about their regulations regarding pregnant passengers. Later on in the pregnancy (between 28-36 weeks) you will need a letter from your doctor giving you the all-clear to fly and giving your estimated due date (policies vary according to airline). You will probably not be allowed to fly after 36 weeks, or if you have given birth within the previous 7 days, although this period may be extended.
Pregnant women should not fly in an aeroplane with an unpressurized cabin (usually small planes) because changes in pressure could cause your waters to break before they should.
Ensure you drink plenty of liquids. Dehydration occurs much more rapidly when flying. As with trains and coaches ask for a seat near the toilet to ensure easy access.
Travel to tropical destinations
Generally, doctors prefer not to give drug treatments or vaccines to pregnant women unless it is absolutely necessary. Doctors do not recommend travelling to an area where there is a risk of contracting malaria. It poses a risk to both the mother and the baby, and increases the risk of a stillbirth. Some anti-malarial drugs may be given to pregnant women, but resistance to these drugs is common in the parasite that causes malaria. Most of the more modern malaria drugs, such as mefloquine, should not be used during pregnancy.
Vaccination
Most vaccinations can be given during pregnancy, except for those that use a safe form of live viruses. The polio vaccine that you take by mouth is allowed in pregnancy. Your doctor will probably want to weigh up the risks and benefits of vaccination with you individually. Quite often, travel to destinations that require vaccinations is usually discouraged,
Vaccination against yellow fever is not recommended in pregnancy, except after the 6th month, and then only when the pregnant woman is visiting a high-risk area for yellow fever.
Finally, when you go away, remember to enjoy yourself and let your hair down. So long as you take the sensible precautions mentioned above, there really is no reason why you shouldn't have a great time travelling when pregnant!
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