Safety tips for pregnant travelers
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By Lee Hye-jun
Spring is finally here after teasing us with moments of sunshine, but mostly gusty wind for the past few weeks. One of my friends said it was a “sin” not to go outside in this beautiful weather. Pregnant women are not an exception. Lately there have been many pregnant women asking for my “permission” to go on a long trip. Now it has become a new trend to take prenatal trips to Guam and Southeast Asia, although it is often frowned upon by the elderly.
In general, it is safe for pregnant women to travel via airplane as long as they do not have special medical complications. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists states that women with healthy, single pregnancies can fly safely for up to 36 weeks into pregnancy when labor pain is unlikely to begin. Pregnant women need to take the same precautions as the general population, such as walking around hourly and mobilizing their legs frequently to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), also known as "economy class syndrome.” This is a condition in which the blood pools in the lower legs from prolonged periods of inactivity, causing swelling and pain. It may create a blood clot in a vein which can obstruct the arteries to the heart or lungs, and lead to death. The risk for DVT in otherwise healthy women is considered highest during pregnancy because the enlarged womb compresses the large veins to consequently decrease venous flow velocity in the legs, creating a good condition for blood stasis. Additional risk factors for DVT include old age, smoking, obesity and multiple pregnancies.
Motor-vehicle crashes are known to be the most common causes of life-threatening blunt trauma during pregnancy, responsible for 10 out of 12 fetal deaths from maternal trauma. Up to half of the accidents happen in the absence of seat belts. Pregnant women, especially towards the end of their term, feel extremely uncomfortable wearing seat belts, but the three-point seat belt is strongly recommended for the sake of mother and fetus. The upper belt should be placed above (not across) the lower abdomen and the lower belt should fit snugly across the upper thighs and below the womb. The most catastrophic events from motor-vehicle crashes are placental abruption and uterine rupture, which are fatal to both mother and fetus. Interestingly the severity of the trauma does not accurately correlate with the fetal outcome, so fetal monitoring for at least 4 hours at the hospital is essential even after minor trauma.
Here are more safety tips. First, take adequate rest. Excessive physical fatigue can be harmful, especially in certain pregnancy complications such as hypertensive disorder, preterm labor, placenta previa, small fetus and multiple pregnancies. Second, it is prudent to avoid activities with a high risk of abdominal injury and falling. Scuba diving should also be avoided because of the risk of decompression sickness in the fetus. Third, check medical facilities at the destination in case of emergency. Fourth, defer travelling to potentially hazardous destinations to avoid infectious diseases such as food-borne infections, malaria and tuberculosis. Make sure to get vaccinations including influenza before setting off.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggests the safest time for a pregnant woman to travel is during the second trimester, when she usually feels best and is in least danger of spontaneous miscarriage or premature labor. Well, not everyone is lucky to be exactly in their second trimester in this fabulous spring. Keep in mind all the precautions above and enjoy spring. Honestly, this is your last chance of freedom.
The writer is a doctor at Maria Fertility Hospital in Seoul. For further questions, send an email to the writer at hyejunlee@mariababy.com, or call the hospital’s English-speaking coordinator at 82 (Korea country code) 2 (Seoul area code) 2250-5577, or visit the hospital’s website, https://eng.mariababy.com/.