- Is this really the time to travel? All pregnant women should ask themselves the question of the need to travel and assess the risks to her health and her baby. Complications abroad can be life-threatening and this risk varies according to destination and type of trip. If the pregnancy is progressing in a satisfactory condition and the doctor sees no cons-indication to travel, the best time to travel is the second trimester. Before leaving, plan a complete obstetrical examination recorded in the book of pregnancy with marked different analyzes and contact your doctor.
- Food and Hygiene: Some diseases transmitted by food or water are particularly severe during pregnancy (toxoplasmosis, hepatitis A and E, listeriosis among others). Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly. Drink boiled drinks or encapsulated. Avoid raw vegetables, seafood, unpasteurized cheeses and undercooked meat.
- Long trips: The risk of DVT is increased during pregnancy and should avoid long periods of sitting still. For long flights, we recommend getting up regularly to walk, wear support tights, drinking heavily. The flight altitude is an altitude of 2000 m which is well tolerated. The natural radiation-related theft is not a danger but the repeated thefts are not recommended.
- Travel by plane until when? Most airlines refuse to transport pregnant women on international flights from the 32nd week of pregnancy.
- Choice of destinations: The visit of developing countries involves certain risks: inadequate medical facilities for obstetric and neonatology, the road accidents, lack of blood banking quality and most common infectious diseases .
- Insurance: Make sure your insurance covers you for childbirth and complications of pregnancy (even in Europe!) And that your baby is also assured. If necessary, subscribe to additional insurance and / or emergency repatriation.
- Malaria (malaria): Do not go to a country where malaria is endemic. If travel is necessary, you must take all precautions recommended. This disease is particularly severe among pregnant women and may cause miscarriage and severe seizures in newborn infants. In case of fever and flu symptoms, consult a doctor. The only tolerated antimalarial drugs during pregnancy chloroquine and proguanil, which does not protect against all forms of malaria. Can be used mefloquine 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy. Use mosquito repellent lotions of low concentrations of DEET. Wear long clothing and sleep under a mosquito net.
- Vaccinations: Ideally, it would have made all the reminders and vaccinations before becoming pregnant. If necessary, the inactivated (killed) may be administered to pregnant women. The administration of live vaccines (attenuated) is cons-indicated except in exceptional situations where the risk of exposure to the disease requires.
- Medications: Certain antidiarrheals and antibiotics are not indicated cons. In case of diarrhea, use of oral rehydration solutions in primary care. Take an antibiotic reserve that is permitted during pregnancy if necessary (urinary tract infection, bloody diarrhea).
- Tropical climate: If possible, choose a room with air conditioning, avoid the sun and heat, use a sunscreen, because pregnant women are particularly susceptible to the effects of sunlight on skin, drink plenty of soft drinks or caffeine reliably ( unopened bottle, without ice, boiled).
- Sport and pregnancy: Most sports can be practiced in moderation during pregnancy. However, scuba diving, strenuous activities, treks altitude, and dangerous sports-cons are listed.
- Signs and symptoms of obstetric emergencies: Consult a doctor urgently if you have bleeding or a significant loss of fluid from the vagina, abdominal pain, unusual contractions, headaches that do not pass quickly, disturbances of vision, taking drastic weight with swollen ankles and general water retention, increased blood pressure.
Pregnancy and Travel – The Outdoor Women
