How to travel safely when pregnant

Travelling while pregnant is not for everyone. However, holidays or weekends away before the baby is born (affectionately named 'babymoons') are becoming increasingly popular. We've compiled some ways you can make your trip as safe as possible and minimise the risks associated with travel. 

As your birth date approaches, you can get pretty restricted in how much you can travel. Travelling at the start of your pregnancy also carries risks, as the first 12 weeks can put you at a higher risk of miscarriage. 

The safest time for you to travel is during the second trimester. Between 14 and 28 weeks, you’ll likely feel your best, and you’re at the lowest risk of complications and premature labour. The only exception to this is if you’re experiencing, or have experienced any complications through the course of your pregnancy. This includes gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. If so, it's advised you do not travel. Especially if it's your first time being pregnant and you’re over 35, we’d reschedule the holiday.

Travelling when pregnant can be risky. However, it gets even riskier when you’re in a country where poor sanitation, hygiene, and medical facilities are the norm. We’d discourage going to any developing nations or places that have recently experienced a Zika or Malaria outbreak, like Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, and Central America. 

If you contract the Zika virus or Malaria while pregnant, it can have serious consequences on your growing baby. Contracting a Malaria infection can stunt your baby’s growth, prompt premature labour, and even cause miscarriage. Zika can also be passed on to your baby, potentially causing microcephaly, a condition where the child is born with an intellectual disability and an abnormally small head.

The Department of Health advises anyone who is currently pregnant or trying to get pregnant to avoid going to countries that have recently been subject to an outbreak. 

Before you book any flights, visit the Smart Traveller’s travel advisory. This page contains advice on whether or not you should travel to a country based on its health risks, any current outbreaks and political or civil tensions that could place your health and safety at risk.

Things can go wrong quickly when you’re pregnant. To avoid undue stress that can put you and your baby’s health at risk, stay within reach of high-standard medical facilities, hospitals, and doctors, and choose your destination wisely.

Traveller's diarrhoea is what happens when you consume food or water that contains parasites or bacteria like salmonella and E. coli. These micro-organisms may seem harmless, as the local population have developed immunity. However, they can still cause serious issues for mum and bub. Not only can excessive diarrhoea make you feel tired and dehydrated, but severe cases of foodborne illness can cause premature delivery, malnourishment, miscarriage, or stillbirth. 

You’re more likely to develop traveller’s diarrhoea in a place with lower sanitation and hygiene standards, like certain regions of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. 

No matter the country, it's important for food to be treated and stored properly. If your food has been left out, sitting at room temperature, or exposed to flies, it's not fresh and can make you sick. This includes open-air buffets and stews that have been sitting out in the sun. Do not consume lukewarm food either – if it's cold, it should be chilled, and if it's hot it should be steaming. This prevents it from falling into the temperature danger zone that allows bacteria to grow and make you sick.

While it’s unlikely you’re consuming any of the following foods at home or abroad, it's still worth mentioning, as getting sick overseas can be much worse than getting sick in Australia. 

• Raw or undercooked meat
• Raw or shelled seafood like prawns, oysters, or sashimi 
• Raw or undercooked eggs 
• Unpasteurised animal products (including cheese, mayonnaise, and milk)
• Bushmeat or wild local game (like bats, monkeys, or rats)
• Tap water that has not been treated

Countries like the Maldives, Mexico, and the Bahamas also have tap water that is unsafe for visitors to drink. While many hotels will provide treated or bottled water, it’s a good idea to bring your own or double-check with your accommodation to make sure. If do not have access to bottled water, you treat the tap water by boiling it for five minutes before using it. Avoid using iodine to treat unsafe water, as this can cause harm to your baby.

If you develop traveller’s diarrhoea, be wary of taking certain medications. Before you leave the country, consult your doctor and discuss what medications you could take in case you contract traveller’s diarrhoea. 

While you might prioritise getting the all-clear to fly from your doctor, you might also want to check with the airline you’re flying with. Some airlines won’t allow women over 35 weeks pregnant to fly, as they don’t want to be held liable for any complications.

Air travel in the final 6 weeks of your pregnancy can also trigger premature labour, which is why we’d recommend rescheduling the flight if you can. Check if the airline requires a sign-off from your doctor, especially if you’re in the third trimester. 

