Travelling while pregnant:

Whether you’re taking a relaxing babymoon or heading overseas to give birth surrounded by your loved ones, travelling internationally while pregnant warrants serious consideration and planning. While women are permitted to travel internationally for up to 36 weeks, it’s still important to get ahead and ensure you have all your travel essentials and medical consultations sorted. 

From scheduling a visit to the doctor to preparing your medication, this blog covers everything you need to know about travelling internationally while pregnant.

Planning your international trip when pregnant — your initial steps 

If you’re planning to head abroad while pregnant, there are a few things you will need to take care of before you start packing.  

Deciding When to Travel

In most cases, women are permitted to fly up to 36 weeks of their pregnancy, but it’s still best to get clearance from your doctor first. This should be done at least eight weeks prior to your trip. If they advise that international travel may be unsafe for you, adhere to their instructions and consider postponing your trip until after birth, when travel poses fewer risks. 

Your doctor may also recommend vaccinations or medications to take when you are travelling internationally while pregnant to keep you and your baby safe. 

Keep in mind that if you are taking medications for your pregnancy abroad, double-check if they are allowed in the country you are travelling to, as some may consider them to be illegal or a controlled substance. Your doctor may also provide you with a letter confirming their permission for you to travel, which you can present to the airline or cruise line. 

It’s also important to check in with your airline or cruise line to see if there are any rules, limitations or restrictions about travelling internationally while pregnant to avoid disappointment down the road. Different rules or restrictions may also apply if you are having more than one baby.

Investigating Destinations

When planning your trip, it’s important to research the sanitation and hygiene standards in the countries you are interested in visiting. Looking into medical facilities and hospitals is also recommended to ensure they can provide the level of care you need should you experience any complications. 

When heading overseas, pregnant or not, things can go wrong. From medical emergencies to lost luggage or travel delays, international travel can often seem like a minefield of wrong possibilities. International travel insurance or travel insurance for pregnancy can ease these stresses. 

Travel insurance providers like 1Cover may cover pregnancy without complications, provided you fall into one of the following categories: 

• Single foetus pregnancy (assisted or not) — Coverage available up to and inclusive of the 24th week of gestation. 
• Multiple pregnancies (assisted or not) — Coverage available up to and inclusive of the 19th week of gestation.

If you fall into one of these categories, you are not required to disclose your pregnancy when booking travel insurance, as you will be automatically covered. Pregnancies beyond these periods may no longer be covered. 

We recommend reading the product disclosure statement (PDS) you’ll receive for a full explanation of your coverage options to ensure you understand your policy’s details.