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Travel During Pregnancy

travel during pregnancy

Continuing to drive your car while pregnant, is essential for most women. If you are continuing to work through your pregnancy, you may be required to travel interstate as part of your job, and many pregnant women plan a holiday with their partner for before the baby is born and this usually means travelling some distance to your holiday destination.

When you take out your travel insurance ensure that the terms and conditions include your pre-existing condition of pregnancy, in case of medical attention being required while you are away.

Here are a few guidelines to help you travel safely during your pregnancy.

Travelling by Car

Pregnant women can prevent potential harm to themselves and their babies by wearing seatbelts correctly. It is important that pregnant women should always wear a correctly fitted seatbelt when travelling by car, even in the later months of pregnancy. The seat belt should be fitted firmly, without slack, as comfortably as possible. The “lapstrap” of the belt should be fitted underneath the bulge of your belly, as low as possible and the upper strap should be worn comfortably across the body.

If you are travelling long distances make sure you make regular stops to stretch your legs and exercise and ensure you drink plenty of fluids.

Travelling by Air

It is thought that air travel while pregnant is generally safe although being pregnant does place you into a higher risk group for developing Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). This is because lengthy periods of sitting upright and inactivity can have the effect of causing the central blood vessels in your legs to be compressed, making it harder for the blood to get back to your heart. As a result you may also suffer from fluid retention in your feet causing them to swell.
Here are some simple tips to reduce the risk of suffering from DVT:

  • Compression stockings can assist in preventing swelling of the ankles and feet and they may improve the blood return to the body from the lower legs. Speak to your doctor about these.
  • While in-flight, move your legs and feet for three to four minutes per hour while seated and move about the cabin when possible. Be mindful of the in-flight cabin service as you will find it pretty hard to get past one of the meal carts in the aisle with your bulge.
  • Do the light exercises recommended by the carrier you have chosen. These are usually displayed in their in-flight magazine or on their in-flight entertainment systems.

It is recommended that you check with your doctor about your health prior to making a booking with an airline to ensure you will not be prevented from flying. Check with your airline about their policies regarding pregnancy and travel. Also note that there is no exemption from wearing your seatbelt whilst on board the aircraft. This should be worn as low as possible and should be firmly fitted. Do ask the Flight Attendants for cushions to make you more comfortable and remember to drink plenty of fluids whilst on board.

We have used the information provided by Qantas to its customers as a guide:

  • If you have a normal pregnancy and your travel includes an international flight, all your travel must be completed by the end of the 36th week of your pregnancy. There must be 28 days between the date travel is completed and the date on which you are due to give birth. You must also carry a letter from a registered/licensed medical practitioner stating that your pregnancy is progressing normally, and specifying your expected due date.
  • If you have a normal pregnancy and your travel is domestic (wholly within Australia or within New Zealand), no medical clearance is required.
  • If you have a complicated pregnancy, medical clearance is required.
  • If you have an uncomplicated multiple pregnancy, for international travel, medical clearance is not required provided travel is completed by the end of the 32nd week of pregnancy. There must be 56 days between the date of travel is completed and the date on which you are due to give birth. You should carry a letter from a registered/licensed medical practitioner stating that your pregnancy is progressing normally, and specifying your expected due date.
  • If you have an uncomplicated multiple pregnancy, for domestic travel (wholly within Australia or within New Zealand), medical clearance is not required provided travel is completed by the end of the 36th week of pregnancy. There must be 28 days between the date of travel is completed and the date on which you are due to give birth. You should carry a letter from a registered/licensed medical practitioner stating that your pregnancy is progressing normally, and specifying your expected due date.