What to do in a disaster if you’re pregnant

Disaster preparation for pregnant women

If you’re pregnant, planning and being prepared can help you respond to disasters confidently and calmly. Preparation can also keep you and your baby safe and healthy.

Disaster preparation starts with checking your local council or emergency service website to find out about:

disasters that are most likely to affect you
good ways to prepare for these disasters
local services and information sources that you might need if a disaster is coming.

Preparation also involves:

making a disaster action plan
packing an emergency bag.

How to make a disaster action plan

The Red Cross RediPlan can get you and your family started. Your action plan should include things like:

how to stay safe
when, where and how to evacuate
what to do if you can’t get to your planned evacuation destination
who to contact for help
who to tell your plan to
where to get up-to-date information about the disaster
what to do if your family members get separated or are in different places when the disaster happens.

What to put in an emergency bag

Our guide to making an emergency bag with children has a checklist of items to pack. You can use this checklist to get started.

Extra pregnancy items for your emergency bag

These items include:

paper copies of your pregnancy health record
your birth plan
things for your hospital bag, in case you go into labour
things for your baby, in case you give birth.

You can use the Australian Breastfeeding Association’s preparation, evacuation, and recovery resources to help with packing for a newborn.

If you have particular concerns about your situation, you could talk about disaster planning with your midwife or doctor at your antenatal appointments.

How to handle evacuation in a disaster

Evacuation planning

If you’re pregnant, it’s important to plan an early evacuation.

You should leave before an evacuation alert if you:

are in your third trimester
have a complex pregnancy
live in an area at high risk of disasters.

Otherwise, you should leave as soon as you get an evacuation alert from your local emergency service.

Your evacuation destination should be close to a hospital where you can get medical care if you become unwell or go into labour. You’ll usually be more comfortable at a friend’s or family member’s house. If this isn’t possible, you can go to an evacuation centre.

If you have to go to an evacuation centre

Tell staff that you’re pregnant when you register.
Tell staff about your needs – for example, if you need to be near a toilet or you have difficulty standing. Staff can help you get the support you need.
Try to stay away from people who look unwell. If you can, stay in a less crowded part of the evacuation centre.
Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser often.
If you take medicines, make sure these are stored properly.
Make sure you eat and drink often. If queuing is difficult for you, ask staff for help.
If you have any concerns about your health or there are signs you’re going into labour, tell staff straight away.

How to stay well and healthy in a disaster

You’re more likely to stay well in a disaster if you look after your physical health. This is also important for your baby’s healthy growth and development.

These tips can help:

Drink plenty of clean water to stay hydrated.
Try to eat small meals regularly.
Rest when you can.
Try to maintain good hygiene.
Keep up with your antenatal appointments, and get medical help if you become unwell.
Avoid exercising if there’s smoke, and stay out of smoke as much as possible.
Avoid dirty or contaminated water and surfaces.
Don’t push yourself too hard during disaster clean-up activities.

It’s a good idea to get familiar with the signs of common health problems in pregnancy and serious health problems in pregnancy. This will help you know when to get medical help.

How to reduce stress and stay calm in a disaster

It’s natural to feel scared, stressed or overwhelmed during and after a disaster. Managing these strong feelings is good for your wellbeing during pregnancy and good for your baby’s development too.

These tips can help:

Try breathing for relaxation, muscle relaxation, mindfulness and helpful thinking exercises.
Do calming activities, like reading or listening to music.
Limit your exposure to media coverage of the disaster. Just make sure someone else is keeping up to date with emergency information and evacuation alerts.
Talk to someone about how you’re feeling. You could talk to your partner, a family member or trusted friend.
Talk with your midwife or GP if you’re feeling very stressed or overwhelmed. They can refer you to a psychologist or counsellor if needed.

If you can’t get an appointment with a health professional, you can contact:

Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
Lifeline on 131 114
For When on 1300 242 322
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) on 1300 726 306.

There are many services that can help you cope and recover from disasters. These include your local council, emergency service or community recovery centre. Community groups, clubs and organisations like Australian Red Cross or The Salvation Army can also help.