Travelling pregnant: answers to all your questions!
Published on 16 novembre 2018
Enjoying the last moments before the arrival of the baby is the priority! Yes, but we generally ask ourselves a lot of questions about what we can and cannot do. Take all necessary precautions, but above all, listen to yourself! The advice of your loved ones is certainly well intentioned, but it is essential to listen to your body and realize your wishes before new adventures that are less far away and more down to earth.
In this article
- 1. Until when can I go on vacation?
- 2. Do I need a medical opinion, mandatory vaccines?
- 3. Where to go when pregnant?
- 4. List of activities prohibited during pregnancy
- 5. What are the tips for a stress-free trip?
- 6. Do repatriation insurances or credit cards cover emergency returns?
- 7. Little bonus: Birth on board, dual nationality?
1. Until when can I go on vacation?
Going on vacation, relaxing or getting some fresh air is not really the question. In general, long trips are not recommended during pregnancy (regardless of the due date). The vibrations, an uncomfortable and sometimes stressful position, in short, the warnings are numerous and the doctor's opinion is often necessary, especially for a long car trip.
The train is often a good alternative considered more ideal, especially for long distances, and it also allows travel beyond the 36th week, which will no longer be possible by plane. The plane is also a safe and comfortable means of transport, but most airlines will not accept you beyond the 7th month. Take your precautions, however, a visit to the doctor to obtain a medical opinion is wiser and may be required before boarding!
| Companies | Deadline for travel | Medical certificate required |
|---|---|---|
| Aigle Azur | 7 months | no |
| Air Algérie | 7 months | no |
| Air Canada | 36th week included | no |
| Air France | No restrictions | recommended |
| Air Transat | 38th week included | no |
| Alitalia | No restrictions | recommended |
| American Airlines | No restrictions | recommended |
| British Airways | 36th week included | no |
| Corsair | 7 months elapsed | no |
| Delta | No restrictions | recommended |
| easyJet | 35th week included | no |
| Emirates | 36th week included | no |
| Etihad Airways | 36th week included | no |
| Hop! | No restrictions | recommended |
| Iberia | No restrictions | recommended |
| KLM | No restrictions | recommended |
| Lufthansa | 36th week included | no |
| Qatar Airways | 35th week included | no |
| Royal Air Maroc | 8 months | no |
| Ryanair | 36th week included | no |
| TAP Portugal | 36th week included | no |
| Thaï Airways | 36th week included | no |
| Transavia | 36th week included | no |
| Tunisair | 8 months | no |
| Turkish Airways | 35th week included | no |
| Volotea | 35th week included | no |
| Vueling Airlines | 35th week included | no |
| XL Airways France | 8 months elapsed | no |
2. Do I need a medical opinion, mandatory vaccines?
Yes, it is strongly recommended to ask your general practitioner's opinion before leaving for distant lands. Ideally, you should also have an obstetrical assessment to check your blood pressure, the state of your cervix, and the baby's heart. You will leave more serenely knowing that everything is going well!
Beware of endemic areas where the Zika virus or malaria is found, remember to protect yourself against mosquitoes by using authorized repellent products or mosquito nets. No vaccine will be administered during pregnancy, you can already exclude destinations that would require such treatment. However, if you absolutely must travel to a country where the yellow fever vaccine is required, it is better to do so. To date, no scientific evidence has demonstrated an impact on the fetus.
3. Where to go when pregnant?
As for the destination, you will have understood that it is important to listen to your desires but also to take into account different constraints. Sea, mountain, temperate zones or rather tropical ones, what should you choose? Each person should be free to do what they want, but don't forget that when you’re pregnant, your hormones accentuate your daily feelings.
Thus, if like me, you dream of beaches and turquoise lagoons but cannot stand the heat, then forget hot and distant tropical zones. Spending your vacation under air conditioning will not be very entertaining.
If you prefer sports vacations, remember that in your state, rest is the best remedy to keep your baby warm without contractions or other discomforts. So forget about hiking on Mount Fuji or climbing Kilimanjaro, and keep these activities for after childbirth when a breath of fresh air will do you the greatest good (silence guaranteed)! You have already heard it too many times, but physical activity is more than necessary during pregnancy. So, opt for a combined vacation in temperate zones with some tourist or cultural activities that will allow you to spend your energy peacefully. Forget about vacations at home and go out to get some fresh air (even not far away) to enjoy the last moments together with your partner, family, or friends without any constraints.
4. List of activities prohibited during pregnancy
👉 Risky sports: team sports, cycling, skiing or horse riding. A fall, even without a direct impact on the abdomen, can cause placental abruption that can lead to the termination of pregnancy.
