When is traveling safe during pregnancy

When is the best time to travel during pregnancy? How can you get ready for your trip? Plan ahead and follow these tips to stay safe when traveling during pregnancy: Ask your airline if they have a cut-off time for traveling during pregnancy.

You can fly on most airlines up to 36 weeks of pregnancy. Check to see what medical care your health insurance covers. Health insurance helps you pay for medical care. Most insurance plans cover emergency medical care no matter where you are.

Think about buying travel insurance. This is insurance you buy in addition to your regular health insurance. It covers you for medical care while traveling in another country.

You also can buy travel insurance that refunds some of your costs if you have to cancel your trip. Visit USA. Keep these things in your purse, a carry-on or a bag you plan to have with you at all times.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC for information about vaccinations , travel alerts , managing health conditions during your trip and other ways you can stay healthy during travel. If you can, travel with someone. Is it safe to travel to places where Zika is spreading if you're pregnant? When should you seek medical care during travel? If you have any of the following signs and symptoms during your trip, get medical help right away: Belly pain or cramps Contractions when the muscles of your uterus get tight and then relax Severe headaches Leg swelling or pain Vaginal bleeding when blood comes out of your vagina or you pass blood tissue or clots Vision problems Your water breaks.

This can be in a large gush or a continuous trickle. How can you stay safe when traveling by plane? Book an aisle seat so you don't have to climb over other passengers when you need to get up to use the restroom or walk around.

Try sitting towards the front of the plane where the ride feels smoother. Drink plenty of water. Gas in your belly can expand at high altitudes and make you feel uncomfortable.

This can help keep you from getting hurt in case of turbulence. Turbulence happens when the air around a flying plane causes a bumpy ride. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Flex your ankles during the flight, and take a walk when it's safe to leave your seat.

Doing these things can help your blood flow and lower your risk of deep vein thrombosis DVT , a blood clot inside a vein. Always wear a seatbelt. Fasten the lap sash across your lap and under your bump, fit the shoulder sash above your bump and between your breasts.

Avoid wearing the lap sash across your bump as a sudden jolt could cause your placenta to separate from your uterus. If you are sitting in the front passenger seat, move your seat well back from the dashboard to reduce airbag impact in case of a collision. If you are driving, have your seat as far back from the steering wheel as possible, while still being able to drive safely and comfortably.

It may help to tilt the steering wheel downwards, away from your belly. If you are involved in a collision, however minor, see your doctor.

If you have contractions, pain or bleeding after an accident, see a doctor as soon as possible. Let them know if you have a rhesus negative blood group, as you may need to have an anti-D injection.

Consider joining a roadside assistance program that can help you in case of a breakdown, and always carry a mobile phone. Heat and sun exposure and pregnancy If travelling in hot weather: Carry a water bottle with you and drink water frequently.

Stay in the shade or inside during the hottest part of the day. Protect your skin by wearing loose-fitting clothing, a hat and sunscreen. Avoid rushing or overexertion — plan your activities and give yourself plenty of time. Overheating during pregnancy If you feel weak and dizzy, light-headed or even slightly nauseous, it may be a sign that you are overheating and dehydrated. Remember: to seek shade or go inside, drink a glass of cool water and lie down to bring down your temperature by using a fan, placing a cool, wet cloth on your forehead and the back of your neck, or running cool water over your wrists.

Sporting activities and pregnancy Certain sporting activities carry an increased risk to your unborn baby. Activities to avoid include: Water-skiing — coming off the skis could force water into the vagina. Scuba diving — the changes in blood gases may harm your baby. Snorkelling is fine and scuba diving to depths of less than 18 metres 60 feet is reasonably safe, but check with your doctor first.

Saunas and hot tubs — raising your body temperature can harm your baby. Horseback riding — the motion of horseback riding carries a risk of placental abruption separating the placenta from the uterus. Falling from or being kicked by a horse carries a high risk of trauma to your baby, or even death. High-altitude activities such as mountain climbing — at heights over 3, metres, the oxygen level in the air is low.

This reduces the oxygen available to your baby. Pregnant women are also more vulnerable to developing altitude sickness. Wash your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet, before preparing food and before eating. In developing nations, only eat fruit that you have peeled yourself. Avoid leafy greens and salads because they could have been washed in contaminated water. Drink bottled water if you are unsure of the water supply. Use bottled water when brushing your teeth. Make sure that all eating utensils are thoroughly dried after washing.

Avoid ice. Flying isn't harmful to you or your baby, but discuss any health issues or pregnancy complications with your midwife or doctor before you fly. The chance of going into labour is naturally higher after 37 weeks around 32 weeks if you're carrying twins , and some airlines won't let you fly towards the end of your pregnancy.

Check with the airline for their policy on this. After week 28 of pregnancy, the airline may ask for a letter from your doctor or midwife confirming your due date, and that you aren't at risk of complications.

Long-distance travel longer than 4 hours carries a small risk of blood clots deep vein thrombosis DVT. If you fly, drink plenty of water and move about regularly — every 30 minutes or so. You can buy a pair of graduated compression or support stockings from the pharmacy, which will help reduce leg swelling. Most vaccines that use live bacteria or viruses aren't recommended during pregnancy because of concerns that they could harm the baby in the womb. However, some live vaccines may be considered during pregnancy if the risk of infection outweighs the risk of live vaccination.

Can I take anti-malaria medication when I'm pregnant? Can I have travel vaccinations when I'm pregnant? It's best to avoid long car journeys if you're pregnant. Flying is usually not harmful to you or your baby, but discuss any health issues or pregnancy complications with your midwife or doctor before you fly. The likelihood of going into labour is naturally higher after 37 weeks around 34 weeks if you're carrying twins , and some airlines will not let you fly towards the end of your pregnancy.

Check with the airline for their policy on this. After week 28 of pregnancy, the airline may ask for a letter from your doctor or midwife confirming your due date , and that you aren't at risk of complications.

Long-distance travel longer than 5 hours carries a small risk of blood clots deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. If you fly, drink plenty of water and move about regularly — every 30 minutes or so. You can buy a pair of support stockings in the pharmacy over the counter, which will reduce leg swelling. Some vaccines hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis are safe and recommended for pregnant women who are travelling to places where they are at risk.

However, the majority of live-virus vaccines measles, mumps, rubella, chicken-pox are not recommended for pregnant women as they are not considered safe for the unborn child. It is safe for pregnant women to have influenza vaccine, which is strongly recommended for all pregnant women, as influenza in pregnancy can be a very serious illness.

You are generally advised to avoid travelling to countries where immunisation is required. However, if you must travel to areas requiring vaccinations, you should discuss this with your doctor, as the risk of catching an infectious disease often outweighs the risk from vaccination. Malaria can be more severe in pregnancy and can have serious risks for the baby. Pregnant women can be more susceptible to contracting malaria. Talk to your doctor about the risk of malaria at your travel destination and whether you need anti-malarial medications.

Not all anti-malarial medications are safe for pregnant women. Fatigue and dizziness are common during pregnancy so it's important to drink regularly, eat natural, energy-giving foods such as fruit and nuts and stop regularly for a break.

Keep the air circulating in the car and wear your seatbelt with the cross strap between your breasts and the lap strap across your pelvis under your bump, not across your bump.

Road accidents are among the most common causes of injury in pregnant women. Avoid making long trips on your own and share the driving with your companion. You need to wear a seatbelt when you are pregnant. Research shows that when you wear a seatbelt there is much less risk of injury to you and your unborn baby.