Many travel-medicine specialists recommend evacuation insurance for travel to remote areas. If you are not in your last trimester, air travel is generally safe, said Rebecca Wolfe-Acosta, director of Traveler's Medical Service of New York. Drink plenty of liquids to keep up the level of placental fluids. Swimming, walking and moderate hiking at low altitudes are all acceptable. But some things you should not do.
Scuba diving can cause decompression sickness in the fetus.
Dr. Michele Barry, director of the Office of International Health at Yale University, notes that high altitudes can sicken a pregnant hiker and affect blood flow to the fetus. Water-skiing, which can force water into the cervix, is an extremely bad idea, and many doctors think that skiing on snow is also far too risky. Avoid saunas and hot tubs because they raise the core body temperature too much. Malaria, which can cause miscarriage, is a major hazard for pregnant women traveling in many areas of Africa, Asia and Central and South America. Controversy surrounds the use of many prophylactics, so if you must travel to where malaria is present, seek detailed medical advice before leaving.