Travelling abroad whilst pregnant..

Information about travelling abroad when you are pregnant can often be confusing and you probably would wish to continue to live as 'normal' a life as possible during this time. For many women this will not pose a problem but a number of considerations need to be looked at before you decide to travel. Take a look at our information and find out the answers the to common myths.

Key questions to ask yourself before travelling (particularly long distances or by air) are:

• Stage of pregnancy?
• Pre-existing conditions?
• Your destination (eg climate, vaccinations, level of medical support in the country you are visiting)?
• Method of travel?

Stage of Pregnancy

In early pregnancy, apart from probably having morning sickness, there is also an increased risk of miscarriage. There is no evidence to link miscarriage to flying but you do need to consider that, on a long flight, medical assistance may be hours away or your destination country may not have the facilities that you would expect at home. From week 14 to week 28 there is a lower risk of miscarriage or going into labour prematurely so this is probably the most ideal time for flying whether on holiday or business.

From the 28th week on you may have an increase in blood pressure or other problems. It is best to check with your midwife or doctor. Some airlines may require a certificate or doctor's letter after the 28th week. Most airlines will not allow you to fly after 34 weeks.

Pre-existing conditions

If you already have a high-risk pregnancy or a pre-existing condition you will know to check with your midwife, obstetrician or GP before flying or undertaking a long journey.

Some conditions can increase your risk if travelling by plane. It is also important to find out how far you will be from any medical facilities and what help might be available when you reach your destination.

Your Destination

Things to think about when choosing (if you have a choice!) your destination are: What is the climate like - a very hot or humid climate may be more uncomfortable if you are pregnant

How long will it take to get there?

If it's a long haul flight you might have to take extra precautions against things like deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The risk of DVT is the same throughout pregnancy and for about 6 weeks after the birth of the baby so it is important to use the special compression stockings which can help reduce the risk. Cabin humidity can be very low and it is therefore important to avoid getting dehydrated - take in plenty of fluids but avoid caffeine and alcohol (which you will probably be doing anyway!). If you can get an aisle seat it will be useful to move around the cabin every two hours and do leg exercises whilst sitting.

Do you need to have vaccinations for the country you are travelling to?

If you must have vaccinations the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advises that the following may be used for high risk areas:

Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Polio (injected), Typhoid (injected), Tetanus, Diptheria, Measles, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies. The following are NOT recommended: MMR, Yellow Fever, Polio (oral), Typhoid (oral). Pregnant women should avoid malarial areas as they are more susceptible to the disease. If your travel to a malarial area is unavoidable the safest anti-malarial drug to use is chlorogquine. Wear long sleeve tops and trousers after dark, use insect repellents and make sure you sleep under a mosquito net.

What are the medical facilities like and do you have insurance or a reciprocal agreement with the UK that will allow you to access them?

Not every country has the same quality of health care that you might expect in the UK and if you need emergency medical care you will want to know what you might expect - also bear in mind that even in countries with an equivalent standard to the UK you may be battling with a language barrier.

Use of medicines

Travel sickness

If you know that you may suffer from travel sickness check with your doctor before travelling about the best medicine to use, generally cyclizine or promethazine are safe.

Diarrhoea on holiday

Avoid loperamide which is the active ingredient in medicines such as Imodium. However cophentotrope (brands like Lomotil) is safe. If possible check with your doctor before you travel and take the appropriate medicine with you as a precaution.

Insect bites and allergies

Generally oral antihistamines should be avoided in pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, but if you do suffer from allergies, for example from insect bites, hay fever or heat, then chlorpheniramine (brands like Piriton) can be used but you should increase your intake of water if taking antihistamines whilst pregnant. As an alternative for bites and rashes anti-allergen and anti-itching creams can be used. For more severe itching you might want to use a steroid cream and we are currently funding a project looking into the safety of topical steroids in pregnancy.


See the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists website for more information on travelling whilst pregnant.




Travel and Pregnancy- Common myths

Pregnancy can be a stressful time and with the need to relax it can be an ideal time to take a break. Discover which of the bags of advice you'll be given are fact and which are pure fiction.

Flying is harmful to the unborn child

Not true. There is no medical proof that flying is harmful to the unborn child, nor to the mother if you take the right precautions.

You can’t take any medicines when pregnant

Not true. There are many medicines you can take but you should consult your doctor to check. If travelling to a malarial region the malaria would potentially be more dangerous to your unborn child than taking medication. Some anti-malarial medications are safe in pregnancy, while others are not; check with your doctor.

You can’t get DVT in pregnancy when travelling by car

Not true. In fact you can get DVT when travelling by car so it is important to stop frequently, move around and drink plenty of water.

Strong sunlight can give you permanent brown patches on your skin

True. The skin is more sensitive to sunlight during pregnancy and can develop patches of brown pigmentation which may not fade afterwards.

You shouldn’t sunbathe topless when pregnant as it affects your ability to breastfeed

Not true. There’s no evidence of this. But you do need to be extra careful to avoid sunburn in sensitive areas so make sure you use a high factor sun cream and don’t stay out too long.


Page last updated December 2011

Wellbeing of Women