Business Travel While Pregnant

Traveling when pregnant for business is a scary concept for many women and you may find yourself asking a lot of questions. How far into my pregnancy am I allowed to travel? Do I need a note from my doctor? How do I inform my employer that I cannot travel if my pregnancy is high risk? Dr. Carroll is here to help answer all your questions and help develop a full pregnancy travel plan that is tailored just for you.

Find out about our different consultation services including an advice Q&A with Dr. Carroll, doctor communication, full consultation, reference materials, and travel medicine referrals.

Blood Clots On long car trips or plane rides, due to prolonged immobility, there is an increased risk of blood clots forming in your legs and pelvis. These can then get loose and travel to your lungs with disastrous results. We advise frequent stops to stretch– which may be made necessary anyway for bathroom stops.

Respiratory Infections Not often talked about, but respiratory infections are also a common side effect of flying while pregnant. We routinely recommend flu vaccine for our pregnant travelers. Once we get past the medical risks, we come to just plain discomforts. Elevators and public restrooms are places where germs lurk. And when you are pregnant, you are more susceptible to germs including the Norovirus which could affect your respiratory system. Air pollution also affects respiratory health and it’s important to take into consideration the environmental state of the areas where you are traveling.

Loss Of Balance Another common problem of pregnancy is a loss of balance. On a ship the floor is moving, waving and tilting, and you have to go up and down a lot of stairs you increase your risk of having a fall. An airplane may experience turbulence and may cause you to lose balance when you are leave your seat on the plane. Losing your balance and falling could possibly harm you or the baby and is important to keep in mind when considering travel.

Nausea and Vomiting Remember that one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy is nausea and vomiting. And one of the most common ailments of cruise and car travel is motion sickness. Put the two together, and you could be in for a very uncomfortable few days. Medicines for nausea are something you may wish to consider before you get on board or in the car.