travel while preggo « Back to Group Discussions

[janellody]

Mamas out there: How late is too late to travel by airplane somewhere while pregnant? I am looking at a trip about a month and a half before due date... thoughts?

[forestmushroom]

I think it really just depends on what kind of traveler you are. If you have relatively little trouble with air travel now I would just suggest getting compression nylons/socks to prevent blood clots, and drink a ton of water to stay hydrated. 

[shastalily]

I think I would be pretty uncomfortable traveling at that point...34ish weeks... so probably wouldn't do it myself unless it was a short one hour flight or something.  As far as airlines go, some have a policy that you need a Dr.'s note if within 4 weeks of due date, others let you fly up to a week before.  http://www.babycenter.com/0_airline-policies-for-pregnant-travelers_6976.bc

[maryamrose]

I've personally decided to postpone long-distance air travel until after birth. It sounds drastic, but a few people close to me made a good point - you just can't anticipate how you're going to feel when it's time to travel. I know that, for me, every day has its ups and downs and I really can't know whether I'd be comfortable going through all the airport stuff, sitting on a plane for hours, etc. a few months (or even weeks) before the trip. I went on a long plane ride at around 8 weeks and it was just so tiring for me, so I'm also basing it off that. Have you been on a plane since you got pregnant?

On the other hand, I see heavily pregnant women at the airport all the time, many with small children too, so it obviously can work out! 

[KM84]

We're flying to Florida, which is about a 2.5 hour flight from here, when I'm at 25 weeks. I think that's far enough from the due date that there shouldn't be any major complications. I opted for an aisle seat so I can get up to pee 50 times without disturbing people.

[janellody]

Ia lready went one one trip when I was only about 12 weeks maybe and that was fine, but that was way early.  I have TWO more trips planned before this one, one in January and one in February although I think we will drive the February one.  I think that may be the last, I don't really wanna risk it after that.

[GretchenC]

This is baby #4 for us and I have traveled each pregnancy without issue. Chat with your doc/midwife to see if they are cool with it. I went to visit my best friend when I was 34 weeks, it was a long flight, but everything was fine. I have really easy pregnancies so that has something to do with it. Stay hydrated, don't get over tired, keep everyone "in the loop" and you should be fine. Happy trails!

[cristeen]

It really depends on the circumstances.  Are you talking flying or driving?  Many airlines will not allow a pg woman on board past some arbitrary date now (34 weeks?) - you'd have to check with the airline.  It also depends on your health, if you're having any problems, whether this is your first, and whether previous pregnancies have run to term or come early. 

I did a trip at 34 wks pg with DS.  4-ish hrs in the car each way.  It was uncomfortable, but tolerable.  What really sucked was that all that time in the car (I was driving) set off swelling in my feet, which stuck around until he was born.  I hadn't had any swelling up until then.  And being in a hotel room, dealing with restaurants, lines and the like when I just wanted to lay down and put my feet up really sucked.  But, there were no contraindications to the trip. 

[BubbleMa]

I don't think I would do it.  Mostly because traveling is exhausting for me even when I'm not pregnant.  Even more so now.  DD flew to my mom's house for Thanksgiving, and that was exhausting enough.  I didn't even get on a plane!  Just getting to the airport, checking in, going through security, walking to the train, walking to the gate, waiting, etc... UGH.  I can't imagine doing that + actually flying at 34 weeks. 

[EmTheWife]

Last pg I flew (only an hr) to my best friends wedding at about 36 weeks, and everything was fine, except that it really kicked my swelling in my feet and legs into high gear.  Well be flying to DH's best friend's wedding across the country when I'm 30 weeks...

If it's important, I say go for it!

[Sky]

With DD we left for Sweden when I was 12 weeks 1 day preg and stayed in Sweden for 2 mths, also I traveled at 7 mths I traveled back east we were out west for a while to my baby shower for about 2 weeks. that was the last trip and DD was born 2 days before due date. All trips were ok'ed by my doc though. With DS mostly I traveled on short 3 and 4 day trips about 5 or six times until I was about 7 mths along. With this one, I have only traveled short trips the longest away for 4 days. This is our rainbow baby and I am a bit more nervous but all is going well, I'm 18 weeks now! I thnk you should ok any travel with your doc or midwife, and then go with your comfort zone but closer to your due date I would stay close to home maybe within 4-6 weeks.