If you find yourself expecting a child then any vacation you may have planned may need to re-booked or changed if air travel is involved. First off, a trip to the doctor will be necessary to make sure there aren't any reasons why you can't travel on a plane. Unfortunately women who are experiencing swelling, especially of the ankles, any blood loss or increase in their blood pressure may well be advised not to fly.
Almost all airlines are happy to let pregnant women travel up to 36 weeks into the pregnancy but it is best to check this as airline companies will differ in their safety rules. For women over 24 weeks pregnant a medical certificate is often required prior to travel as well. Pregnant women should check in early, as they can request a bulkhead seat, which may have more leg room, depending on the airline, or ask for an aisle seat so that it is easier to get in and out.
If the destination is in Africa or Asia then a vaccination against hepatitis A and B would normally be recommended but pregnant women are warned against typhoid inoculations even though there isn't any medical evidence that it can harm the unborn child so the best advice is for the woman to speak with the doctor first. Traveling to areas where there is a risk of contracting malaria is not recommended while pregnant.
Travelers to Australia need to be aware that children under six should not have the hepatitis A or typhoid vaccinations but in all other cases inoculations for children should be current. Not only is the destination important but personal circumstances so pregnant women should check with their doctor as to what vaccinations they will require.
For travel into countries where hepatitis A or typhoid is prevalent if water is to be used for either drinking or cleaning teeth then bottled water must be insisted upon and do not use ice in drinks unless the source can be verified. This advice extends to not eating raw vegetables or fruits with the exception of those thick skinned varieties like bananas and mandarins but even then, carefully sterilize your hands with an antibacterial hand wash before you eat. It is always worth carrying a purse sized bottle of antibacterial gel hand sanitizer, for example, which air-dries in seconds, has a fresh aloe vera fragrance and is available from most drugstores in small travel packs.
Air travel also increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis which is statistically more likely in pregnant women so to guard against this it is recommended that expectant women wear the special flight socks or tight that are now available. Of course it is also a good idea to walk around on a flight whenever it is safe to do so.
Fortunately if a pregnant woman is flying within the first twenty six weeks of pregnancy then there shouldn't be any problems with insurance but there may be exclusions in the policy after this time. Although there are companies that will cover the cost of insuring a mother to be after the twenty sixth week of pregnancy, they do not normally cover any birth expenses.
Almost all airlines are happy to let pregnant women travel up to 36 weeks into the pregnancy but it is best to check this as airline companies will differ in their safety rules. For women over 24 weeks pregnant a medical certificate is often required prior to travel as well. Pregnant women should check in early, as they can request a bulkhead seat, which may have more leg room, depending on the airline, or ask for an aisle seat so that it is easier to get in and out.
If the destination is in Africa or Asia then a vaccination against hepatitis A and B would normally be recommended but pregnant women are warned against typhoid inoculations even though there isn't any medical evidence that it can harm the unborn child so the best advice is for the woman to speak with the doctor first. Traveling to areas where there is a risk of contracting malaria is not recommended while pregnant.
Travelers to Australia need to be aware that children under six should not have the hepatitis A or typhoid vaccinations but in all other cases inoculations for children should be current. Not only is the destination important but personal circumstances so pregnant women should check with their doctor as to what vaccinations they will require.
For travel into countries where hepatitis A or typhoid is prevalent if water is to be used for either drinking or cleaning teeth then bottled water must be insisted upon and do not use ice in drinks unless the source can be verified. This advice extends to not eating raw vegetables or fruits with the exception of those thick skinned varieties like bananas and mandarins but even then, carefully sterilize your hands with an antibacterial hand wash before you eat. It is always worth carrying a purse sized bottle of antibacterial gel hand sanitizer, for example, which air-dries in seconds, has a fresh aloe vera fragrance and is available from most drugstores in small travel packs.
Air travel also increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis which is statistically more likely in pregnant women so to guard against this it is recommended that expectant women wear the special flight socks or tight that are now available. Of course it is also a good idea to walk around on a flight whenever it is safe to do so.
Fortunately if a pregnant woman is flying within the first twenty six weeks of pregnancy then there shouldn't be any problems with insurance but there may be exclusions in the policy after this time. Although there are companies that will cover the cost of insuring a mother to be after the twenty sixth week of pregnancy, they do not normally cover any birth expenses.
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If you need to gain more specific advice, it would be sensible to get in touch with your local maternity unit for their expert input into securing your pregnancy
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