Safe travel during pregnancy

Pregnancy does not mean that you should sit at home, wrapped in a quilt. If it passes normally and you observe some precautions, then if you want you can learn the world.

Remember that every trip means that you will be away from your doctor who knows you. When traveling abroad, consider that there prenatal care can be completely different and it will be difficult to get the necessary advice because of the language barrier. In addition, the service can be paid, check the availability of health insurance. Talk with your doctor about vaccinations that you may need, and about medicines that you can take in case of usual ailments. It is recommended not to travel to the highlands, as getting used to the shortage of oxygen can cost you and your child dearly, especially in the last trimester.

WHEN TO GO

One of the main questions is when to go safely? In general, it is better to travel in the middle of the second trimester, between the 18th and 24th weeks, when there is little danger of miscarriage or premature birth. Obviously, your own circumstances should be taken into account;so, if you are waiting for a triplet, you are not recommended to go anywhere at this time, as frequent medical examinations will be required.

SAFE FOOD

Be careful with food and drink in developing countries. Be sure to follow the recommendations for healthy food, given in Ch.4, and avoid any potential dangers. Choose restaurants that look clean and in which you know what you eat. If you doubt the composition of the dish, do not eat it. Be careful with food purchased in tents and in markets where meals and meat in particular can be semi-cooked. Before the trip, find out how things are with the water. You need to maintain a certain level of water consumption, so if you are not sure about the quality of drinking water, drink distilled water from bottles. You can use it even for cleaning your teeth. Avoid drinks with ice.

Traveler's Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common thing when traveling. It is not dangerous in itself, it can lead to dehydration of the body, as well as to weakness, fainting, premature birth and decreased blood flow to the baby. If you experience severe diarrhea, drink plenty of fluids and seek medical attention.

CARE FOR YOUR HEALTH

It may be difficult to find a pharmacy at the place of your journey, so prepare all the medications that you think you will need after discussing their safety with your doctor. If you take prescription drugs, such as asthma or high blood pressure, take care that they are enough for the entire trip, and some reserve will not hurt. This is also discussed with your doctor.

If you are planning to miss some time, you need to meet with the doctor who conducts antenatal check-ups at the place you are going to, and make sure that the tests you need can be done at the right time. If you are traveling in the third trimester, you should know where there are nearby institutions in which you can assist in labor and childbirth. Find out if there can be coping with such complex cases as urgent cesarean section or pre-eclampsia, whether there is an opportunity to apply anesthesia.

TRAVEL TO THE TROPICAL COUNTRIES

When planning a trip to tropical countries where some diseases are particularly common, you may need to be vaccinated before you travel. Your doctor will be the main source of information about the vaccinations you need.

Pregnant women are not recommended to travel to places where malaria is registered. However, other diseases can be transmitted with insects. You can protect yourself from bites by putting on long-sleeved blouses, pants, socks and closed shoes. Use repellents, but not often.

THE JOURNEY IN THE

MACHINE

This trip does not contain any special risk for pregnancy, except that you will have to sit in one place for a long time. With a long trip, make stops after every couple of hours that would go out and walk. Use your seat belt and shoulder clip to ensure your safety and do not harm the child if you are involved in a traffic accident. The amniotic fluid that surrounds the child serves as a pillow against any compression created by the seat belt. Limiters of movement do not carry a danger. As studies show, the main cause of fetal death in road accidents is the death of the mother.

Travel by Air

Air travel is allowed by most airlines until the 36th week of pregnancy, although you may need a letter from your doctor with permission to use the airplane. Find out the relevant rules in the airline.

♦ Pull out the legs During a long flight from time to time, get up and walk on the plane. Long sitting can lead to stagnation of blood in the legs. A few dozen steps will help maintain blood circulation and prevent deep vein thrombosis.

♦ Drink more water Take a bottle of water with you and drink more often. Air travel can greatly dehydrate you - the relative humidity in airplanes is usually lower than in the Sahara.

♦ Sit next to the passage Try to buy a place near the passage, so as not to disturb neighbors when you need to use the toilet.