With the qualifications outlined below, flying generally isn’t harmful to a pregnant woman or the baby she is carrying.

However:

After 28 weeks, the airline may request a letter from your doctor or obstetrician stating that you don’t have a high-risk pregnancy, if you are carrying multiple babies and when your due date is. Some airlines won’t let you fly after around 37 weeks (34 if you are having twins) since there’s a chance you’ll go into labour during the flight.

If you are travelling long-haul, there’s a chance (even if you’re not pregnant) of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If you do fly long-haul, drink lots of water, get up and walk around a lot, and wear special DVT socks you can buy at the airport or pharmacy.

Vaccinations, sometimes associated with long haul flights, are not recommended during pregnancy since the virus or bacteria in the immunization could harm the baby – talk to your doctor regarding any specific questions.

Car travel is generally safe for a pregnant woman and the baby she is carrying – with the guidelines below:

• Avoid long trips where you may get unusually tired.
• Take breaks and walk around to reduce the risk of DVT if the journey is over 5 hours long.
• Drink lots of water.
• Try to avoid long trips where you may get unusually tired, or try to share the driving.
• Put the seat belt under your bump over your lap – with the cross strap between your breasts. Do not put the belt over the top of your bump.

If you are involved in a road accident, however minor, it’s important to get checked out by your doctor straight away.