Choosing to fly while pregnant is a major concern for mommies. Aside from being located thousands of feet above the ground, a medical crew may not be available to assist you if you start having pregnancy problems while on board a plane.
Furthermore, there is a difference in air pressure when you are thousands of feet in the air. Does it have an effect on the baby inside your womb? And will the atmosphere induce you to go into labor?
All in all, it all boils down to safety. Is it safe for you and your baby to fly while you’re pregnant?
Yes, you can travel by air even while you’re pregnant as long as your pregnancy is normal and healthy. But if you are considered to have a high risk pregnancy, then it is not advisable for you to travel by plane as it can result in complications and mishaps while on the trip.
Can I Fly While Pregnant? Answer: Yes.
You should consult your doctor before booking a flight. You will need to go through some check ups first before you can be given the clearance to fly.
Flying During the First Trimester
While it is generally safe to fly during your first trimester, it may not be very comfortable. During this time, you might be prone to morning sickness, and being up in the air can worsen this condition. In fact, if you have stuffy nose, it could also get worse when you are suspended thousands of feet in the air.
Flying During the Second Trimester
Flying during the second trimester of pregnancy is the safest and most recommended time to travel by air. By this time, your morning sickness has already passed and you are beginning to feel normal again. It is also during the second trimester of pregnancy that the risk of having a miscarriage is low.
In order to make sure that you will be traveling comfortably even while pregnant, you should make it a point that you are always wearing loose and comfortable clothing. Blood circulation is very important for pregnant mothers, as there is an increased risk of developing a blood clot when you are traveling by plane.
Flying During the Third Trimester
While it is still generally safe to travel even if you are on your third trimester, it presents the highest risk of all. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises against flying during or after the 36th week of pregnancy.
You should also check on the airline requirements when planning to travel by air.
There are airlines that don’t allow pregnant women to board their planes 30 days before their due date and there are also those that allow up to the last week of the due date for pregnant women to fly.
If you have other health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, placental abnormalities and premature labor signs, airlines can also refuse to allow you to fly. And it is in your best interest that you avoid flying under those circumstances as it could have some adverse effects and complications on your pregnancy.
Recommendations for Pregnant Mommies
Traveling by plane can be particularly difficult during the last months of your pregnancy. At this time, you will feel too restricted because of your growing belly. You should try to get an aisle seat on the plane as this will give you more room to move about, and allow you to get to the bathroom quickly if needed.
Whenever possible, you should also do some simple exercises even while seated. Flex your feet and make some rotating exercises with your ankles as these types of movements will encourage blood circulation. Wiggling your toes will also reduce the chances of having cramps during the flight.
Seatbelts are important too. TheACOG even recommends fastening your seatbelt during the entire flight in order to avoid trauma on your uterus when there is turbulence.
Other Safety Concerns
If you are concerned about the metal detectors in airports, it is not something that you should be alarmed about. Metal detectors don’t have radiation like x-ray machines and these are not harmful to your unborn baby.
Another concern would be the air pressure while up in the air. But since all of today’s modern airplanes have pressurized cabins, this issue is not really a valid concern.
Flying While Pregnant
With your doctor’s clearance, it is generally safe to fly even if you are pregnant. However, if you want to travel comfortably and with the least amount of risk involved, then flying during the second trimester is most recommended.
