[Sportschosun reporter Jang Jong-ho] Recently, many expectant mothers and their families have been planning so-called prenatal trips before childbirth.
Although prenatal trips have become a new cultural trend, there still appears to be a lack of sufficient information and thorough preparation.
These trips are usually taken around the seventh month of pregnancy, a few months before delivery. Because mothers and their families often have to make time despite busy schedules and work within a limited budget, many end up choosing somewhat demanding itineraries, cheap flights, or long-distance travel with layovers.
The problem is that such strenuous travel can increase the risk of preterm labor even for healthy mothers. The situation becomes far more complicated if preterm labor occurs overseas and a premature baby is born. In some cases, neonatal intensive care may be needed locally, and hospitalization can last five to eight weeks or longer. Medical costs in such cases can range from tens of millions of won to hundreds of millions of won.
If you are preparing for a prenatal trip, there are five things you must remember.
First, make sure to check through a prenatal examination whether the mother and fetus are in a condition suitable for travel. Even if the mother has had no particular problems, it is safest to consult the attending medical staff before departure.
Second, avoid an overly packed schedule. Traveling to multiple places in a short period, walking for long hours, or following an itinerary without enough rest can place a burden on the mother. If possible, plan a more relaxed schedule and allow enough time to rest in between. It is also better to choose destinations with direct flights whenever possible. Trips with many layovers or long travel times may delay responses in an emergency. Since travelers may be exposed to various risks before and after transit, it is advisable to avoid flights that arrive too late at night or too early in the morning.
Third, before departure, find out the information for local medical facilities and the emergency contact numbers for Korean diplomatic missions abroad. It is also a good idea to learn in advance how to reach the 24-hour Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Call Center and to keep the emergency contact network of the hospital where prenatal care is being received. In an emergency overseas, language barriers, medical systems, and costs can create major confusion.
Fourth, to ensure prompt local treatment and safe international transport in the event of an emergency during overseas travel, it is advisable to sign up for overseas travel insurance before departure that covers local medical expenses, international transport costs, and interpretation services. However, even with overseas travel insurance, coverage is often limited to the mother. In Korea, it is still rare for overseas travel insurance to cover the fetus as well.
Fifth, to prepare for any unforeseen situation, it is a good idea to be aware of the Overseas Medical Transport Research Group of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine, which is made up of emergency medicine specialists affiliated with the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine, and to contact them quickly if an emergency occurs. The group dispatches doctors to overseas locations to provide specialized medical care and safe international transport tailored to each patient's condition. If you search for 'okems119' on KakaoTalk and add it as a friend, you can quickly receive consultation on transport procedures and costs.
Kim Ho-jung, a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, said, "A prenatal trip can become a good memory for the mother and her family. However, travel during the period leading up to childbirth can turn even a small variable into a major burden. If you must take a prenatal trip, the most important thing is the safety of the mother and fetus."
Jang Jong-ho, reporter bellho@sportschosun.com
