Care should be taken to avoid food and water-borne conditions such as stomach upsets and traveller's diarrhoea (TD). Some medicines for treating stomach upsets and TD aren't suitable during pregnancy, check with your GP which medicines are appropriate and take a supply with you incase you develop a stomach upset whilst abroad.

Food

Illness during pregnancy can be more severe so take special care to avoid contaminated food and water. Avoid partially cooked meat, unpasteurised milk products and soft cheeses. It is also important to be aware of measures taken with regards to food safety.

Where possible ensure food is cooked thoroughly, where this is not possible for any reason e.g. eating out, BBQ's, buffets avoid high risk foods and stick to pasteurised cheeses, breads, vegetable dishes and pre-washed salads. Avoid food which has been left out for any length of time, especially in hot weather.Personal hygiene when eating and drinking is also important including hand washing prior to eating and using sterile plates, cups and utensils.

What to avoid

• Milk should be boiled unless you are sure it has been pasteurised.
• Cheeses and ice-cream are often made from unpasteurised milk and when in doubt these should only be bought from larger well established companies when quality can usually be assured.
• Meat should be thoroughly cooked and eaten hot whenever possible. Avoid leftovers.
• Fish and shellfish can be hazardous at certain times of year, even if well cooked. Take local advice about seafood, but when in doubt it is best to avoid them.
• Vegetables should only be eaten when thoroughly cooked.
• Green salads should be avoided as they will probably have been washed in tap water, or not at all.
• Fruit should be peeled, including tomatoes.
• Soft whipped ice creams (for example, from ice cream vans and fast food restaurants) as they can contain bugs such as salmonella if the equipment is not kept clean.
• Local dairy products, particularly ice cream and cheese.
• Wash hands thoroughly before eating or handling food, and always after using the toilet.

Drink

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. This is important, as your body needs more fluid than usual when you're pregnant, and even more so in hot weather.

Water should only be drunk when you are sure of its purity, this also applies to water used for making ice cubes and cleaning teeth. If unsure drink water from sealed bottles or which has been boiled and avoid ice cubes in bars and restaurants. Hot tea and coffee and canned/bottled fizzy drinks should all be ok.

Other water purification methods are available at http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/advice-for-travellers/water-purification.aspx

Keeping Healthy

It is easy to slip into a routine while you are away of eating fast foods such as burgers and kebabs, while occasionally this is ok try to vary your diet with fresh foods as well.

TIP:

Carry plenty of healthy snacks in your bag e.g. small bags of dried fruit, cereal bars or small packs of wholemeal biscuits, this will help curb your mid afternoon rumbles and stop you going to the nearest kebab shop. If you are in any doubt about the cleanliness of fruit you buy from local shops, buy fruit that has a skin and peel it yourself.

TIP:

Most hotels offer a wide selection of foods for breakfast at a buffet. You can often choose between wholegrain cereals, fresh or dried fruits, yoghurts and fresh breads, all of which will give you plenty of vitamins and minerals as well as fibre. Add a glass or two of fruit juice and you are nutritionally well set-up for the day.

Immunisations

For information on immunisations visit http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx