Pregnancy and Travel

Most airlines will not accept a pregnant traveller after 32 weeks gestation and long air flights in the later stages can be very uncomfortable.

Facilities vary greatly between countries and you should think carefully before traveling to a country with poor medical facilities or where there are major cultural and language differences from home. This could be important if you have health problems such as threatening to miscarry or going into early labour.

Illness during pregnancy can be more severe so take special care to avoid contaminated food and water and insect and animal bites. Avoid partially cooked meat, unpasteurized milk products and soft cheeses. In some countries infections such as tuberculosis or meningitis can be spread from close personal contact with locals and these can be serious during pregnancy both to yourself and your unborn child.

Extra care must be taken when traveling to destinations where there is Malaria or Yellow Fever. Appropriate immunization and malaria prevention is sometimes different during pregnancy so seek advice from the GTA travel clinic. Some vaccines are best avoided during pregnancy, for example those that contain live organisms. However vaccination may be safer than traveling to some high risk areas without protection. Discuss this carefully with your doctor when you visit the GTA Travel Clinic.

Ensure your insurance policy covers pregnancy but remember insurance policies are only as good as the facilities available.