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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Travel to India in second trimester?

27 replies

Bellarina80 · 12/12/2013 20:53

I'm about 5 weeks pregnant and discovered today that my work want me to go to India for a couple of weeks in March. I'll be around 18 weeks pregnant then. Has anyone any experience of travelling to India when pregnant? Is it safe?
I'm also wondering if I should let my work know now that I will be pregnant on the trip, for health and safety considerations? I'm a bit reluctant to tell them until 12 weeks, due to a recent miscarriage.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

greentshirt · 12/12/2013 21:08

I would if it was with work travelling business class and staying in a good hotel, nice restaurants etc. you could be anywhere under those circumstances. If not though I definitely wouldn't.

I've spent a lot of time in Mumbai with work so if it's there or Pune give me a shout!

KatAndKit · 12/12/2013 21:35

Would you need immunisations to go to India and malaria tablets? Not sure if you can have those while pregnant.

i would avoid going personally but that's just me. Plenty of people travel in pregnancy and are just fine. Women in India have babies too. If you decide to go i would definitely tell them you are pregnant.

two weeks is quite a while to be travelling and you will also be due a scan around that time. On the other hand, two weeks in nice hotels with no housework could be a good thing.

ultimately i think you should take medical advice. The risk of tropical diseases and the risk of dodgy belly would be my main concerns.

ShoeWhore · 12/12/2013 21:38

Will you need jabs and/or malaria tablets OP? We were invited to an overseas wedding while I was pg and decided against it due to the jabs required - I remember calling the HV for advice about vaccinating ds and she said he'd be fine, it's you I'd be more concerned about!

summerbaby2014 · 13/12/2013 03:42

I would be reluctant to go because of poor food hygrine over there. There are plenty of other places I would go, so not averse to travel.
I would tell them as soon as you are comfortable, and before booking the tickets ideally

annielosthergun · 13/12/2013 06:07

I wouldn't - but then I am v cautious as I get food poisoning all the time (including when I stayed in a 5* hotel in Mumbai for 2 nights for work!) - and you can't take Imodium when pregnant...

DialMforMummy · 13/12/2013 06:53

I canceled a trip to India (tourism) when I found out I was pregnant. Good hotel or not, it's just too easy to get the runs there.
Women have kids there, indeed, but they don't have the same immunity.

woodlandwanderwoman · 13/12/2013 06:58

Echo the above, take advice and ensure if you do go that you have full support and understanding from colleagues that you many choose not to participate in everything. My concern would also be food hygiene, whilst I appreciate many people give birth perfectly healthily all over the world unfortunately you would be exposing yourself to tummy bugs that your body is not used to.

woodlandwanderwoman · 13/12/2013 07:00

To answer your other question Bellarina, if you have to book before 12w yes I think you should quietly tell your boss that you are pregnant and let them be part of the decision. Request that the decision is made in confidence and they will then be able to support you wr to other colleagues in the event you choose not to go.

Bugsylugs · 13/12/2013 07:01

Where in India? Are your vaccines up to date? If not I wouldn't. You will need to discuss with work as they may risk assess it as a non starter. Also long flight so increased risk of DVT.
I wouldnt

notoneforselfies · 13/12/2013 07:04

If it was me I'd feel, purely based on my past personal experience, that it's too hard to avoid Delhi belly to risk it: I ate vege only at a 5* hotel and was violently ill for several days - after only 24 hours in the country.

notoneforselfies · 13/12/2013 07:04

PS congratulations

Original poster

Bellarina80 · 13/12/2013 07:12

Thanks everyone for your messages. It's Bangalore, and no I haven't had any vaccinations for years. I'll speak to my doctor but my initial instincts are to veer on side of safety.

OP posts:

Spaghettinetti · 13/12/2013 08:22

I wouldn't OP. I had a great time in India a few years ago and if you were just in 5* establishments, you'd probably be fine, but it's too big a risk. I didn't have any tummy troubles until I got home ( I think I picked something up at the airport/on the flight) but they were very nasty and made me feel Ill for days. Public toilets aren't always the cleanest and hygiene standards generally are very different... Plus you need to have up to date typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus and polio vaccines. You (technically) don't need malaria tablets, but do need to wear insect repellent as there are many other mosquito born infections such as Dengue Fever that could be contracted...

