For women who are expecting a child then any arrangements where a flight is involved may need to be checked first. Of course, the woman’s gynecologist would be the best person to speak to regarding any flight plans as there may be specific reasons why it would be unsafe to fly. Some women experience abnormal bleeding and an increase in their blood pressure, in which case the doctor would normally suggest that flying should be avoided and in particular if any swelling has been experienced.

Fortunately, unless a pregnant woman is expecting twins or more, in which case the airlines might not let her travel after 32 weeks then you are normally safe to travel up to 36 weeks. Some airlines will actually ask a pregnant woman if they have a certificate of pregnancy which is usually advisable after twenty four weeks. To make the flight more comfortable it is worth trying to check in early so there may be an opportunity to have an aisle seat for easy access or a bulkhead seat as there is more legroom.

Even though there isn’t any evidence to suggest fetal injury, pregnant women are advised not to have vaccinations to protect against typhoid but hepatitis A and B are advisable if they are flying to Africa or Asia but it would be best to seek medical advice. Malaria is another problem and expectant mothers are advised not to travel to countries where contracting it is a possibility.

Certain restrictions also apply if there are young children and if those under six are involved then vaccinations for typhoid and hepatitis A are not advisable in Australia. Always check with a doctor as to which vaccinations are required as they will vary depending on an individual situation and itinerary.

Always refuse to drink water unless it is bottled with an unbroken seal and the same goes for ice in drinks if you want to avoid contracting hepatitis A or typhoid. Avoid eating raw vegetables, salad and fruit although thick-skinned fruits such as mandarins, which you peel yourself, or bananas are fine but always wash your hands with soap or antibacterial hand wash before eating. It is quite easy to carry travel size bottles of antibacterial hand gels that dry almost immediately and are readily available in drugstores.

Air travel also increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis which is statistically more likely in pregnant women so to guard against this it is recommended that expectant women wear the special flight socks or tight that are now available. Of course it is also a good idea to walk around on a flight whenever it is safe to do so.

It is also worth an expectant mother to check on her insurance policy before she flies as some place further restrictions especially after the twenty sixth week of pregnancy. Some insurance companies will include travel insurance after the twenty six weeks for pregnant mothers but won’t cover the costs of the birth itself.