Dear doctor,

Last week I got an opportunity to travel to Europe for a month. However, I am 6 months pregnant and some people think it is risky. Should I embrace the opportunity or turn it down? Can the trip endanger my baby?        

Sarah

Dear Sarah,

There is no problem with traveling to Europe at that stage of pregnancy particularly if the pregnancy is uncomplicated.  In fact this is the best period to travel as the pregnancy is stable.  High altitudes and slight exposure to minimal radiation that occurs higher up does not harm the pregnancy in any way. Many airlines do not allow pregnant women on board if the pregnancy has some complication or it is advanced i.e. about 36 weeks or more. Different air lines have instructions for pregnant women and it should be checked before travel.  It is also not advisable to travel if one has chronic anaemia, heart or respiratory problems during pregnancy.

One needs to follow some precautions while aboard a plane if pregnant. Drinking more water prevents dehydration which can occur due to dryness inside the air craft. 

Changes in the atmospheric pressure can cause blocking of ears, which can be prevented by keeping ears covered. Chewing something can also prevent pop up. One should avoid sitting continuously for long time as this is risk for developing swelling over feet and even deep vein thrombosis which is a potentially fatal complication. One prone to motion sickness in road travel can also get it in flight. Risk of vomiting can be compounded by motion sickness of pregnancy. This can be prevented by taking small frequent light meals. Also wear lose comfortable clothes.

After landing in Europe you need to follow common precautions of pregnancy. These include keeping good hygiene, taking a balanced nutritious diet, doing regular light exercises, avoiding lifting/pushing heavy weights and most importantly staying relaxed and happy. However it is vital to keep information about medical facilities wherever you stay, so that if any unexpected complication occurs or delivery occurs, it can be taken care of. Remember that as pregnancy advances, so does the risk of delivering the baby.