4 Tips for Traveling when you’re Pregnant

There’s no reason to avoid travel while you’re pregnant. In fact, for many, it’s the perfect opportunity to take time out, relax and enjoy some time with your partner before your life changes forever. If you’re thinking about jetting off before your baby is born, here are four trips to make your holiday as enjoyable as possible:

1. Choose your destination carefully

There aren’t many restrictions when it comes to choosing a destination, but there are a few important things to consider.
Firstly, the NHS recommends pregnant women avoid countries with malaria. It can lead to serious illness, affecting both you and the baby, and some anti-malaria medications are not suitable for use in pregnancy.
Malaria is found in many places across Africa and South Asia, and less commonly in Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Australasia. If you’re considering a break in any of these areas, it’s a good idea to research the malaria risk specific to your destination.
You should also think about what you plan to do when you’re there. Some pregnant women prefer to relax and take the opportunity for some pampering, whilst others prefer to stay active. This means beach holidays and city breaks are both good options, depending on your own personal preference.
Whatever you decide, it’s important not to overexert yourself. If you opt for an active holiday, make sure you build in a little extra time to recharge when you need to.

2. Get medical clearance before you fly

Although it’s safe to travel when you’re pregnant, we recommend discussing your trip with you GP or midwife before you book. They will be able to advise whether there are any specific concerns you need to be aware of in relation to your pregnancy, and will also help you arrange any medical appointments around the trip so you’re up to date.
If you’re flying, find out what your airline requires from you ahead of your flight. Many airlines insist on medical clearance to fly if you’re over 27 weeks pregnant. Others, such as British Airways, may require additional information earlier in the pregnancy.

3. Wait until the second trimester

Although there are no medical reasons to avoid travel in the first trimester, this tends to be the time pregnant women suffer from morning sickness and extreme exhaustion. When you reach the second trimester, around week 13, these feelings should start to ease.
This is the best time to travel, as the tiredness tends to return as your bump grows – along with the aches and pains associated with late pregnancy.
If you do decide to travel in the third trimester, it’s important to know that many airlines do not allow women to fly in the final weeks of pregnancy.

4. Check your travel insurance

The majority of travel insurance policies cover pregnancy as standard, but you should find out for sure before you travel. If a medical need does arise on your trip, you’ll want to be sure you can access treatment without worrying about how you’ll pay for it.
Most policies don’t cover women who give birth after a certain date, close to their due date. If you do decide to travel in those final weeks, make sure you will be able to access medical assistance if you need it.

This post was contributed by our friends from Holidaysafe.