Pregnancy and travel advice

[SooBaloo]

Apologies, because I have just posted this same message in the Travel section. Really keen to get some sensible advice from anyone who can help.

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!

whereabouts in India are you going? makes a huge difference.

Not sure about the anti malarial bit, but traveled to Egypt and stayed with in-laws in their village during the first trimester of one of my pregnancies and was fine, after all people are pregnant and having babies all over the world.

Depends whereabouts in India that you are going to. I think the main thing you would need to watch for (you already probably know this) is the food is properly cooked - consider going veggie for those few weeks to prevent any problems with meat. You also need to be careful with the water - even bottled water as the Indians are good at refilling bottles and resealing them so they look like they haven't been used. That's how I got dysentry!

Not sure about anti-malarials but again if you are in northern India you shouldn't need antimalaria tabs but in the south you do need them. Maybe speak to you doctor about this as they would know best.

From what I remember, you can't (or shouldn't) take anti-malarial drugs whilst trying to conceive or pregnant - double-check with your GP, but I think it's a no-no.
Also, If you are travelling in your first trimester, you would probably be smart to wait until you have had an early pregnancy scan at about 7 weeks to check for correct implantation, a heartbeat and no ectopic - chances are, you will be absolutekly fine, but it might be best to be sure.
Other than that, you would need to watch what you ate and drank (for all the reasons other posters have mentioned)
Maybe also ask your GP to talk you through why he is so dead-set against the whole idea. HTH

Dear All,

Thanks for all your advice. PinkMagic, my instinct is to agree with your advice. However, reading up on the consequences of getting malaria has made me come round to a more cautious point of view. I think we'll wait.

Now I need advice on how to calm myself down! It feels like everyone around me is having babies... My DH is very sensible and reminds me it isn't a competition and I've only got to wait three months before we can start trying but it is so hard.

Thank you all!

Yes its a good idea to wait. It would be no fun with you throwing up in a bucket the whole time or being totally exhausted.

I conceieved in one tropical country (Jamaica), then while about 4 weeks pregnant travelled literally to the other side of the world (Thailand) where I stayed and worked for about three weeks, discovering the pregnancy while I was there. Then flew back to Jamaica (via a holiday in the UK), where I spent most of the rest of my pregnancy.

I have a very healthy and happy two year old daughter.

Just take all the necessary precautions; don't travel in malarial areas if possible; be very careful about what you eat and drink etc and I am sure you will be fine.

My advice would be different if you were backpacking, staying in dodgy hostels and only eating road-side food. But it sounds like you will be staying with friends and having a lovely relaxing time (although I agree it might not be as enjoyable if you are pregnant due to morning sickness and tiredness - the 2nd trimester is a better time to travel if possible...)

FWIW - certain anti-malarial drugs, ie. Plaquenil, are regularly prescribed to women suffering from lupus and sjogrens syndrome, regardless of their pregnancy status...I only know this because I was diagnosed with these during my first trimester and my rheumie wanted to start me on Plaquenil immediately. I didn't start it as was and still am in remission at the time, but he did give me a long talk re the proven safety record of Plaquenil in pregnancy/no ill effects to baby... Maybe you could ask your GP about that? Might be an option worth considering... Good luck!!!

I live in Zambia and have conceived here 3 times, am currently 14wks with baby no2. We are advised not to take any antimalarials until 12weeks minimum. I lost my 2nd pg at around 6wks, which I will always associate with long-haul trip to UK with 7mo DS.....prob not the case at all, but I will always have that in my mind and I wouldn't recommend it....

Plus when I travelled in India 10yrs ago I helped a British lady who was having a mc (in hospital in Goa) and though everything was clean, hygienic and medically fine it's an experience I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. If something were to go wrong for you you'd want to be at home.

On a less dramatic note, the 1st trimester + tropical heat really sucks! Exhaustion, morning sickness etc. Great way to ruin what sounds like an amazing trip.

Having said all of that, 2nd & even 3rd trimester, fine! I travelled back and forth to UK from Zambia (11hr flight) while pregnant with DS, last time was at 36wks (he was born in London) and plan on doing the same with this one.

Best of luck with TTC - 3 months isn't really that long, especially when you have a fab holiday to look forward to! And you can always do the actual conceving while you're there

Thanks everyone. All this sensible advice is helping me get my broodiness under control. I think even though obviously it is possible to have a perfectly healthy pregnancy and baby somewhere like India, it probably is worth waiting, given that it is such a short time til we go away.

However if something goes wrong (or right?) and I end up pregnant anyway, all of this advice will be really useful.