Should I still go on work trip to developing country after finding out I’m pregnant?

[Alwaystired1234]

Hi everyone! It’s my first post here and I’m looking for advice from anyone who’s experienced anything similar or just general thoughts really about what you’d do in my situation.

I’ve just found out I’m pregnant with our first baby :) The problem is, however, that I am supposed to travel with work to a developing country in 3 weeks’ time. I’d be 8 weeks pregnant then. There are no vaccines that are compulsory for this country, just recommended ones, but I’d need to take anti-malarials while there as it’s high risk malaria. I’m ok-ish with not taking any vaccines, but there are no anti-malarials that are risk-free for pregnant women. My GP just said to speak to a travel clinic.

If I cancelled my attendance, I’d need to give a reason to my work. I didn’t really want to have to disclose to my supervisor at this early stage about the pregnancy. I’m also at a funny point in my contract where I’ve been told I’ll be getting an extension (I’m on a fixed-term) but this is not in writing. So ideally I wouldn’t disclose the pregnancy until I absolutely have to, and I have the extension guaranteed. I know it would be discrimination not to give me an extension due to the pregnancy, but I’m sure there’s always a way around these things!

The only options I think I have are to:

1. go but risk getting malaria (which would obviously be stupid), or take anti-malarials but accept the risks;
2. Not go, and disclose that the reason why is because I’m pregnant and risk my contract not being extended.

What would you do in my situation?

Depends on the country! Countries vary a lot as do the conditions you will be staying in. Malaria varies too. Most of Africa I would be cautious about due to the strain of malaria whereas the malaria in se Asia isn't as serious

When I went to Ghana I was prescribed doxycycline as anti-malaria tablets. Doxycycline is a massive no-no when pregnant so I’d defo check what kind of tablets you’ll be getting.

Yeah we’re going to sub-Saharan Africa so malaria is very concerning

It also obviously depends on what conditions you’ll be living in and for how long. I was there for months living in the village and there was no running water and I got sick off the street food and water a few times. If you’re at a nice hotel and only eating hotel food and there’s air conditioning (keeps the mosquitoes away right) then it’s less risky. I personally wouldn’t go but that’s just because I’ve lived there and know how bad things can get from a health perspective. I was also working at the hospital as a midwife and we’d send all westerners home rather than treat them just because we didn’t have the equipment.

Does your work have occupational health? They should be able to sign you off this trip without telling the boss why. Or go straight to HR saying you need to be excused for health reasons but you want to keep them confidential.

Also, is Zika virus an issue in the area you are travelling to? Don't go at all if it is.

There is an option of anti-malarial that is safe in the first trimester, it's only useful in certain areas where the mozzies aren't resistant to it, first thing is check with travel clinic if maybe it would be suitable for the particular area you're traveling to. If not, if it weren't for you hoping for a contract extension I'd say just tell them your pregnant and can't go, but personally I wouldn't take the risk with telling them until you have it on paper. Can you inconveniently 'catch COVID' or something the day before your trip therefore making you unable to travel?

Hi OP I went to Nepal at roughly the same gestation with work. I'm a teacher and my colleague and I were successful on a fleeting bid to go on an exchange. The week after we found out we were going I found out I was pregnant. I didn't want to cancel and so spoke with my midwife. I wouldn't normally have had contact with them at that stage of pregnancy but I phoned the team and explained the circumstances and they booked me in a tad earlier. I opted out of a few vaccines on their advice and also couldn't take anti malarials. I did use a mosquito net at night and mosquito repellant (though was advised to make sure it didn't contain DEET). I had a few extra blood tests when I returned if I remember right just to double check I hadn't caught malaria and it was on my notes just in case anything did pop up along the way.

My main concern was double checking my insurance would cover pregnancy complications and I was extra careful with food hygiene etc (for example decided against eating eggs as they obvs weren't lion stamped).

I don't regret going for a minute as two kids later in know my days of having the opportunity to do that sort of work trip are gone for a good while. Good luck whatever you decide but try to remember that women are pregnant in these countries too and their babies do just fine.

Having done a lot of travel to sub-saharan Africa in my early career and since been through a couple of pregnancies, I'd say dont just think about anti-malarials. Pp have mentioned Zika, which should also be a concern. Is there a yellow fever risk where you are going?

