Hiya,

Has anyone taken Anti Malarial tablets when pregnant. I am 21 weeks and am off to Goa next week. I have started to take tablets as advised by my doctor and pharmacist. However I had my scan yesterday and now the pregnancy seems more real I can't stop crying that I am doing the wrong thing taking the tablets and am tempted to cancel the hols..

Any reassurance would be great.

Anth

x

If the pharmacist and the GP know you are pregnant, and they haven't advised you not to go, and they have told you to take the tablets, then your very normal protective hormones are kicking-in. You are past the 12 weeks danger time, and women who live in Goa have healthy babies all the time! Take sensible precautions about water & food and don't eat at street stalls.Take some dettox or similar disinfectant with you and go-over your room with it - on all the hand-contact surfaces, and especially around the bathroom. Don't buy botled water from a street vendor - go prepared every day with fresh bottled water from a reliable source and keep ice out of your drinks..avoid salads. Don't swim in the sea fi you hve any cuts or other open skin lesions. Thats what all travellers should do to save themselves from tummy bugs etc., that will give you some more peace of mind.
Have a lovely holiday
H

Hi - I was supposed to be going to India on the 31st March - when I'll be 16 weeks. I've cancelled my trip after many discussions with family, nurses, and finally my doctor. I think in the end it came down to fact that you're not supposed to take any medication when pregnant and that I can go next year. I was supposed to be visting my grandparents and taking my husband for the first time, I know they'll be really disappointed but better safe than sorry. Sorry to put a downer on this. Re women living in Goa have healthy babies - yes they do - but their immunity has built them up against malaria, we haven't got that natural defence. I'm Indian in origin and still get ravaged by mosquitos when in India..just one could carry malaria.
Take care.
Kavita.