👉 Sports at altitude (above 2000 meters): mountaineering, via ferrata, canyoning, or hiking in high mountains. The higher you climb, the less oxygen you have, which can cause a risk of hypoxia for the fetus and lead to irreversible neurological damage.
👉 Scuba diving with a bottle (regardless of the depth): the gas in the diving bottles can reach the fetus through the placenta and have irreversible neurological consequences.
5. What are the tips for a stress-free trip?
When planning to travel while pregnant, it is wise to follow some basic tips. First of all, choose the right period of your pregnancy. During the 1st trimester, between nausea and fatigue, leaving may not be the most opportune. The second trimester is usually ideal, the small inconveniences have passed, and you will not yet feel too heavy (a sweet euphemism) to walk or move around easily. From the 3rd trimester, as mentioned above, the constraints are much stronger: doctor's opinion, airline restrictions... and it is better to stay close to a hospital in case of problems.
Don't forget to inquire about the healthcare system in the country you are visiting. In France, access to a hospital is often fast, but be careful if you are on an island that does not have one. As for abroad, needless to say, French standards are not common, and care can be very expensive (I know what I'm talking about). In Europe, remember to bring your European social security card (How to apply for it?) and for any other destination, do not neglect insurance (more information below).
Other points may seem more anecdotal but can change the course of the trip, believe me! On the plane, or for any transport that promises to be a bit long, remember to bring compression socks (OK, it's not sexy, but it's much better than having legs that look like vulgar poles). You can have them prescribed by your doctor and they are even fully reimbursed by social security from the 5th month of pregnancy (take advantage of it to make yourself a small wardrobe J). To improve your blood circulation, remember to drink a lot (of water, of course) on the plane and sufficiently during your activities. During pregnancy, the recommendation is to drink more than 2L of water per day.
Take with you everything that can be useful for your comfort: loose-fitting clothes, a cushion for your back, snacks to avoid a slump, a hat, and sunscreen to minimize the appearance of pregnancy spots... Finally, the indispensable tool, bring a mobile phone for each of your excursions. Firstly, it will allow you to keep beautiful memories in the box, and it can also act as an emergency phone if necessary. Never forget to consult the emergency numbers of each country before leaving to deal with any unexpected situation (and yes, we never plan enough for delicate situations).
6. Do repatriation insurances or credit cards cover emergency returns?
It is often said that pregnancy is not an illness... well, insurers have understood that! Be sure to check your cancellation, reimbursement, and repatriation conditions because very often, coverage is excluded from many insurance policies. Some organizations extend their guarantees to pregnant women, but within a period of up to the 30th or 32nd week.
After this stage, it will be very difficult to be indemnified for expenses related to your pregnancy abroad. You will probably have to take out additional assistance if you want to ensure a stress-free trip. Before making a decision, what you need to look at first is the assistance (reimbursement of expenses incurred in the event of a loss covered by the contract) and insurance (repatriation or theft of papers...). There are many of them: Allianz, Europ Assistance, April, Axa... If you have a premium card (MasterCard Gold, an American Express, or a Visa Premier), you benefit from travel insurance included in your contract, provided that you paid for your trip with this card. However, pregnancy is included among the cases of exclusion from coverage, so you cannot rely on it.
7. Little bonus: Birth on board, dual nationality?
First of all, it should be remembered that for all the reasons mentioned above, births on board are extremely rare... but it can happen, and then we can ask the crucial question of nationality! What is the situation?
It all depends, of course, on the rules in force in each country but also on where the plane is geographically located at the time of delivery. Most often, it is actually a more down-to-earth reality, the child acquires the nationality of its parents except in the case where the child is stateless (Article 3 of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, "a child born on board a ship or aircraft shall have the nationality of the country on whose register the ship or aircraft is registered").
In our country, it is not enough to be born on a French plane to acquire French nationality, it is the right of blood that prevails (at least one French parent). This is also the case in most countries in the world. The United States, on the other hand, uphold the right of soil, meaning that a baby born in flight over the United States can obtain American nationality. However, an amendment has been passed stating that if the child is born over the ocean (on a US flight), the baby will obtain the nationality of its parents (and not that of the soil). As for the place of birth to be declared (in the case of France), it is the town where the pregnant woman interrupted her journey, so her final destination.
Finally, it is often said that this type of extraordinary delivery entitles you to advantages with the airline in question. All of this is actually very marketing and depends on the wishes of the companies. In short, this can be an opportunity for good PR, so some do not hesitate to tell beautiful stories and offer one free trip per year for life to the lucky winner (e.g. Spirit Airlines). One can also take the examples of children born on trains or subways since the SNCF offers to the baby born on a train will travel for free until their 18th birthday.