Flying When Pregnant

Flying When Pregnant -Concerns about the safety of flying when pregnant are understandably common amongst pregnant women that are planning air travel. Flying as such is not harmful for you or your baby, so if your pregnancy has no complications then there is no reason why you cannot travel safely. Most specialists though advise against frequent flying for pregnant women, i.e. advise them to keep flying under 200 hours during the whole pregnancy.

When Is The Best Time For Flying When Pregnant?

The best time for flying during pregnancy is usually when you are between 14 to 28 weeks pregnant. It is perfectly safe for you and your baby to fly during the first trimester. You might however not be up to it, or want to. Some women suffer badly from nausea and exhaustion during the first few months and therefore might not feel like flying. Many women prefer to stay as close to home as they can during this sensitive time in any pregnancy.
If you have had an uncomplicated pregnancy and are carrying one baby then you could safely fly up to 36 weeks of pregnancy. However, after week 28, flying during pregnancy might be quite an uncomfortable experience and many women therefore do not like flying at this late stage in their pregnancy.

The biggest issue is though the risk of going into early labor. This is why many airlines are unwilling to carry women during their last trimester. Some airlines will not allow women over 28 weeks pregnant to fly at all while others accept them until they are 32 weeks pregnant (you might though need a letter from your doctor confirming that you are fit to fly).
This is why you should always check your airline pregnancy air travel rules prior to making your booking.

Top Travel Tips For Flying Moms To Be

Always have a checkup with your doctor prior to flying and do not go unless your doctor authorizes it. This is especially important if you have had any medical problems during your pregnancy, then you should always check with your doctor prior to booking any travel.
Always check in advance what healthcare facilities are available at your travel destination, just in case if you would require urgent medical attention. Also, always pack a copy of your medical records.

You should never travel without valid and comprehensive travel insurance. Read the small print, make sure you pregnancy is adequately covered. Vaccinations and anti malaria tablets are not recommended during pregnancy so you are advised from travelling to malaria infested areas or countries where vaccinations are required. If you really must travel to these areas, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

If you suffer from nausea or motion sickness, then you might want to consider acupressure wristbands. They are drug and chemical free and therefore cause no harm to your unborn baby.
Flying during pregnancy slightly increases your chances of getting deep vein thrombosis (DVT). You can reduce the risk by drinking plenty of water during your flight and move about the plane on regular basis.

You should also wear flight socks during the duration of your flight as they reduce swelling. For maximum protection, put the socks on before you get out of bed in the morning and keep them on all day. Flexing your feet up and down on regular basis will also help your blood circulation during the flight.

Pregnant women should never travel in unpressurized planes but all commercial airplanes must maintain standard level of pressure in their cabins, which makes pregnancy and flying perfectly safe. Some smaller planes however might not have pressurized cabins so always check this before boarding small planes or if flying on non-commercial flight.

There are many totally unfounded concerns about pregnancy and flying. Luggage scanners and metal detectors are for example perfectly safe for flying moms to be. However, if you have any concern about yours, or your baby safety during your flight, do not hesitate to talk the airline staff about them.

There are many products available that can improve your comfort when flying when pregnant, i.e. acupressure wristbands and Revita-Leg that not only reduces the risk of getting DVT but also reduces the discomfort caused by leg cramps and restless leg syndrome.
Flying When Pregnant