CONSTANT flying

groovylocks

So I've been on google with this and looked around here. Lots of people address flying. But nobody addresses constant flying. 

When I say constant, I mean furiously constant. As in I'm flying one to two times, round trip, a week. For work. I fly as much as an airline professional. 

I am making an appointment to talk to my HR about it because i'm tired all the time and starting to get random anxiety. But mostly that might clear up a bit if i could be sure that this much travel isn't bad for the baby. 

Anybody have any insight on this degree of air travel?

phyllisnefler

Thanks for this post. I've been traveling nearly this much for work for the past three or four months. 

I'm hoping it will settle down now as I just finished a big assignment, but I've just been sure to stay really hydrated, get up here and there, and get lots of sleep (and also take time to go on long walks) before and after flights. 

I think when I get a little bigger (I'm 19w4d now) it will be a lot more physically uncomfortable and I'll have to look into compression garments, etc, plus cut back on the flying.

Am curious to hear what people's doctors have told them as well because I haven't yet brought it up with mine. 

PugsandKisses

Flight personal fly when pregnant. Additional flying does not increase your risks. Considering the risks are for blood clots and dehydration.

So try to get up to pee once a hour, pump your legs when sitting down and drink lots of water.

FemShep

I fly frequently for work as well.  However, 1-2 round trips/week is nowhere near as much as flight attendants and pilots fly; they may fly 1-2 round trips per day.  So long as you stay hydrated and walk around, you should be fine.

whit3183

No personal experience, but I have two good friends with demanding jobs who flew 1-2 times per week throughout the first two trimesters of pregnancy, and they were both fine. 

oneblessedmess

Airline personnel fly way more than 1-2 round trips per week, and they don't usually stop working when they get pregnant unless they have a medical issue. I think as long as you get up and walk around some during the flights and drink lots of water you will be fine.

groovylocks

FemShep said:

I fly frequently for work as well.  However, 1-2 round trips/week is nowhere near as much as flight attendants and pilots fly; they may fly 1-2 round trips per day.  So long as you stay hydrated and walk around, you should be fine.

It depends My husband is airline staff but he is part time and works 8 days a month. He likes to tease me that i'm now spending more time on his planes than he is. Of course, when he DOES work, he may take up to 5 flights a day. 

groovylocks

Doc said today that while the increase of radiation goes up in a small way, it's really nothing to panic about. She said the same. Make sure to move around a lot, don't let the seatbelt get too tight and drink lots of water. 

reware

Hey @groovylocks , did your doc mention compression stockings? I'm about to start a big round of longhauls tomorrow and not sure if second tri is too early (17+2 and not really showing) to need to worry about them...

delujm0

vineheart137 said:

Airline personnel fly way more than 1-2 round trips per week, and they don't usually stop working when they get pregnant unless they have a medical issue. I think as long as you get up and walk around some during the flights and drink lots of water you will be fine.

This. Airline personnel will work well into the third tri before stopping, and that's only done due to risk of going into labor while on the flight.

groovylocks

reware said:

Hey @groovylocks , did your doc mention compression stockings? I'm about to start a big round of longhauls tomorrow and not sure if second tri is too early (17+2 and not really showing) to need to worry about them...

It's never too early to ask She actually suggested to me that I get a pair since my feet swell ANYWAY when i fly. 

Vets1

Up until week 18 I was flying every week, and all for my first trimester I was doing flights between 5-11 hours at a time, so far so good!

amargaret24

Glad I stumbled across this thread. I'm 14w3d and have flown over 20 times since "finding out" I was pregnant but probably more like 30 or so with considering the entire pregnancy thus far. Anyways, my doctor is aware of how much I fly and isn't concerned but does suggest the usual...walking around, water, etc. I notice snacks are the most important piece because airplane food is horrible and I'm still getting neasous, ugh.

Random question for you ladies (happy to see a group of women who aren't always at home, within reach of their doctors if something goes wrong)....Do you ever worry about being out of town and something happening? For instance, I travel with my fiancé and today we had sex (twice, yikes!) and I spotted afterwards. Which hasn't happened yet....and I'm currently in Dublin for the day and flying home to LA tomorrow....Sorry if TMI - but sometimes it's scary to be gone so much, especially for me because I go international a lot and feel removed from medical help. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Currently I just wing it, hope for the best, and google things if I'm worried.

dramaphile

amargaret24 said:

Glad I stumbled across this thread. I'm 14w3d and have flown over 20 times since "finding out" I was pregnant but probably more like 30 or so with considering the entire pregnancy thus far. Anyways, my doctor is aware of how much I fly and isn't concerned but does suggest the usual...walking around, water, etc. I notice snacks are the most important piece because airplane food is horrible and I'm still getting neasous, ugh.

