Flying while pregnant - am I being unreasonable?

[LindsayK]

I live in Boston, and I've been talking with my mom about going together to see an elderly friend in the midwest. Over the weekend, we nailed down a date in May, where we'd go out for 4 days (flying inclusive) to visit. I happened to mention that we might go visit my in-laws overseas in May as well, and it looks like we'd actually fly out two days after I got back from the trip with my Mom.

This morning before breakfast, she said, "I heard you might be going to see the in laws in May. I think its a really bad idea for you to be doing that much traveling. You're going to be very tired, and flying that much in a short period of time is not good when you're pregnant. I think its important that you see DH's parents, and I wouldn't want our trip to "ruin" your trip over with DH, so I think we better not go on our trip"

Now, I'm not saying she isn't concerned about me and traveling, and being tired, and the higher risk of deep vein thrombosis and all that, but we had just told her the night before that we intend to baptize DS in DH's parent's hometown, and I am kind of feeling like she's being a bit passive-aggressive and making visiting DH's parents into a reason that we can't spend mother-daughter time together.

So my question is - am I just being silly in thinking that making 2 back to back trips is reasonable? Or is this a reasonable, though admittedly somewhat tiring schedule.

here's the facts -

-I would first make a 2.5 hour nonstop flight on a Thursday, and the same back on a Sunday night, arriving home around 9:30pm. I'd be leaving DD at home with DH, so I don't have any toddler responsibilities while flying (joy!) I'll be 27 weeks pregnant.

-I would then leave Tuesday night at 10:45pm, and make a 6 hr flight, 4 time zones away. DD would be traveling, but DH is coming, too. A week later, we'd make the reverse flight. I'll be 28 weeks pregnant.

Thoughts?
(x-posting in August DDC)

[sweeetpea]

When I was about as pregnant as you, I did a business trip to Santiago, Chile (10 hour flight that turned into a 20+ hour flight - ugh) as well as a number of domestic trips. The biggest problem I had was flight delays that caught me in my window seat and needing to ask the guys next to me to get up repeatedly for hours, so I could go to the bathroom.

TRavel itself is not a huge issue if you are healthy and having low risk pregnancy. 28 weeks is after the first trimester fatigue, and before the third trimester fatigue - perfect time to travel.

Stay WELL hydrated
Keep moving as much as you can
Get an aisle seat!

If you want to assuage her concerns, get the info of a good OB/perinatologist at your destination, and tell her that you will contact him/her if there are any problems.

[Eresh]

I flew to Germany around 28 weeks pregnant with DS. I don't remember exactly when but it was right around then. I had no problems with the flying other than the constant trips to the airplane toilet. I hate those things :P

[CookAMH]

I think it's fine. I'd be TIRED but it's not unsafe.

[SeattleRain]

I'm 29 weeks pregnant and I have to agree with your mom. I had the most easy going and perfect pregnancy thus far. I was feeling pretty comfortable, not having any complications, and I haven't gained too much weight. So all in all, the perfect pregnancy right? Until I hit 27 weeks. Everything in my body seems to be worn down from pregnancy. My feet are swollen, my back is killing me in like 3 different places including having sciatica, and I'm exhausted. Some days I feel fine and those days are generally days when I wake up and don't run around on my feet all day. Some days I feel really crappy though. I'd have to agree that you might not feel well to do all that travelling so late in pregnancy, even though it may be totally safe to do so. You might be uncomfortable also, which might hinder your enjoyment of your trip.

[MacKinnon]

Although I don't think the travel itself is too much, two trips with only two days between would be too much for me. Especially with that second trip being WITH the toddler in tow. I would need at least full week in between, but this pregnancy has been rough on me, I'm pretty beat. I might have been fine going for it in my last pregnancy!

[MaerynPearl]

I took 4 flights in 5 days recently...

if you stay hydrated and keep moving (get up to go potty on longer flights, walk around while waiting for your flight...) you should be fine. Restrictive stockings can help... to stay hydrated I HIGHLY suggest taking an empty water bottle through security to be filled once you are through at one of their water fountains... buying water on the other side is extremely expensive and when you are traveling clean water is pretty much the only liquid you should be putting into your body.

Outside of the discomfort and getting tired quickly it is NOT unsafe at all.

[etsdtm99]

i don't see an issue with it... we're planning a road trip when i'll be 28 weeks, i know that is different from flying, but we're talking a BIG road trip, 24 hours each way.. its going to suck, i'll be tired and sore from sitting so much - i think flying would be easier and safer, but its not an option for me.

[LindsayK]

Thanks for the opinions/insights on both sides, ladies! I can be very mule-headed when I have an idea about something, so its helpful to get unbiased perspective from other mamas about what is reasonable, without having to deal with family drama

[mediumcrunch]

I've travelled (driven and flown) that pregnant and more. I think my x-country (CT-WA) trip at 32 weeks with #6 takes the cake. We drove and were gone for three weeks. I took a copy of my records from my midwife and off we went.
If you are healthy and up for it and travel smart (stay hydrated and move around frequently) there really is no reason for you not to go if *you* want to.

