THE PREGNANT GIRL’S GUIDE TO TRAVEL

FLYING

Before you jet off anywhere, you need to have had an ultrasound to check your due date and confirm you’re having a normal pregnancy. That’s according to Dr Peter Vincent, medical advisor to Netcare Travel Clinics, who says flying while pregnant is either not advised or completely ruled out in high-risk pregnancies.

In normal (low-risk) pregnancies, there’s generally no restriction on domestic or international air travel from 23 to 36 weeks. If you’re carrying multiples, the cut-off is 32 weeks. All airlines have different policies on travel during pregnancy, so you do need to check with the airline direct.

“Remember too that the cut-off date usually includes the return date of travel,” says Lucinda Tyler, Club Travel product manager. “So you need to calculate how many weeks pregnant you’ll be when you fly back.”

Many airlines require a doctor’s letter confirming you’re fit to fly only in the third trimester, but Lucinda recommends taking a doctor’s letter within the first and second trimesters