For women who are expecting a child then any arrangements where a flight is involved may need to be checked first. The first thing that needs doing is a consultation with the doctor as there are certain times when it is safer to fly than others apart from any current medical problems. If you have experienced high blood pressure or bleeding during your pregnancy, or if you are prone to swelling, such as in your ankles, your doctor may recommend you don’t fly.
Whilst it is almost universally accepted that it is safe for expectant mothers to fly up until the thirty sixth week of pregnancy, it is best to check this detail with the airline involved. Some airlines will actually ask a pregnant woman if they have a certificate of pregnancy which is usually advisable after twenty four weeks.
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 an expectant mother is flying to the continents of Asia or Africa she should seek advice on vaccinations for hepatitis A, B and typhoid before traveling.
Traveling to areas where there is a risk of contracting malaria is not recommended while pregnant. Residents of Australia for instance are advised to be up to date with their inoculations but if they are under six years of age then the hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are not advised.
Not only is the destination important but personal circumstances so pregnant women should check with their doctor as to what vaccinations they will require. A simple way to avoid getting hepatitis A and typhoid is to avoid drinking water that has not come from a sealed bottle and ice where tap water has been used.
It is also inadvisable to eat fruit and raw vegetables and before eating wash your hands with an antibacterial hand wash. 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. While in flight do the recommended exercises described in the in-flight magazine and to walk around the plane regularly when the seatbelt signs are off.
Travel insurance policies will cover costs relating t the pregnancy up to twenty six weeks but even policies that cover travel related claims after that period will not include those for the pregnancy itself.
Tags: Family
