Flying during pregnancy

[new york momma]

I'm taking a five hour flight during weeks 27 and 29. My ob/gyn said she recommends pregnant women avoid flying but we decided to go ahead with precautions. She advised I wear thigh-high compression socks and move my legs as much as possible during the flight to prevent embolisms. I think the risk has something to do with the increased blood volume (plasma?) in a pregnant woman's circulatory system.

My BIL and SIL are both doctors and new parents and advised that we take night flights to minimize radiation exposure. They said the radiation an adult experiences is so minimal it does not make an impact. However, a fetus is more sensitive to even small amounts of radiation. Everything I read online says radiation is not an issue, but we booked red-eye flights anyway to be on the safe side.

What has your experience been?

[MaerynPearl]

Its due to sitting so long. Get up and walk when you can, drink lots of fluids, wear the socks (wish I had, my feet swelled up horridly!)

If you are flying a commercial plane (a big plane not a little 4 or 6 seater) you will be find radiation-wise.


As for comfort and everything else, it was fine. I had SPD and that made walking through the airports not so much fun... but certainly was not risky behavior! (I flew at 15 weeks and again at 27)

[Drummer's Wife]

I think at 27-29 weeks you'll be fine. I flew from Denver to Chicago around that time during my 3rd pregnancy, and it went well. Just stay hydrated, and get up to pee often.

[~Adorkable~]

I talked about this on another thread a bit ago, I am heading to Hawaii from DC (2days travel either way) when I am 26-27 weeks with twins


here is my ongoing checklist of my hawaii travel plans

• Extra long layovers
• Very little carryon luggage, and with wheels
• Buy large water & good meal & a few snacks after security (or from home if they are ok to get thru)
• Aim for bulkhead isle seat, that will let me get up and stand around easier
• Compression stockings, make sure i wear them the week before so i know they fit properly
• Note from doctors that mention all travel days specifically including return trip.
• Not planning on many things while there, more lounging than normal!

[Magali]

I just got back from vacation and I flew at 30 and 32 weeks. It was a little harder on my pregnant self than I thought, but totally do-able. On the way there my feet got really swollen, but on the way home I had no swelling at all . I started getting uncomfortable in my rib area towards the end from so much sitting, but managed to help that by getting up and moving all the time. My Dr. wouldn't write me a note saying I was in good health, but I did get her to write me a note saying how far along I was, as westjet "requires" a Dr.s note after 32 weeks, and we were flying home at 31 weeks and 6 days. But no one even mentioned my pregnancy. For some reason I found the early morning flight way easier on myself than the late evening flight. I didn't worry about radiation...and am not going to start thinking about it now!!!!

[Virginia884]

Where did you get your compression stockings? Knee high, full? Does is matter?

We have some trips coming up, and even though it's early for me, I have bad circulation to begin with and want to look into this.

[mrsberman]

I flew when I was a little over 20 weeks and then I almost flew again around 28 weeks. I just made sure I had a note from my MW saying how far along I was at the time and for the second trip (we drove later instead) she wrote me a note saying how far along I would be up to a certain date. Some airlines have restrictions after 32 weeks and some are later than that.

[nia82]

You can buy compression tights at Motherhood Maternity for under $10. I flew at 18 weeks and then back at 22 weeks with DS SFO to Frankfurt, at 28 weeks SFO to Atlanta and back, and the flight itself wasn't hard at all. Radiation is higher on transatlantic flights since they are closer to the polar regions, I have heard people say it's about as much as a low dose digital x-ray. But there isn't much one can do. I will fly again in 3 weeks for 4 weeks to Europe with DS in tow. I will have no carry-ons, just a diaper bag and stroller for easier containment at the airport.
Does anyone know what a mama can do to protect her belly? I mean do they sell leadbelts somewhere or what?

Most airlines allow pregnant women up to 36 weeks, I never had a problem, but also never had a huge belly at the time of travel. After 36 weeks they require a note from a doctor. At least all airlines I ever traveled with have that 36 week marker (Delta, Lufthansa, United, American Airlines).

[kallyn]

I flew to Spain and back at 26 and 28 weeks (7-8 hour flights) and it was definitely doable. My ankles got a little puffy and my calves got stiff, but that was about it. I just tried to get up about once every 1-1.5 hours and pee, shake my legs out, etc. Just make sure you have luggage that's easy to wheel around and a nice strong person to lift it overhead for you! And shoes that will will be comfortable on your poor swollen piggies. Also when the flight attendants come around with drinks, ask for the whole water bottle instead of just a little glass of water, they'll understand.

Oh and check your specific airline's policy about pregnant women. Some of them require doctor's notes and some of them don't.

[aikigypsy]

I think the cuttoff for aerlingus is 34 weeks, maybe a little less.

I flew transatlantic twice (2 round-trips, so 4 flights total, one in the late 1st trimester, 1 in early-mid 3rd trimester) when I was pregnant with DD. I always drink a lot (water etc.) on flights, and move around more than many passengers, and I didn't find flying while pregnant to be particularly less comfortable than flying at any other time.

[Ola_]

We're going on a trip to Europe from week 11 to 13. I'm a little concerned but mostly due to first trimester issues which you'll be past by your trip. I'm worried I'll be a nauseous and tired mess!

[new york momma]

Thanks for all the info. My doc said to drink ten glasses of water the day before my flights and also drink a lot while on the plane. I'll be traveling alone but I won't hesitate to ask someone for help lifting my bag off the conveyer belt and lifting my carry-on overhead.

