If you find yourself expecting a child then any vacation you may have planned may need to re-booked or changed if air travel is involved. Of course it will be the doctor that actually says yes or no to air travel depending on your medical situation. 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.

Although it is normally safe for a pregnant woman to travel up to the thirty sixth week or thirty second if it is a multiple birth, individual airlines will differ so a check well before the flight is worthwhile. Carrying a medical certificate if the pregnancy is more than 24 weeks pregnant is recommended.

Pregnant women should check in early, as they can request a bulkhead seat, which may have more leg room, depending on the airline, or ask for an aisle seat so that it is easier to get in and out. If an expectant mother is flying to the continents of Asia or Africa she should seek advice on vaccinations for hepatitis A, B and typhoid before traveling.

However, there are many places where malaria is still a problem and it is recommended that they be missed out as contracting malaria when pregnant an cause problems. Children under six also have restrictions in Australia where it isn’t recommended for them to have vaccinations against hepatitis A or typhoid.

Not only is the destination important but personal circumstances so pregnant women should check with their doctor as to what vaccinations they will require. If in a country with hepatitis A or typhoid then the use of bottled water for drinking or even brushing teeth is an absolute necessity and ice should only be used from water that has been purified.

It is also inadvisable to eat fruit and raw vegetables and before eating wash your hands with an antibacterial hand wash. Nowadays it is easy to carry travel size bottles of gel hand wash that can sterilize without the need for special facilities as it dries in the air almost immediately.

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. Doctors also recommend taking some form of exercise when flying; ideas for which can usually be found in the flight magazine.

The one problem a pregnant woman may have when flying is that travel insurance only covers expectant mothers up to 26 weeks that covers all costs although policies can be purchased that extend this period, they won’t cover anything the pregnancy.

To read more about pregnancy and baby, visit pregnancy101.org and while you are it, you can learn more about signs you are pregnant.