Complicated Pregnancies
Complicated pregnancies often are a different story. Obstetrical complications that may make travel unwise include a history of premature labor, twin pregnancy, a fetus that is not keeping up with normal growth patterns, or any abnormal bleeding during the pregnancy. These are situations that could result in a sudden emergency that could not be safely handled in a moving vehicle.
Medically complicated pregnancies also present some challenges to travel. A pregnancy that is complicated by diabetes or high blood pressure, for instance, requires extra care that just may not be available at the proposed destination. Anemia, cardiac disease and respiratory disease may make it unwise to travel by airplane or to high altitude destinations because of the reduced amount of oxygen in the air.
Another factor that may influence the advisability of travel is the reason for the travel. Travel plans for a “baby-moon” or to visit prospective parents and grandparents may need to be changed if complications arise. But if the purpose of the trip is specifically to seek care in a more advanced medical setting for a complicated pregnancy, then the travel itself becomes more imperative.