Random question for you ladies (happy to see a group of women who aren't always at home, within reach of their doctors if something goes wrong)....Do you ever worry about being out of town and something happening? For instance, I travel with my fiancé and today we had sex (twice, yikes!) and I spotted afterwards. Which hasn't happened yet....and I'm currently in Dublin for the day and flying home to LA tomorrow....Sorry if TMI - but sometimes it's scary to be gone so much, especially for me because I go international a lot and feel removed from medical help. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Currently I just wing it, hope for the best, and google things if I'm worried.

Do you have international medical coverage while you fly?  If so, it should cover any abnormal pregnancy complications.  When I flew overseas, the insurance we purchased excluded normal pregnancy issues, but would cover complications.  It might be worth finding out about your coverage just to be on the safe side.  And you can always contact your medical practice if you have questions and they can advise you if something requires emergency care.  Maybe see if they can be in contact via email while you are abroad?

delujm0

amargaret24 said:

Glad I stumbled across this thread. I'm 14w3d and have flown over 20 times since "finding out" I was pregnant but probably more like 30 or so with considering the entire pregnancy thus far. Anyways, my doctor is aware of how much I fly and isn't concerned but does suggest the usual...walking around, water, etc. I notice snacks are the most important piece because airplane food is horrible and I'm still getting neasous, ugh.

Random question for you ladies (happy to see a group of women who aren't always at home, within reach of their doctors if something goes wrong)....Do you ever worry about being out of town and something happening? For instance, I travel with my fiancé and today we had sex (twice, yikes!) and I spotted afterwards. Which hasn't happened yet....and I'm currently in Dublin for the day and flying home to LA tomorrow....Sorry if TMI - but sometimes it's scary to be gone so much, especially for me because I go international a lot and feel removed from medical help. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Currently I just wing it, hope for the best, and google things if I'm worried.

Bleeding after sex is common during pregnancy bc your cervix is extra sensitive.

I traveled a 9 hour car ride to my sister's wedding 10 days before my due date. I wasn't super worried but I did make sure to have contingency plans and look up doctors and hospitals that accepted my insurance before going.

Agree with PP...if you're traveling internationally make sure your insurance would cover you in the event of an emergency. If it won't, and this is business travel, check with your HR department about what would happen in this situation...they may have coverage that would kick in and cover you if you're on a work trip. If no such coverage exists, personally I'd refuse to travel internationally for the rest of the pregnancy.

Vets1

I had issues whilst I was in Singapore I ended up going to the emergency Dr, they couldn't help me with the cramping & pain so ended up back at the hotel. Was scary at the time but luckily all was good. Rest of my trips now are domestic however my OB is really good & I can call whenever if needed.

groovylocks

amargaret24 said:

Glad I stumbled across this thread. I'm 14w3d and have flown over 20 times since "finding out" I was pregnant but probably more like 30 or so with considering the entire pregnancy thus far. Anyways, my doctor is aware of how much I fly and isn't concerned but does suggest the usual...walking around, water, etc. I notice snacks are the most important piece because airplane food is horrible and I'm still getting neasous, ugh.

Random question for you ladies (happy to see a group of women who aren't always at home, within reach of their doctors if something goes wrong)....Do you ever worry about being out of town and something happening? For instance, I travel with my fiancé and today we had sex (twice, yikes!) and I spotted afterwards. Which hasn't happened yet....and I'm currently in Dublin for the day and flying home to LA tomorrow....Sorry if TMI - but sometimes it's scary to be gone so much, especially for me because I go international a lot and feel removed from medical help. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Currently I just wing it, hope for the best, and google things if I'm worried.

I worry about it except that i travel for my very large company and am always around co workers. So all i have to do is either be at work or call the travel center for our company and somebody will make sure i get good care wherever i am. That's very appreciated. 

So if you travel for work, keep in mind that they're very likely to at least tell you where to go and get you there. 

If you travel for other reasons, do some reading up on the local care providers and see what others have to say about them. That way you have a plan in case. 

amargaret24

Thanks for all the responses ladies! @groovylocks @Vets1 @delujm0 @dramaphile I ended up emailing my doctor when I was in Dublin and since I'm o-negative and bled, I HAD to get the rhogham shot within 72 hours. So I took a cab to a pregnancy ER and thanks to universal health care, I got all the help I needed scotch free! Love it!!! Was scary though. Found out I have travel insurance through work but pregnancy is a bit different. No more int'l travel this pregnancy though, only within the states. Easy Peasey. Boston today, Virginia tomorrow, then Seattle, Portland, and Alaska. I'm tired!