Consider booking a seat next to an exit for some extra room to flex your legs, or an aisle seat to make frequent bathroom breaks easier. When pregnant, your circulation is already under strain. When the pressure inside of an aeroplane cabin is reduced, it can increase your risk of developing a blood clot in the veins of the leg, otherwise called deep vein thrombosis.

This is why it's important to stretch and move your legs regularly (try walking up and down the aisle when the stewardess gives you the green light). Additionally, consider wearing compression stockings to reduce the risk of a blood clot. 

As with aeroplane travel, it's important to factor in frequent breaks to stretch your legs and take bathroom breaks to reduce the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis. 

If you’re sitting in the front passenger seat, move your seat far back from the dashboard to reduce airbag impact in case of a collision. If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident (no matter how minor) always see your doctor.  

Whether you get to your destination by plane or by car, 1 in 1,000 pregnant women develop deep vein thrombosis. Any long periods where you’re not moving can increase your risk, meaning it's vital you prioritise frequent leg exercises and schedule time to walk around the aircraft cabin or get out of the car to stretch your legs. 

Ensure you always consult your doctor before staying stationary for a long time and consider wearing compression stockings during the journey to minimise your risk. 

Hot tubs and saunas –  when using a sauna, hot tub, or spa, your body is unable to effectively lose heat without sweating. It's possible that a rise in your core body temperature without an effective way to reduce it can be harmful to your baby, especially during the first 12 weeks. 

Horseriding – If it is early on in your pregnancy, you’re an experienced rider, and you’re only riding at a slow pace, the danger to your baby is low. However, as your pregnancy progresses, so does the risk of serious injury. The motion of horse riding can increase your risk of placental abruption, and getting kicked by or thrown from a horse can be fatal for your baby. 

Skiing, gymnastics, and hockey – any sport or activity that poses a risk of falling can cause damage to your baby. We’d leave those activities until the next trip.

Scuba diving – Snorkeling or scuba diving is generally fine at depths of less than 18 metres, but be aware that any changes in blood gases can harm your baby. 

Extreme heat – If you’re travelling to a tropical location that's known for its high temperatures, be aware of how dangerous it can be for you and your baby. Increases in your body’s core temperature can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration, and fainting. This can lead to preterm labour and damage to your baby. 

High altitude activities – The oxygen levels at heights of over 3,000 metres are low. This means there's less oxygen available to you and your baby, making you more vulnerable to breathlessness, palpitations, and symptoms of high altitude sickness (most notably nausea and headaches). Unless you’re accustomed to such activities, we’d advise against it. 

Per our previous point, any travel to developing countries during your pregnancy should be avoided. When visiting overseas destinations where the risk of disease is higher, it's expected you’ll get vaccines to protect against typhoid fever, yellow fever, and live viruses like mumps, measles, and rubella.

Unfortunately, because they haven't been extensively tested on pregnant women, we recommend receiving these vaccines before you begin your pregnancy, if possible. 

The exception to this rule is the influenza vaccine, which is strongly recommended. If you’re considering getting a vaccine other than influenza, consult your doctor.

If something in your pregnancy goes wrong while you’re abroad, you’ll need medical attention. This is why it's important to consider the standard of medical care in the country you’re visiting and plan for the worst. 

If you’re completing high-altitude activities, make sure you plan for a slow ascent and acclimate to the conditions well before. Most importantly, ensure you are not far from emergency medical care in case something goes wrong. 

Some countries (like Sweden, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK) have reciprocal healthcare arrangements (RHCA) with Australia. This means that if you need to undergo emergency or medically necessary care for something that can't wait until you get home, you won’t need to pay fully out of pocket. 

You will still need to obtain health insurance before you go, but if you need to stay in a hospital, visit a GP or a specialist, or ride in an ambulance, you can do so at the expense of Medicare or for a reduced fee, depending on the country.

Doctors know how to give you the appropriate care based on what trimester you’re at, as well as the risks travelling brings. If you’re unsure about which vaccines to receive and how best to protect yourself while travelling, it's best to consult your doctor, especially if your pregnancy is high-risk. 

Travelling when you’re pregnant can scary, especially when seeing the level of risk it can bring. The important thing is abide by the wishes of your doctor and don’t travel to any countries where poor sanitation and hygiene practices can put you and your baby at risk. Wherever you’re travelling, its best to know the risks and keep emergency medical care in arms reach, just in case.