Travelling abroad when pregnant
Getting away before your baby arrives sounds like a great idea, but consider your timing carefully. It is not advisable to be away from home for the first trimester as you may feel tired and or sick as well as a lot of the tests you may wish to take are done during the early weeks of your pregnancy. Many airlines will not allow you to travel after 36 weeks and do you really want to take the risk of giving birth away from home should things go that way.
The place you decide to visit also needs to be thought about carefully; anti-malaria drugs and vaccinations do not mix well with pregnancy. When you are pregnant you are more susceptible to mosquito bites so it is not worth the risk visiting countries where anti-malaria drugs are advised. High altitudes and scuba-diving are also off the menu, but there are many places to visit that will not put you or your baby at risk.
Make sure you tell your travel insurance company you are pregnant otherwise you may not be covered should you need to make a claim. Also get in writing that you are covered as some companies have very small, small print when it comes to pregnant lady claims. It is a good idea to carry all your pregnancy related information with you so that should the unfortunate happen and you do need medical assistance the doctors and nurses are up to date with your pregnancy.
Should your holiday require a flight make sure you purchase a pair of compression stockings as you may be more likely to suffer from deep vein thrombosis. Try to get an aisle seat so that it is easier for you to get up and have a wonder during the flight, also keep hydrated. If you have suffered from DVT in the past you should visit your doctor before you travel.
If the above sounds too much like hard work have a look at the following for ideas of places to visit that don’t involve flying or vaccinations.
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