Travel is not dangerous to pregnancy in most circumstances. However, for safety reasons, most airlines refuse the boarding of women of over 36 weeks’ maturity for single pregnancies and 32 weeks’ maturity for multiple pregnancies for international flights. The safest period of travel is within the second trimester (about weeks 18 to 24).
Good planning, Happy ending
When planning for a visit overseas, the following should be taken into consideration:
- General health of the pregnant woman (e.g. any heart disease, blood vessel blockage, anaemia).
- Previous obstetric history (e.g. miscarriage, preterm labour, bleeding).
- Antenatal history for this pregnancy (e.g. gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, multiple pregnancy, first pregnancy at >35-year-old or <15-year-old, vaginal bleedin)
- Facilities for blood transfusion and managing obstetric complications at destination.
Consult your doctor if you are in doubt.
Vaccines
- Live vaccines like MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) are contraindicated.
Yellow Fever vaccine is also a live vaccine, this vaccine could be considered if there is true risk of infection at destination. However, if it is only for entry requirement, a doctor' s letter and endorsed with an authority stamp stating the fact is generally accepted.
Anti-malarial drugs: some do protect, some do harm
- Pregnant women should avoid visiting malarious areas.
If impossible to avoid, anti-malarial drugs should be considered. However, some anti-malarial drugs are not suitable for pregnant women; so consult your doctor beforehand.
Other than anti-malarial drugs, anti-mosquito bites measures, especially after sunset and visiting rural areas, also play a very important role. Wear long-sleeved clothing, apply DEET containing repellent, use mosquito net or stay in air-conditioned room help to prevent mosquito bites.
Eat smart
Pregnant women who develop travellers’ diarrhea or other gastrointestinal infection may be more vulnerable to dehydration than are non-pregnant travellers. Pregnant travellers are therefore advised to take the following measures to prevent foodborne illnesses:
- Always wash hands before eating and after going to toilets.
- Take only thoroughly cooked food.
- Avoid raw seafoods (such as sashimi and oysters).
- Drink only boiled water or bottled drinks by reputable companies and pasterurised milk or dairy products.
- Avoid drinks prepared by ice of unknown origin.
- Avoid peeled fruits.
- Do not patronise street-side unlicensed food hawkers.
In addition, some foodborne illnesses, such as listeriosis, are of particular concern during pregnancy. The risk during pregnancy is that the infection will cross the placenta and cause miscarriage, stillbirth, congenital or neonatal septicaemia or meningitis.
Transport Safety
Air travel in late pregnancy might precipitate labour.
A seat belt should be worn while on road travel. The shoulder strap should be placed between the breasts, above the bump. Lap belts should be placed low and fixed across the pelvis, under the bump and over the upper thighs. This can protect you and your fetus during an accident.
Moving around every 1 or 2 hours and raising legs while seated help to reduce the risk of leg vessel blockage for prolonged travels.
Vigorous activities such as climbing high mountains, diving and horse riding are not advised.
Zika virus infection - Special notes for pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy
Pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy should not travel to affected areas. Use of mosquito repellent containing DEET during travel and returning from these areas for a period of at least 21 days are advised for all travellers including pregnant women.
Pregnant women are advised to:
- attend antenatal follow up regularly and tell the attending doctor history of recent travel;
- observe for symptoms of Zika virus infection and seek medical advice as soon as possible if feeling unwell.
Pregnant woman should not have sex with her partner who had travelled to affected areas, or else condom should be used throughout the pregnancy.