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?

Another thing to consider is healthcare and abortion laws where you're going, in case anything goes wrong.

Last year I found out at 7+2 that my pregnancy was ectopic. It ruptured the following day and I had surgery to remove at 7+4. I wouldn't have wanted to experience that abroad. Especially if I was somewhere without good healthcare or draconian anti abortion laws which may have delayed my treatment. In Malta which has an abortion ban some women have been forced to wait several days for an 'ethics panel' to approve treatment for an ectopic pregnancy.

If you do decide to go, if I were you I'd go for an early scan at 6/7 weeks to check the position of the pregnancy. As PP has said, if the pregnancy ended up being ectopic and you were somewhere very remote with no heathcare, or somewhere with laws where they wouldn't treat you (and believe me, from personal experience, an ectopic that is left untreated is agony) you'd be in a massive pickle. Fortunately, you'd be able to confirm that one way or another before your trip.

You'll have to disclose for insurance purposes. Speak to HR and get that point sorted first and then make a decision.

An early scan to check location is a great idea. My current pregnancy was scanned at 5+3 to confirm location although a scan that early may be hard to access if you don't have a history of ectopic pregnancy.

It's worth bearing in mind that all sorts can go wrong in pregnancy. They most likely won't happen to you, but if they did, you don't want to be somewhere that either can't treat you or won't treat you.

That's before you get to the malaria risk.

Defo no.. zika is another consideration and you wouldn't want the travel vaccinations while pregnant either would you?