AuntieStella · 13/12/2013 08:38

You cannot have a number of vaccinations whilst pg.

If you haven't had all the recommended ones, you must not go on health grounds. A tool such as that on the MASTA website (recommended by NHS for private travel immunisations) will give you an idea of what is needed.

You also need to research malaria prophylaxis. Bangalore is malarial, but is low risk, so it's optional for non-pg travellers. But as malaria is so very much more serious in pg, you need to talk to an experienced adviser to work out what is best. Be aware, some prophylaxis cannot be taken during pg, and others can make you very sick.

SaucyJack · 13/12/2013 09:56

I'd also avoid it if I could, but we all have different pregnancies.

The main "risk" would be that it just wouldn't be enjoyable in any way, shape or form.

It's perfectly normal to feel tired and/or sick a lot of the time and it gets to a point where going for a coffee becomes a major excursion- never mind flying to India.

But as I say, we're all different. You might be the glowing type.

RaRa1988 · 13/12/2013 10:00

If you're going, avoid eating meat/fish so the risk of food poisoning is reduced. I spent a month living in the desert in India a few years ago and, as the only vegetarian, I was also pretty much the only one in our group who did not come down with the shits at some point.

Bunbaker · 13/12/2013 10:01

OH has been to India 8 times and has only had the runs once. He flies to Bangalore and then on a short domestic flight. I don't think Bangalore is in a high risk malarial area, but you would need to check. You have to tell your employer because you would need to be covered travel insurance wise.

redcarrot1 · 13/12/2013 11:19

I wouldn't personally, especially as you've recently suffered a miscarriage.

I've been to India about 8 times and always stayed in 5* places. I got the runs within about 3 days every single time, plus fever one time and bedridden. Even in the 'best' places the food can be awful.

redcarrot1 · 13/12/2013 11:20

I love India though! Just to counter the negativity in my previous post!

Caip · 13/12/2013 11:59

I'd tell work, they might decide they don't want you to go and then the decision's taken away from you anyway
I spent 5 weeks travelling in India on a budget - nowhere near a 5* hotel - a few years ago and neither me or DH were ill once.

baggyoldcow · 13/12/2013 12:33

I'm going tomorrow (at 8 weeks, though)! But I'm going on holiday (booked before pg) and I really WANT to go (also it's a shorter flight from where I am).

As yours is a work trip, I would try and get out of it. Everyone always seems to get a tummy bug within days and given you can't take much medication in pregnancy, you're just asking for trouble. That said, B'lore is probably one of the best places to be in terms of access to good hotels/restaurants/hospitals...

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 13/12/2013 12:36

I wouldn't.

My Mum and Dad went on a 5* trip some years ago - and my Mum still got awful Dehil belly.

Helpyourself · 13/12/2013 12:41

As a family (5) we've been twice without jabs or anti malarials and DH has been dozens times w/ out any sickness.
5* hotels etc. minimise your risks, but equally it's about not eating salads, avoiding ice, eating vegetarian, not putting fingers in mouth etc.
Unless you're dying to go I wouldn't though. We went for family trips of a lifetime, not for work.

GirlWithTheDirtyShirt · 13/12/2013 12:49

My work probably wouldn't let you go. If I recall correctly, the work travel insurance policy restricts travel I pregnancy sooner than normal anyway.

ChicaMomma · 13/12/2013 14:15

Yeah, i'd tell them and then they wont take the risk themselves. have an early scan around 8 weeks and tell them after that, all going well.
i wouldnt take the risk myself. It's fine to say that women in india have babies- but tehy live there, their immune systems can cope with stuff ours cant, cope with foods our bellies cant.. last time i was in india (in a 5 star hotel) i had vicious delhi belly the entire time. Now, delhi belly might do you no harm, but it's not a risk i'd take if i could get away with it.

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