India in first trimester?

[SooBaloo]

DH and I are desperate to start trying to conceive, but have a two-week holiday in India booked in late January/early Feb. If I am lucky and conceive quickly, I will end up travelling in first trimester. Can't cancel the trip as we're finally visiting an old friend after years without seeing him.

Books seem to have very little information on travelling abroad. Some websites are very melodramatic about travelling to tropical areas during pregnancy, and my GP said we shouldn't even consider it, but I'm not convinced. I travelled in India alone for 3 months aged 18 and everyone told me not to do that as well! Is it really that risky? I'm willing to handle heat, triedness, morning sickness, flying etc. After all, I'll be on holiday so have lots of time to nap and put my feet up, drink water etc.

Advice from anyone who has travelled to a tropical area while in early pregnancy, conceived while abroad or who is living in a topical area very welcome. In particular, guidance on anti-malarial drugs and malaria prevention during early pregnancy.

Thanks!

Why not talk to your GP

I don't think you can take any anti malerial drugs in pregnancy. I personally would not tkae the risk and would start trying to convieve after the trip.

My GP advised against trying to conceive before or during the holiday, and afterwards as well. but she just wouldn't discuss it at all. And I've read on websites like the WHO site that some drugs (chloroquine and proguanil) are OK. I'm not a doctor, but I think my GP's take is a bit extreme. After all, we might not even conceive before then - I just can't bear to delay any longer.

I just really need some advice from someone who has direct experience of this!

I went to Indonesia when I was pregnant-but had to avoid malarial areas (you should not take anti-malarials when pg) and be extra careful about food etc
I was fine -luckily didn't have bad morning sickness though the heat did not make me feel great. tbh I wouldn't do it again for that reason! I was knakcered a lot of the time too.

Travelling with morning sickness would not be fun though, that is something to consider.

sorry should have said i was 8 weeks pg when I went

I took antimalarials before, during and for a month after my honeymoon to Kenya. GP said not to try & conceive whilst taking them, due to adverse effects. Stopped taking them a month after we got back (as instructed) and fell pg within a week with dd1.
So I would definitely proceed with caution and wait until you've stopped taking any drugs before you try to conceive.

I got pregnant in China and then moved to south America. Everything was fine. I avoided street food and was just sensible (mostly), then travelled by bus up through central america and mexico. Got home at 7 months pregnant - all was fine.
I would avoid anti-malarial areas, and be very careful about what you eat and drink. But you've been to India before and know the score...
I'm now pg again and was wondering whether to go to India in January (second trimester) - and despite lots of frowns from my family (msotly about the flight) - I'm going to go.

TBH, morning sickness is awful anywhere. At least you'd be on holiday, so it doesn't matter so much if you need to lie down...
The heat might make it tougher though.

I certainly couldn't cope with the heat whilst pregnant. I would also be very worried about miscarriage - if you are unlucky enough for that to happen - you'd much rather be at home.

I got a couple of nasty sickness bugs while travelling despite being careful about what I ate. I wouldn't have liked to have been pregnant at the time.

I personally advise go on holiday and enjoy it, and start trying to conceive while on holiday, but not before. My two babies were holiday babies.

Where in India are you going?
It really makes a difference.
I wouldn't touch (eg) Assam with a bargepole when pg as the indigenous malaria strain is resistant to the only drug safe for use in pregnancy.

Sorry, one more then I'll go and mind my own business!
But hospitals in India are very good - I had to ge several times while living there and was always treated by a Dr who had trained in UK - that was probably lucky, but there is a lot of medical tourism to India now.
I suppose it depends on the region you are going to , and what malarial problems there are. I did go into malarial areas, and didn't take drugs, but was as careful as possible about being bitten. (This is not good advice though, I'm sure.)
People do travel while pregnant, and conceive all over the place, and are fine.
Good luck with the TTC and the holiday!

(and I'd never condone travelling in malarial areas without prophylaxis when pg - malaria in pregnancy can have horrible consequences)

sagitta - yes I'm sure there are good hospitals in India, but if you miscarry (like many women do unfortuantely), believe me, it's much preferable to be at home.

Dear Everyone!

Thanks so much for all your advice.

MrsBadger, We're going to Delhi, Dehradun and then around various places in Rajasthan. I think the first two are OK as there is little malaria in big cities or at higher altitudes. I am more concerned about the largest part of our trip in Rajasthan, though since this is a desert state and the season will be hot and dry I would have thought there would be less malaria.

Since posting I've done a lot of research on the WHO website and others. As far as I can tell you can take some anti-malarials and use the usual topical protections (bug spray etc.) However if you do get malaria in pregnancy the consequences can be really serious.

I think maybe I should take the attitude that I would (for example) always have had safe sex before I married, to avoid an STD, even though the actual risk of catching one may have been small.

I suppose I'm resigned to waiting til we get back but it will be very hard. I am thinking about babies constantly...

Thank you all for the advice!

I hope you enjoy your holiday! You can start trying to make that baby on holiday...

I'd wait. Sounds sensible. You also don't want to book a fabulous trip and have it spoiled by morning sickness which can strike in 1st trim. Where you're going will not be that hot though (I went to similar places at that time of year - Delhi was quite cold actually) - it only really warms up in Udaipur/Jaisalmer and then only mid-20s C. I also got a runny tummy and we were extremely choosy where we ate and stayed (Oberoi/-vilas hotels etc). good luck anyway!

YOu also don't know how you'd cope if you got severe morning sickness or something. Enjoy the hol and get going with the ttc after you come back.

Just in case someone is watching this thread who's having a similar experience, I just wanted to recommend MASTA (medical advisory service for travel abroad). We went yesterday and had a really good experience talking through our holiday plans and planned pregnancy with a really down to earth nurse. She was able to give us much more detailed advice than our GP. MASTA clinics are private but you don't pay for a consultation. Their website is www.masta.org

Hi SooBaloo I travel to India 2/3 times a year with my work and have been on holiday and have bever taken Malaria tablets. I was 8 weeks pregnant the last time I went, I didn't want to tell work so I had to go (it was to Delhi by the way). I spoke to my GP and he told me there is no risk with flying unless you are stressed about it and with regards to the Malaria as long as you do not go to obviously risky places then you should be ok. It is so reasonable to stay in top end places that I would whole heartedly recommend, India is wonderful just don't plan too much incase you do feel sicky sicky HTH x

Morning sickness can be really grim - I would been extremely cheesed off if we had had a lovely holiday in India planned in my first trimester as I felt very tired, very queasy, and really only wanted to eat egg mayonnaise sandwiches and Hula Hoops, neither of which would have been readily available. BTW, what's taking you to Dehra Dun? It's not on the normal tourist beat. I have friends there!

Hi,

Agree with Mrs Badger, depends where in India. I went in my second trimester to delhi, mumbai, agra and rajesthan. Was v careful where we stayed and what I ate, and I was fine, if a bit hot and swollen.

Have fun won't you.