Travelling

Do you want to go on holiday before your baby is born? Or are you traveling to a (tropical) destination abroad for another reason? Then it is good to consider the following topics.

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY

  • If possible, plan your vacation after the 20th and before the 30th week of pregnancy. You often feel the most fit during this period.
  • Before the trip, check where you can go for any medical care at your destination. Avoid countries known for poor health care
  • Avoid destinations in high mountains (> 2500m) due to an increased risk of altitude sickness that cannot be treated during pregnancy.
  • It is not recommended to travel to countries where malaria, ZIKA and/or yellow fever occur.

VACCINATIONS

Some destinations require you to be vaccinated prior to travelling. During pregnancy, your immune system is reduced, and you may react differently to a vaccination than outside of pregnancy. Whether or not you can be vaccinated during pregnancy mainly depends on the type of vaccine and any side effects. Live virus vaccinations should not be given to pregnant women. These are the vaccinations against yellow fever, mumps, measles, and rubella. Therefore, always inquire before your trip at GGD travel vaccinations or another vaccination organization.

TRAVELLING

  • When you travel, always take your pregnancy file with you in your hand luggage in case you need unexpected medical care.
  • Take the details of your health insurance and your travel insurance with you. Before your trip, check whether you are sufficiently insured for medical care.
  • You can also reach us on mobile from abroad, so bring our emergency number with you for urgent questions.
  • Are you going by plane? Read the tips on our page about flying during pregnancy.
  • Are you going to drive a long distance by car? Sitting still for too long in one position is not good for a pregnant woman, so take a break every 2 hours. Tip: drink enough. Then you must stop regularly to urinate, and you can stretch your legs.
  • Make sure you have ORS (sugar/saline solution) with you. This can prevent dehydration in case of diarrhea.

FOOD

In addition to the general nutritional advice in pregnancy, there are a number of additional things you should pay attention to during your trip.

  • Do not drink water from the tap, but buy bottled water and remove the ice cubes from your soda.
  • Do not eat ice cream, products that are pre-cut or that do not have factory packaging.
  • Practice good hand hygiene. Put a bottle of hand sanitizer in your bag.

SUNBATHING DURING PREGNANCY?

Enjoying the sun is no problem. Make sure you use a sunscreen with a high protection factor. During your pregnancy, the amount of pigment increases, which means you burn faster and have a greater chance of pigmentation spots (pregnancy mask). Avoid overheating. Therefore, do not spend too long in full sun. Find the shade in time and regularly cool off in the pool.

ACTIVE VACATION?

If you have plans for a more active holiday, such as a skiing holiday, it is wise to take it easy. For example, ski one level lower. Also keep in mind that you can be a good skier yourself, but that someone else can ski you over. Nice walking is of course possible, but do not go to an area that is above 2150 m, because the air here likes a lot less oxygen.

Also check in advance whether you are properly insured when you go on holiday, so that any medical costs are also covered.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

You may notice that you are less fit than normal during pregnancy. Strolling through that nice town for hours? A long walk through nature? You are now tired faster or get problems with your stomach, pelvis or back. Therefore, listen to your body. As soon as you feel unwell, dizzy, or short of breath, take it easy. Also, make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. But as long as you feel good, enjoy the relaxation!