The other thing to consider is around 8 weeks is when my morning sickness REALLY kicks in badly. Theres no way id want to be away from home - plus it would be hard to hide it from colleagues so you might end up disclosing it anyway. How is the healthcare where you are going in case you should require any assistance? Will you be in major cities with access to a hospital if needed or will you be in rural areas?

Final thought, will your organisation's insurance cover you if you are pregnant? I think you would have to disclose it to them so your org might find it anyway?

On balance, my personal risk assessment would be not to go, but i appreciate everyone is different so others might disagree. If you dont want to talk to your supervisor, is there someone further up the chain that you have a good relationship with and can discuss this with confidentially first?

No, I wouldn’t be going to sub-saharan africa when I’m pregnant. Malaria isn’t the only problem. There are other things you could catch that could cause disabilities at such an early stage.

It depends where you’re going and what you’re doing. If it’s a city, staying in a hotel and working in an office / going to a conference or workshop, I’d go, as I do that for work and honestly you could be anywhere in the world. I really don’t want to be negative but having recently had a miscarriage at 11 weeks, I am now quite cautious of travelling from that perspective as no way would I have wanted to be away from home and my DH when it happened.

And as PP said, your work should be doing a risk assessment and I’d be cautious about not disclosing and then insurance not covering something pregnancy related, for example ectopic pregnancy

There're all sorts of anti-malaria and treatments for malaria. Many people go to West African for IVF from the UK without problems.
I for one only returned a couple of weeks ago and was there for sometime after my transfer which means I could've been exposed to malaria in the early weeks of pregnancy. However, the night of my arrival I went to the most popular pharmacy and asked the pharmacists for advice. They gave me lots of options which my husband and myself used. He'd never been in a malaria country and I hadn't been for a while so no immunity. Turns out my clinic also gives anti-malaria with every ivf cycle.

You can also use anti-malaria that starts before departure, just more expensive here.

In summary, as long as you're not going to work in a village you'll be fine as everywhere you'll be will be air-conditioned but use an anti-malaria.

I would go and risk malaria. I would disclose as early as possible so they can't discriminate against you

Don’t be ridiculous. Malaria can destroy your health.

Get some proper advice on whether any anti-malarials are safe for pregnant women - a travel clinic doc will know - I’d imagine there are options.

Otherwise you will have to disclose.

It’s an arse.

There's no way I'd put work above my baby's health. I'd refuse to go.

And yes I'd disclose the pregnant early for this reason. Most people wait till 12 weeks but it's really no big deal to say earlier.

Surely you would have to disclose for insurance purposes

Which country in Sub-Sahara Africa?

Do not go. Tell work about the pregnancy and don’t go. I told work at 8 weeks - it makes no difference whether you tell at 6 weeks or 16.

I'd get the contract extension in writing ASAP- an email to your line manager or the relevant manager and HR along the lines of
"Following up on our conversation on X day, I'm really pleased that my contract (currently expiring XX will be extended for XX).

Please let me know if there's anything more you need from me to issue the paperwork - when should I expect this?

I'm looking forward to discussing with your objectives for the extended period/I'm looking forward to progressing work on XX towards End Goal "

That way there's no confusion that the intention was to offer you a contract before you disclose your pregnancy.

I agree the accommodation is relevant, and you may be suffering the worst of first trimester tiredness and nausea at that point.

Which country/region? MNers may be able to give specific advice.

It absolutely makes a huge difference depending on the country....

Without that info, no one can really help you with advice.

@theduchessofspork
Sorry the worst typo ever- I meant I would NOT go and risk malaria!

And I just quoted wrong post too- sorry!

Don't go basically is my view but I'll leave this thread now as I can't type properly today 😂

I would NOT risk malaria. I would ask more about the anti malaria tablets in pregnancy, there are many drugs that are not class A per se ie declared suitable in pregnancy but which are also commonly prescribed in pregnancy - antihistamines and common nausea medications spring to mind. If there are some like this I’d happily take them. If they are not in this category I wouldn’t and wouldn’t go.
however you may find you are miserably unwell, and completely unable to go. I giesss you could call it gastro… anyway wait a week , make those inquiries and think about it. I expect most people know by 7 weeks at the later if they are going to feel awful. I started throwing up at 6 weeks with my first and earlier with the others .