Should I avoid public transport?Public transport can be crowded and uncomfortable but if you take the right precautions, you should be fine. Try to schedule your appointments so that you can travel at off peak hours.
If you have to travel by bus, tram, metro or train:
- Don't be shy to ask for a seat if it is crowded.
- Look for seats or compartments dedicated to women travellers.
- Carry a hand sanitizer or wet wipes to clean your hands to avoid picking up infections.
- Take extra time and care getting on and off the vehicle.
While travelling in vehicles such as cycle rickshaws and autos:
- Cover your mouth and nose loosely with a thin cloth like a handkerchief or dupatta to reduce breathing in the pollution and dust.
- Ask the driver to travel slowly especially over speed bumps and to avoid any potholes.
- Hold on tight to the handle bars.
- If you can, spend a little extra on a modern taxi with air conditioning services and seatbelts.
Is it safe to drive to my doctor's appointments?There is no reason to prevent you from driving for your doctor's appointments if you take care.
- Always wear a seatbelt to protect you and your baby from bumps, breaks, jolts or harm. Read more about seatbelt safety during pregnancy.
- Try and take a family member or a friend to your appointments. If you get tired or don't feel like driving they can take over.
- Make sure that you have a spare tyre and that your car is serviced regularly.
- Drive within the speed limit and follow traffic regulations.
- Try to avoid routes where the roads are bad and there are traffic jams. Check the news or listen to traffic information on the radio.
However you travel, carry a sheet with all your medical information in case of a medical emergency or accident. This sheet should include a summary of your medical history, contact information for you, your doctor/hospital and spouse or any person that should be called during an emergency.
What precautions should I take during the different seasons?During summer, the heat and humidity can make travelling difficult. Make sure you keep cool and avoid the sun when you can.
- Try to schedule your appointments before noon or in the evenings. This way you can stay away from the mid-afternoon sun to avoid feeling dizzy and dehydrated. During the few days in which the hot dry wind (loo) blows, try to stay indoors altogether.
- If you have to walk even small distances carry an umbrella and wear sun glasses.
- Carry beverages like water or lime juice to prevent dehydration. You can keep the beverage in a thermos to keep it cool. Also make sure you have a glass of water before leaving home and upon arriving at your destination.
- Wear cool and loose clothing to keep as comfortable as possible.
During the monsoon,
- Be careful about slippery roads, staircases or other surfaces. Even hospital entrances can get very slippery with all the people walking in from outside with wet shoes.
- Carry an umbrella or raincoat if you are using public transport or have to walk in the open.
- Check the weather forecast to schedule appointments on days expecting little or no rains.
- Carry food and water from home as this is the season with the most waterborne diseases.
- Apply mosquito repellent before leaving the house as this is also the season of mosquito borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya
- Keep warmly wrapped up and avoid long walks in the cold.
- Wear clothes that keep you warm like mittens, caps/hats, scarves, woollens and thermal wear. Carry an extra shawl or jacket in case you get delayed at the doctors and the weather gets colder.
- Avoid scheduling your appointments in the evenings as in winter it gets dark quickly and often fog sets in. Instead visit your doctor during the morning or afternoon.