THE PREGNANT TRAVELER MEDICAL KIT

We have prepared a checklist (below) of what we feel a pregnant traveler should take along with her as a medical/first-aid kit.  Perhaps some items need a little explanation.

Band-aids®, antibiotic salve and cough drops are pretty self-explanatory.  So is a simple pain reliever like Tylenol®.  Any pregnant woman knows as well that she will probably need something for heartburn.

There are some bits of equipment, though, that are more than the average person would carry.  Since toxemia is such a common complication of pregnancy, for instance, a blood pressure cuff, stethoscope and urine test strips to check for protein should probably be part of the kit.  You should learn from your doctor how and when to check your urine for protein and either you or your traveling companion should be able to check your blood pressure.  A reliable thermometer, either mercury or electronic, is also important to have along.

We discuss medicines  more thoroughly in another chapter, and it is there that you will find why we recommend the particular medicines mentioned here and not others.

A pregnant woman’s stomach and intestinal tract are always touchy.  For that reason you need to be prepared for any eventuality—heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and hemorrhoids.  Any simple antacid will do for heartburn, but the tablets like Tums® and Rolaids® are easier to transport than the liquids.  You should consult your obstetrician before resorting to the newer acid blockers like Tagamet® and Prilosec®.

Many people find ginger root an effective remedy or preventive for nausea.  It may be powdered and mixed with a liquid like tea, or you can simply nibble on the ginger root.  Another effective option, but possibly messy, is a liquid called Emetrol®.  If you have found before your trip that you need a prescription-strength remedy you should get that from your obstetrician—along with a note for customs authorizing you to carry it (as with any other prescription medicines.)

We discuss diarrhea medicines in another chapter, but if you are going to take something along we recommend Imodium-AD® and perhaps an appropriate antibiotic.  At the other extreme, a lot of travelers, especially when pregnant, suffer from abdominal bloating and constipation.  We recommend a bulk laxative like Metamucil® or Fibercon®.  Just in case of hemorrhoids, take along a cream such as Anusol® or Preparation-H®.

Don’t forget your prenatal vitamins.  They are often difficult to find in other countries.  And if you are taking malaria pills, you may need extra doses of folic acid (see the malaria prevention chapter.)  We often also recommend an antibiotic to take along in case of a severe respiratory or sinus infection, as well as a cream or pill for the all-too-common yeast infection.  A simple cold remedy, pre-approved by your doctor, is a good idea as well.

For personal comfort, take along some talcum powder and hand lotion.  Since we advise a brisk fluid intake to prevent blood clots, and mealtime is so unpredictable when traveling, we also recommend you take along bottled water and snack foods.

Of course, if your pregnancy is complicated by diabetes and you are still traveling, you will need to take along your sugar monitoring equipment and insulin.  The same goes for any other special medicines you are taking.  Make sure you take along enough for the whole trip.  Medicine names, quality and availability are all unpredictable when you are traveling.

THE PREGNANT TRAVELER MEDICAL KIT