Quickfire FAQs: Travelling While Pregnant

Each of our policies offer different cover for travelling when pregnant. Please see the Policy Wordings to find out what you’re covered for in relation to your pregnancy. Check the time scales and general exclusions, or call us, to make sure you’ve got a complete idea.

Do I need to get a special kind of travel insurance for pregnancy?

No, you don't need special travel insurance for pregnancy. Pregnancy itself usually isn’t considered a pre-existing medical condition, which means you shouldn’t even need to declare it on your travel insurance policy. If you’ve got pregnancy-related medical conditions however, like gestational hypertension or diabetes, you’ll need to check with your policy provider to see whether this needs to be declared.

Do I need to tell my midwife or doctor that I’m going abroad?

You will absolutely need the all-clear from your doctor or midwife before you travel, and perhaps even written confirmation that you are fit to fly. If you’ve got complications to your pregnancy which might worsen while you’re travelling, you need to heed their advice. 

Make sure you discuss any queries or concerns with them. Current NHS advice doesn’t say you can’t travel while pregnant, but the first 12 weeks can be symptom-heavy, and travelling towards the end of your pregnancy can be risky too.

Choosing to avoid the advice given to you by a medical professional might not only impact/harm you and your baby, but also invalidate your insurance, and result in denied claims.

Are there extra things to do or consider if I’m travelling while pregnant?

Vaccinations: Check with your doctor to see which vaccinations you need, and which ones are safe for the baby. Non-live vaccines are generally ok, and there are some anti-malaria medications you can take while pregnant.

Zika Virus: Avoid travelling somewhere with a risk of Zika virus, as this is particularly dangerous for pregnant women and their babies. The UK government and NHS advise against travel to South and Central America, the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, Africa and Asia due to the risk. If you go there anyway, this can lead to health complications or declined insurance claims.

Food and Drink: Stomach upsets and diarrhoea are often treated with medication which isn’t suitable during your pregnancy, so make sure you get in touch with your doctor for safe options. If you’re not sure about whether the tap water abroad is drinkable, stick to bottled water and avoid ice in your drinks. Be wary of how your food is washed and prepared too.

Activities: This might seem like a given, but be cautious about the sports and activities you’re doing on holiday. Avoid high-risk sports like horse riding, surfing, and scuba diving due to risks of falling, high impact, and decompression sickness. Even relaxing activities like saunas, hot tubs, and whirlpools can increase the risk of dehydration and fainting.

What happens if I get pregnant after I’ve booked my holiday?

If you become pregnant after you’ve booked your holiday, it’s up to you if you still wish to travel. Bear in mind that if you choose to cancel a holiday you’ve already paid for (or have agreed to pay for), because of a disinclination to travel, this is not covered by most travel insurance policies. However if you need to cancel your holiday due to medical reasons associated with pregnancy-related complications, this is more likely to be covered under your policy.

Either way, contact the companies you’ve booked through and your travel insurance provider to get details and make plans. Not all policies cover the same thing, and each have their own definition for ‘complications of pregnancy and childbirth’, so make sure you’re all clued up if you do fall pregnant after booking your holiday.

Should I take extra documents or medical information with me?

It’s never a bad idea to be over-prepared. If the worst comes to the worst, you’ll need to easily access information regarding your holiday, your health, and your pregnancy, so it’s worth taking these with you:

1. Your travel insurance documents - Policy Certificate, Policy Wording etc.
2. Emergency contact information - both your insurer’s medical assistance team and personal contact(s)
3. Your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), or EHIC if it’s still valid
4. A fit-to-fly letter from your doctor
5. A prescription for the medication you currently take, or have on standby
6. Any additional forms or information required by other holiday providers - airline, cruise company, tour operator etc.

Do I need to tell the airline or cruise company that I’m pregnant?

Yes, you’ll need to inform your airline of your pregnancy and how many weeks along you’ll be at the point of travel. After 28 weeks, you’ll likely need a doctor’s fit-to-fly note, confirming details of your pregnancy. This could include:

1. Whether your pregnancy is single or multiple
2. Your expected due date
3. That you are in good health
4. That there are no complications with your pregnancy
5. That there is no known reason you should not fly

Airlines generally won’t allow travel after 37 weeks (or 32 weeks for a multiple pregnancy). Always check the individual airline's policy to make sure you keep up with compliance.

If you’re going on a cruise, ask your cruise company or tour operator about it too. Cruises sometimes have stricter requirements than airlines, and most won't allow you to sail after 24 weeks. They will also require you to provide the above information, be that from your doctor or via a form they provide.

What if I arrange to go into labour on holiday?

If you’re experiencing a standard pregnancy and intending to have your baby abroad, a travel insurance policy is extremely unlikely to cover your costs, even if there are complications during labour.

What if there’s a pregnancy-related emergency abroad?

All travel insurance policies are different, so it’s worth checking what they consider a ‘complication’ of pregnancy and childbirth. Across the policies offered by Direct Travel, these include issues such as:

1. Toxaemia
2. Pre-eclampsia
3. Hyperemesis gravidarum
4. Placental abruption
5. Miscarriage
6. Medically necessary emergency caesarean section
7. Premature births or threatened early labour (more than a certain number of weeks before the expected delivery date)

The emergency medical expenses section of your policy can help pay for the cost of travel, treatment, surgery, accommodation, repatriation, medication, and additional expenses associated with being inpatient.

Make sure you’re aware of your nearest hospital and have any necessary contact information or documentation to hand. Ring your insurer’s medical assistance team as soon as you feasibly can, and keep hold of any receipts along the way.

BY HOLLY GARWOOD, 24TH JUNE 2024

Advice for women travelling abroad | GOV.UK
NaTHNaC | Pregnancy
Flying when pregnant: what you need to know | Pregnancy articles & support | NCT