Medical professionals in the United Arab Emirates are issuing urgent warnings to expectant couples regarding travel risks during advanced pregnancy stages. This advisory follows a concerning clinical case in Dubai that demonstrates how seemingly minor incidents can trigger delayed serious complications.
A 36-week pregnant woman experienced a sudden vehicle braking incident without direct abdominal impact or immediate discomfort. Despite no apparent injury, she developed lightheadedness and weakness approximately one week later at 37 weeks gestation. Medical examination revealed abnormally low blood pressure, leading to diagnostic imaging that confirmed placental abruption—a partial separation of the placenta from uterine walls that compromises fetal oxygen supply and maternal health.
Dr. Meera T. Anto, Specialist Obstetrician and Gynecologist at International Modern Hospital, Dubai, emphasizes that weeks 39-40 represent particularly critical periods. “The baby’s head becomes deeply engaged, the cervix softens in preparation for delivery, and labor can commence without warning,” she explains. “A woman can transition from normalcy to active labor or medical distress within minutes.”
Medical authorities note that internal stress from sudden movements or jerks can affect placental integrity without visible external indicators. Extended travel additionally poses risks including dehydration, blood pressure fluctuations, reduced uterine blood flow, and increased contraction frequency. Complications may manifest hours or days after the initiating event, creating dangerous diagnostic delays.
Healthcare providers recommend immediate medical consultation for pregnancy-related dizziness, faintness, reduced fetal movement, uterine tightening, back pain, vaginal bleeding, or subjective feelings of abnormality. Doctors emphasize that maternal intuition often detects subtle changes before monitoring equipment registers abnormalities.
The successful resolution of the Dubai case through careful monitoring and normal delivery represents optimal outcomes, but specialists caution that results could easily have been tragic. Experts advise limiting routine commuting after 38 weeks even in low-risk pregnancies and maintaining proximity to medical facilities during late gestation periods.