[BlackSheepPDX]

Go. It's fine. I flew at 28 weeks, and drove around for two weeks from 33-35 weeks, sitting in a car for hours.

[Amynf1]

I moved to Korea at 28/29 weeks with my son. The flight was 15 hours nonstop. It was MISERABLE. And both my husband and I caught some bug that landed us both in the emergency room within 36 hours of landing, not fun. I would do a short flight but never again will I do an international flight while pregnant!

[pacificbliss]

I think you will be fine. As others have said stay hydrated, get up and walk in flight. I am 31 weeks and fly pretty much every week. I plan to fly until 35 weeks and then I am going to be grounded.

[expat-mama]

I travel and fly a ton, usually making at least 3 huge flights (13+ hours) a year and at least 2 not so huge flights (2-6 hours) a year.

During this pregnancy I've decided not to fly anywhere- missing out on a really great vacation opportunity this winter as well as a very dear friend's wedding next month. My concerns were the radiation exposure of long flights (in a long flight the radiation exposure is similar to having an x-ray) as well as H1N1 (I'm not vaxed and didn't want to be) and less serious colds/sinus problems that I tend to get on flights and during travel.
Also, I just didn't want to deal with the normal discomfort and annoyances that come with long-distance travel on top of being pregnant. I guess it depends how important these trips are to you and if you'll have the opportunity to make up for it later.

[RiverSky]

Purely anecdotal and might mean nothing at all, especially with regards to your situation, but I will never fly while pregnant again.

I have had two children, and two miscarriages (11 & 15 weeks). Both of the miscarriages happened within 2-4 days of flying. Coincidence? Cause? I don't know, but I thought I'd be a dissenting voice on this thread.

[MittensKittens]

Originally Posted by RiverSky

Purely anecdotal and might mean nothing at all, especially with regards to your situation, but I will never fly while pregnant again.

I have had two children, and two miscarriages (11 & 15 weeks). Both of the miscarriages happened within 2-4 days of flying. Coincidence? Cause? I don't know, but I thought I'd be a dissenting voice on this thread.

I also had a miscarriage within days of flying .

I also flew with my children, at 24 weeks and at 26 weeks respectively. The miscarriage was at 10 weeks.

[Gingercat]

I wouldn't worry. I'm 29 weeks and just the day before yesterday I came back from my parents' where I went for 2 weeks (they live in another country). That was my sixth plane trip during this pregnancy (and I've also flown a lot during my first pregnancy) and I also have a nasty case of varicose veins on my legs and vagina. But my OB said it is fine to flight ever after the 30th week, she just gave me a homeopathic remedy to take before the flights for the varicose veins.

My only concern with flying during this pregnancy was my 30-month DS who's very active and never sleeps on board, not even during longer flights. So I make sure to always have somebody travelling with me (eg DH, mom, dad, friend etc) so I won't have to worry chasing him and carrying him around airports and plane cabins!

[MaerynPearl]

Long flights do NOT expose you to as much radiation as an X-Ray (unless its a very very weak X-Ray and you happen to be flying during a solar flare... which isn't common, its still not enough to do anything)... http://www.hps.org/publicinformation...andflying.html (among tons of other websites from organizations who actually research this stuff)

And no, the miscarriages were likely not caused by the flights. I know many many many ladies I used to work with when I was an insurance agent who would make weekly trips places up until it was just plain too uncomfortable. Its totally safe, its just coincidental that yours happened then (or perhaps your trips caused you a large amount of stress)

both of these are old fears that have since been proven incorrect (within the past 10 years) that many of the older ladies (such as your mother) may not realize are not something to worry over.

[evjolin]

from the research i have done on the whole radiation & flying thing, i believe that 30 hours in the air = one xray. and i have flown just about 30 hours this pregnancy.

fwiw, my last flight was taken at 24 weeks. it was a short, 2 hr. flight.

i think you can totally go if you want to. i am 28 weeks this week and personally thrilled not only to not be flying anymore, but to only have one more road trip planned :-) that being said, i think you should do what you want in your heart of hearts....if it's important to you to visit the in laws, do it, it will be worth and discomfort.

[somegirl99]

I replied in the DDC thread already, but just wanted to add that I have taken 18 flights (9 round-trips) so far this pregnancy and have at least 6 more to go. Some of these have been 6+ hour flights.

No problems, I just make sure I bring plenty of water bottles and snacks and get an aisle seat so I can get up and move a lot.

My biggest issue is that I am small and until recently have not looked pregnant so other travelers are not particularly considerate and bump into me and drop their bags on my head!