Dr Sarah Jarvis is the Clinical Director of the Patient Platform, an active medical writer, broadcaster, and the resident doctor for BBC Radio 2.
Many of us enjoy travelling occasionally; whether that is jetting off on a family holiday or heading to a city for work, exploring new countries can be exhilarating. However, travelling with a medical condition or while pregnant can boast new and unexpected concerns and worries that you may not otherwise have, like whether you need travel insurance for health conditions or pregnancy when travelling.
In this guide, we answer some of the questions you may have when it comes to travelling whilst pregnant, including where you can travel and when it is recommended that you stop travelling.
Does My Stage of Pregnancy Affect Whether I’m Fit to Travel?
Travelling in the First Trimester (0-12 weeks)
Overall, most doctors would advise that you can travel in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy if you don’t have any underlying medical conditions.
In your first trimester, you’re more likely to be suffering from morning (or as some of us call it, morning, noon, and night!) sickness. You could be more prone to travel sickness, especially if you already have nausea +/- vomiting. You’re also more likely to be very tired at this stage of pregnancy.
Your risk of miscarriage is higher in the first trimester, regardless of whether you’re travelling. Being away from home, family and the NHS could make having a miscarriage even more distressing.
For these reasons, many women prefer to wait until after the first trimester is over before they travel.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, your symptoms could change when you become pregnant. For this reason, it’s essential to check with your doctor before travelling if you have a long-term health condition.
Travelling in the Second Trimester (13-28 weeks)
This is usually the ‘sweet spot’ for travel if you’re pregnant. There’s a good chance your energy levels, along with any nausea or vomiting, will have improved compared to your first trimester. So, if you are planning a holiday, now might be the time to take it.
Clearly, if you have any pre-existing medical conditions, or if you’ve developed a new condition during pregnancy, you should always check with your doctor or midwife before travelling.
Travelling in the Third Trimester (28-40 weeks)
There are several factors to consider at this stage of pregnancy:
Fatigue
Towards the end of your pregnancy, you’re likely to become more tired again. Chances are your sleep will be disrupted even in the most comfortable of situations. Getting around can be difficult and you may be suffering from heartburn, swollen ankles and more. That inevitably means travelling, especially in cramped conditions, maybe more uncomfortable.
Bathroom Breaks
Your baby may well be pressing on your bladder, so you may need to get up to use the loo more often!
Fit-to-Fly Certificate
Your airline may ask for a letter confirming you’re fit to fly if you’re over 28 weeks. You can get this from your GP or sometimes your midwife or obstetrician. This is a private service so you’ll usually have to pay for it, and it may take days or occasionally weeks to get the letter.
READ MORE: Fit-to-Fly Certificates
Likelihood of Labour
The likelihood of you going into labour increases significantly from about 37 weeks. For this reason, most UK airlines will allow you to fly up to 36 weeks if you’re carrying one baby. They may have earlier limits for long-haul rather than short-haul flights.
You’re more likely to go into labour early if you’re carrying twins or more. For this reason, most airlines won’t allow you to fly if you’re over 32 weeks.
However, different airlines have different policies for when they will allow you to fly. Do check with your airline first before relying on this general advice.
Flying Home
Do remember that your airline’s limits for flying will include all flights you take with them, so you’ll need to factor in how many weeks you will be when you return from your trip.
Complicated Pregnancy or Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
If you have had a complicated pregnancy or have any pre-existing medical conditions, travelling may come with higher risks. Always speak to your midwife or doctor, who can advise at what point you should stop travelling before you book.
Are There Any Locations I Should Avoid Visiting?
Infection with Zika Virus in pregnancy is linked to a serious risk of birth defects. You should avoid travelling to any area where there is a risk of Zika Virus unless you have absolutely no choice. This includes parts of Asia, Africa, South and Central America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands.
Conditions such as Malaria and Yellow Fever can cause severe harm (or even be fatal) to you and your baby. Most of the more severe infectious diseases not seen in the UK are seen in tropical countries. However, some infectious diseases which can harm you and your baby can be found in any country outside Western Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Ideally, you should avoid non-essential travel to countries other than these. Don’t worry, there are still lots of relaxing destinations you can go to!
Even if there are no infectious diseases, visiting a very warm country can put your body under unnecessary stress, especially in the later stages of pregnancy. And if you’re visiting a destination at a high altitude, the thinner air can put more strain on your body.
Travel Vaccinations in Pregnancy
If you are travelling to an area where travel vaccinations are recommended, always speak to your GP or practice nurse well in advance of travelling. Remember that in pregnancy, the risks to your health and that of your baby may be higher than if you weren’t pregnant.
Most inactivated vaccines cannot cause disease in you or your baby because they can’t replicate. That means they will usually be recommended if you’re going to an area where the risk is high.
There are also several ‘live’ vaccines, including MMR (for measles, mumps, and rubella). Yellow fever and chicken pox. In theory, there is a small risk these vaccines could result in your baby becoming infected. They are only recommended if you’re going to an area where the risk is extremely high, and you cannot avoid travelling.
Malaria in Pregnancy
Because getting Malaria increases your risk of severe pregnancy complications (including miscarriage, early delivery and even death of your baby), you should avoid going to any area where Malaria is a risk if you possibly can.
If you do need to travel, it’s essential to take every step to avoid getting bitten by mosquitos. You may also be referred to a specialist to discuss whether you need ant-malarial tablets, and if so which ones. This will depend on your stage of pregnancy and your destination.
READ MORE: How to Manage Bites and Stings on Holiday
Deep Vein Thrombosis in Pregnancy
Your risk of a deep vein thrombosis (a clot on the leg that can travel to your lungs) is higher in pregnancy. Travel – especially long-haul travel – can risk this risk even further. Do take steps to reduce your risk, including moving around regularly, keeping hydrated and considering compression stockings.
READ MORE: Why Do We Wear Flight Socks?
Do I Need Travel Insurance When Travelling Pregnant?
When travelling anywhere, whether you have a medical condition or you’re pregnant, you should have travel insurance in case anything should happen to you whilst you’re away. Travel insurance covers you for any travel disruptions. It covers you for any medical expenses should you need treatment whilst you’re away and allows you to enjoy your holiday without worry or concern.
Medical Travel Compared offer a wide range of travel insurance policies for all types of medical conditions, including the likes of diabetes, heart conditions and many more. Find out more about the types of cover we offer and the answers to any questions you might have on our website, or head to our blog for more guides and articles like this.