Women's Health on the Road
For specific advice on women's health, I turned to Europe Through the Back Door researcher Risa Laib, who wrote the following section based on her experiences traveling solo (and pregnant) through Europe. — RickSteves
You can find whatever medications you need in Europe, but you already know what works for you in the United States. It's easiest to B.Y.O. pills, whether for cramps, yeast infections, or birth control. Some health-insurance companies issue only a month's supply of birth control pills at a time; ask for a larger supply for a longer trip.
Tampons and pads, widely available in Europe, are sold — for more than the US price — at supermarkets, pharmacies, and convenience stores. You'll rarely see a big display of the brands and sizes typical in American supermarkets, so if you're used to a particular brand, it's simpler and cheaper to bring what you'll need from home.
Women prone to yeast infections should bring their own over-the-counter medicine (or know the name and its key ingredient to show a pharmacist in Europe). Some women get a prescription for Diflucan, a powerful pill that cures yeast infections quicker and tidier than creams and suppositories. If you get a yeast infection in Europe and lack medication, go to a pharmacy. If you encounter the rare pharmacist who doesn't speak English, find an English-speaking local woman to write out "yeast infection" for you in the country's language to avoid the embarrassing charade.
You can treat minor urinary tract infections with unsweetened cranberry juice (available in northern Europe) or with cranberry pills (made from cranberry juice concentrate) sold at health food stores. If you often get urinary tract infections, bring antibiotics and a prescription from your doctor.
Traveling When Pregnant
Some couples want to time conception to occur in Europe so they can name their child Paris, Siena, or wherever. (Be thoughtful about this, or little Zagreb may harbor a lifelong grudge against you.) Consider bringing a pregnancy test from home to help you find out when you can celebrate.
If you'll be traveling during your first pregnancy, rip out a few chapters from a book on pregnancy to bring along. It's hard to find basic information on pregnancy in English in much of Europe. If you want certain tests done (such as amniocentesis), ask your doctor when you need to be home.
In the first trimester, climbing all the stairs can be exhausting — packing light is more essential than ever. You might find it easier to travel in the second trimester, when your body's used to being pregnant and you're not too big to be uncomfortable. Note that no airline really wants you on board when you're eight months pregnant.
Wear comfortable shoes that have arch supports. If you'll be traveling a long time, bring loose clothing (with elastic waistbands) and shoes a half size larger to accommodate your changing body. Keep your valuables (cash, passport, etc.) in a neck pouch rather than a constricting money belt.
Pace yourself and allow plenty of time for rest. Contact an English-speaking doctor if you become ill; medical care in most European countries is reassuringly good.
Seek out nutritious food (though some of it may make you nauseated, just as in America). Picnics, with drinkable yogurt, are often healthier than restaurant meals. Pack baggies for carrying snacks. Bring prenatal vitamins from home, plus a calcium supplement if you're not a milk drinker.
It's actually pleasant to be pregnant in Europe. People are particularly kind. And when your child is old enough to understand, she'll enjoy knowing she's already been to Europe — especially if you promise to take her again.
Updated for 2009. For lots more tips, check out our best-selling Europe Through the Back Door travel skills guidebook.