Modern women and travel go hand in hand. Many new mothers who are pregnant may have important missions that require traveling abroad. Preparing before traveling is very important for the safety of both the mother and the baby in the womb. Whether traveling short or long distances, it is advisable to know these tips early on.
Early pregnancy, late pregnancy, which stage… should not travel
Normally, pregnancy is divided into 3 trimesters. The 1st trimester is from 1-12 weeks, the 2nd trimester is from 12-28 weeks, and the 3rd trimester is from 28-40 weeks. The trimesters to be cautious about when flying are the 1st and 3rd trimesters.
- 1st trimester: The reason to be cautious is that during this trimester, the pregnancy is very early, and the mother still has a chance of miscarriage. In the early stage, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and dizziness are more common than in other trimesters, and it is unpredictable what might happen on the plane. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid flying during this period.
- Pregnancy over 28 weeks: Since this is close to the delivery date, there may be labor pains or water breaking prematurely on the plane. Most airlines do not allow boarding during this period. This regulation depends on each airline’s readiness to handle emergency situations on the plane.
High-risk mothers… should avoid traveling
Those who are at high risk and cannot travel include mothers with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, or mothers with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, preterm labor or contractions, water breaking, placenta previa or abnormal placental attachment, abnormal vaginal bleeding, short cervix, or fetal abnormalities such as being too small or having a history of miscarriage or preterm birth. In most cases, if any of these conditions apply, doctors will not recommend traveling abroad to prevent potential harm to both mother and baby.
Tips for preparation before traveling
- Visit your antenatal doctor before planning your trip so the doctor can assess whether you can travel. The doctor will evaluate the travel risks and your health readiness. If the doctor permits travel, you will receive a medical certificate or a Fit to Flight certificate for traveling.
- Contact the airline or the airline’s air staff to inform them that you are pregnant and prepare documents certified by your doctor or the Fit to Flight certificate.
- Prepare these 3 documents before boarding:
- Fit to Flight certificate or medical certificate from your antenatal doctor.
- Original or copy of your antenatal record. This contains your full antenatal history, including blood test results, medication use, and any problems encountered during pregnancy.
- Emergency Contact document. This contains all important contact information such as: 1) Your personal information including name and phone number in Thailand, 2) Contact information of your antenatal doctor in Thailand including the hospital name and phone number, 3) Contact information of a doctor at your destination in case of emergency (if there is no doctor at the destination, provide the contact details of your antenatal doctor).
Self-care during the flight
- Wear comfortable clothing. Try to wear multiple layers that are easy to remove and prepare for changes in temperature. The fabric should be soft and comfortable. Wear comfortable walking shoes, socks to keep warm, and bring a neck pillow for comfort while sleeping.
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and avoid caffeine such as tea and coffee because they cause dehydration and frequent urination.
- Avoid foods that cause bloating such as beans because they can cause discomfort, nausea, and constipation. Usually, there is no special food for pregnant women on the plane, but mothers should choose easily digestible foods that do not cause gas in the stomach and bring healthy snacks to reduce nausea and hunger between meals.
- Move and exercise frequently. When sitting and traveling for more than 4 hours, the risk of blood clots increases. Therefore, mothers should move while sitting by stretching legs and feet, bending ankles, twisting ankles, wiggling toes, and moving knees up and down every 30-40 minutes until arrival.
Dr. Tharinee Lamluk
Specialist in Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Women’s Health Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
