TRAVELLING during Pregnancy
Approach to doctor when:
- For most woman travelling during pregnancy is safe, as long as woman and unborn baby are
healthy. Pregnant woman can travel safely until she is 36 weeks pregnant.
- The best time to travel is the middle of their pregnancy, between 14 and 28 weeks, because
most common pregnancy problems happen in the first (begins on the first day of her last
period and lasts until the end of week 12) and third trimester (begins in week 28 of pregnancy
and lasts until she give birth).
- In the absence of obstetric or medical complication, occasional air travel is safe for pregnant
woman shown in Figure 1, certain preventive measures can be used to minimize the risks
including use of support by covering or bandage and periodic movement of lower limit,
avoidance of tight clothing, occasional moving about or walking and maintenance of
sufficient amount of liquid in the body.
- For most air travellers, the risks to the fetus from exposure to cosmic rays are negligible.
- During a car trip, drive as short as possible. Seatbelt should wear every time riding in a car. Pregnant woman should continue to use three-point seatbelts during pregnancy. The lap belt
should be placed across the hips and below the uterus shown in Figure 2. Although there
is potential for injury from a seatbelt, the risk is low because seatbelts significantly
reduce the risk of major injuries from collisions, the overall effect is beneficial.
- While travelling, pregnant woman should be aware of the potential infection exposures
(including Zika virus) as well as available medical care at each individual destination.
- There is no exact gestational age (first day of the woman's last menstrual cycle to the
current date) after which woman cannot travel, each pregnant woman balance the benefit of the trip with the potential risk of a complication at her destination.