 Travel
during pregnancy
continued
from page 1
On your way
Long journeys can be very demanding at the best of times but especially
so during pregnancy. Whichever form of transport you are using, there
will be things to remember.
By Road
- Break car journeys every two hours and take a short walk
- Make sure your seat belt fits properly; the top strap should go between
your breasts and the lower strap under your bump
- You may need a cushion for the small of your back for extra support
while driving · Place your seat as far back as you can comfortably while
driving
- If sitting in the passenger seat, move the seat as far back as possible
- Wear loose, comfortable clothes and flat shoes to drive in
- Pace yourself; if you find you are tired or the traffic is terrible,
take an extra stop and have something to eat and drink
By Air
- Statistically, the safest time to fly is in the second trimester -
weeks 13 to 27 - when the risks of miscarriage and premature labour
are at the lowest.
- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines advise
against travelling after the end of the 36th week for single, uncomplicated
pregnancies, and the 32nd week for multiple pregnancies.
- A letter from a doctor or midwife confirming good health and expected
date of delivery should be carried beyond the 28th week of pregnancy.
- Many airlines will not carry pregnant women after 36 weeks. This includes
return journeys so take special care as travelling in your seventh or
eighth month may mean you will not be allowed to board the flight home
if you have gone past the 36 week mark.
- Airlines normally refuse to fly pregnant women who have previously
given birth prematurely or have had blood clots in the veins of their
legs (DVT).
- Security screening machines cannot harm your baby - you are only passing
through a metal detector not an x-ray as many people mistakenly think.
Only your luggage is ever x-rayed.
- There is no evidence that recreational flying is dangerous to your
baby and cabin pressure must be maintained at a standard level as laid
out by Federal Aviation Administration.
- Humidity on flights is kept at 8 per cent and pregnant women should
drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, especially on long-haul
flights.
- Pregnant women run an increased risk of inflammation and blood clots
in the veins of the legs and should avoid sitting still for too long.
If possible, have an aisle seat and get up every 15 minutes to move
about. Most airlines provide advice on in-flight exercises to keep circulation
flowing. These include stretching and flexing your foot, rotating your
ankles and wiggling your toes.
- However you are travelling, motion sickness can make the journey worse
and pregnant women are more prone to travel sickness. Many travel sickness
medications are not recommended in pregnancy but alternative remedies
may be of benefit. These include sea bands, which apply pressure to
acupuncture points, or ginger, a natural remedy against sickness.
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