I tended to swell a lot when I flew when I wasn't preggers so I'm hoping these compression thigh-highs get here in time. It was tricky to find a brand that fit my skinny ankles and full calves. Doc said the fit had to be perfect so the most compression was at the ankle, less at the calf and even less at the thigh. Otherwise, the stockings could have the reserve effect.

I'll give them my quality control report after the flights.

[Baby~Braatens~Mama]

The ten cups of water the day before will definitely help you get motivated to get up and let the circulation return to your legs!

Have a great trip!

[the janet]

We fly NYC --> SFO and back in a couple weeks for our babymoon. I'm definitely prepping myself for the trip. We're flying Virgin America, so hopefully it will be a more pleasurable experience than with other carriers!

I hadn't heard the radiation thing and got freaked out for a minute. But I think just from living in NYC and using the microwave oven numerous times a week, I've been exposed to a lot of things that probably aren't great for either one of us. Hopefully flying twice during a pregnancy won't give my kid webbed feet or an extra eye!

I was wondering if getting compression socks was essential...but sounds like it is! I got aisle seats so I can get up at any time but hope that due to my obvious girth, they'll have mercy on me and move me to a bulkhead seat. (And last time I checked, all the first class seats were empty, so fingers crossed! Haha...)

[new york momma]

The radiation thing:
My BIL is a doctor and paranoid new parent that had to fly while his wife was preggers. He did extensive research on the radiation thing and said that for understandable reasons, there are no studies of fetal exposure to radiation during flights. Most common publicly accessible information says that the radiation is negligible during flights.

However, he found several cases where grown adults with cancer who had lived unusually healthy lifestyles happened to also be the sons/daughters of flight attendants who were working while pregnant. He suggested there was a possible connection to the fetal exposure to flight radiation and the later onset of cancer. However, as flight attendants, the mothers were probably flying consistently 20-40 hours a week.
Still, when he and his pregnant wife flew, they made sure to book night flights when radiation exposure is less. I think if you have the option for a red-eye flight, you might as well take it.

[the janet]

Fortunately, the outgoing flight is at night and the return is a red-eye.

Truth be told, I'm more concerned about crashing...but then I never did really understand how planes stay up in the air.

[new york momma]

Just an update--the compression thigh-highs I ordered actually didn't make it to my apartment in time for the flight (though I paid for two day delivery, they took ten days--argg!). I made sure to flex and extend my feet a lot during the flights and got up to stretch and do calf raises twice. I didn't have any swelling during the flights, but after the train rides to my destination and putting my feet up, they immediately swelled pretty bad. When I woke up six hours later, they were back to normal. Maybe the compression thigh-highs are only really necessary if you have circulation or health challenges.
Also, even with my big butt and big belly, I didn't need a seatbelt extender. I fit very, very snug in the seat but had the blessing of an empty seat next to me on the return flight so I could put up the arm rest and stretch out.

The only thing I would do different is to try to pack lighter. I had all my things in a backpack and large purse and they felt twice as heavy as I estimated when packing. Next time I'll bring a small suitcase on wheels.

[Qbear'smama]

Good to know, NYM! I'm going to Orlando between week 28 & 29 and my MW said she didn't think the compression hose were necessary, just staying hydrated and flexing the leg muscles and getting up (which she said will be easily accomplished if I drink lots, I'll be getting up to pee!) I hope you got refunded the extra you paid for the two day shipping!! I will take your lesson on the heavy carry-on and make sure I bring something on wheels. Glad the swelling went down, that would be so uncomfortable if it persisted.

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by new york momma

My ob/gyn said she recommends pregnant women avoid flying but we decided to go ahead with precautions.

This concerns me. As others have already said & you already realize, you do need to be a bit more cautious due to risk of embolism, but it's easily remedied with getting up often to walk & compression stockings. (Embolisms from being stationary during long flights are a risk for non-PG people too! So getting up & walking quite often is a good precaution for everyone.)

The fact that your OB seems to advocate a blanket ban on air travel for PG women makes me fear that she views pregnancy as an illness, a problem. Just concerns me. Something to think about, IMO.

As for all this talk of, "A letter is required because you can't travel past 36W." Um, how are they going to know? I mean, say the flight attendant says, "How far along are you? Cuz you can't get on this plane past 36W."

If you say, "I'm 32W, thank you very much."

What is she gonna do? Is she really gonna say, "You look huge mama, I'm not letting you on the plane without a note to prove you really are only 32W." I mean, seriously, does that happen? I'm having trouble picturing that conversation really going down.

Besides, isn't it a HIPPA violation in a way? The gestational length of your pregnancy is personal health information & therefore protected & private. While they can say, "We really don't think you ought to get on a plan past 36W." I can't see how they can really, officially, enforce that & require a doc/MW note.

I can't see how they can stand there, look at you, say, "You look 36W or later to me, so we're not letting you on without proof otherwise."

[mija y mijo]

I flew several times while pregnant, that latest being at 35 weeks and my OB was fine with it. She just printed off my records for me "just in case" and gave me a letter saying it was okay for me to fly. I had read that some airlines don't allow pregnant women to fly past a certain date, so I wanted something in writing just in case. She just told me to stay well hydrated and walk around when possible. My feet did swell a little bit, but other than that it went fine.

I find it odd that your OB has a policy that pregnant women shouldn't fly at all! I would go, have fun, and not worry about it.