Overseas travel whilst pregnant brings into focus an entire range of issues to be considered. If you are travelling whilst pregnant to third world countries you may be exposed to bacteria and viruses, which can cause tummy upsets, fever, diarrhea, and dehydration. Added to this, there will be language and cultural differences, which make diagnosis difficult.
Here's a checklist for travelling whilst pregnant.
1. Make sure that you are travelling with at least one other person.
2. When you book your ticket, contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) to get the right information on diseases prevalent in the places you are visiting. You could also check the World Health Organization website to check whether there are any epidemics being reported.
3. When travelling whilst pregnant, ensure that you drink only safe water. Select a reputed brand of bottled water and ensure that the seals on the bottles are intact. Avoid ice cubes, as most ice cubes are made from tap water. Rinse out glasses and cups with bottled water before your drink from them. You can carry juices and soft drinks with you.
4. The milk you drink has to be pasteurized. So read the fine print on the bottle carefully.
5. Give fresh fruits, which are peeled beforehand, a miss. Avoid salads in the hotel buffet. Make sure that the meat, fish, and vegetables are well cooked before eating.
6. Before travelling, check out what medical facilities are available and whether your insurance cover is valid.
Of course, when travelling whilst pregnant, you would know your blood type. But you would also have to make sure that blood supplies at the destination are available and have been screened.
Research has shown that pregnant women are more likely to contract malaria and are also prone to very bad reactions. There are a number of mosquito repellents and wipes available, which are quite effective. Try not to use DEET based insect repellents as this chemical is easily absorbed into the skin. There are some lemon-eucalyptus based repellents which are safe for pregnant women to use.
Check with the airline and the insurance company before booking your ticket. Make a seat request for an aisle or bulkhead seat so that you have maximum legroom. A lot of the budget carriers charge extra if you have a special seat request; consider it money well spent and get a comfortable seat. Make sure you move from your seat at regular intervals to get your circulation going.
Car travel is relatively safe but make sure you take stretch breaks at regular intervals. If you are planning a cruise, then make sure that there is a doctor on board and your insurance covers you on board a ship.
There are plenty more tips for travelling whilst pregnant on our website including information on a number of niche insurance products such as travel insurance.
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