flying when pregnant

AllieCat16

anyone know when doctors/airlines advise against flying? i fly occasionally for work and i forgot to ask at my last appointment.

baileyrayvalentine

My doctor said 34 weeks - so long as all my appointments leading up to then are positive.

emilyj77

I think airlines don't like you flying after 36 weeks.

loughli5

At 32 weeks, I can't go outside of an hour of the hospital.  However, I would check with your doctor because everyone is different.

Twin.Peaks

This is my 3rd pregnancy and I have flown during 2 of them. I always ask the doctor before flying. With my first pregnancy I flew at 7 1/2 months Watch out though because some airlines will not let you fly if you are close to 8 months.I got to mexico for vacation just fine but trying to come home was a mess. They didnt want me on the plane because of the 'risk'. With my 2nd I was pregnant with twins and have previa so I was on the on fly list. This time around I have flown 2 times already.

 

If you are having a problem free pregnancy they will prob tell you its safe to fly but to make sure you get up and walk around every 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Jules08

Many airlines have policies that they want a written okay from your DR once you are in the third trimester.  It will vary between airline policies, but it's usually between 34 and 37 weeks that they will not let you fly at all.

Depending on how far along you are, it wouldn't hurt to get the okay from your dr.  Mine said get up and walk around once an hour and to drink a lot of water.

boobearmama

I was advised not past 32 weeks. Like PP, check with your doc to be safe.  

I flew this past weekend (long 4 hour flight). 
I'll tell you though, it was hard to get/stay comfortable on the plane! 

MrsCaddyshack

You might want to call your doc and ask... most airlines will have there own cut offs on the website (eg, Southwest says 38 weeks) but how late you can fly depends on your pregnancy.

For instance, due to some risk factors I have for preterm labor, I can't fly past 30 weeks (!!) quite a shocker for me considering I'm usually in the air for work a couple of times a month.

preggersin2011

The cutoff is 30 something weeks. Ask you doc... Sometimes they airline will want a note saying you have an OK to fly too. 

Lotte134

Like everyone else said, check with your doctor.  I flew last time at 36 weeks, but I was very low risk and I had a note from my doctor in case the airline had an issue.

Mrs.Greeko

I flew at 36-37 weeks pregnant with my second.  The airline I was flying told me to bring a note dated within 48 hours of my flight from my provider stating that I could fly just in case.  I had the note and my midwife's blessing.  I didn't need the note.  My midwife had me taking calcium magnesium supplements the entire trip to try to make sure I didn't contract too much on the flights though.

 All that said I wouldn't choose to fly that late in pregnancy if I could.  It was pretty uncomfortable and I did have a lot of annoying contractions on descent on my flight home (right around 37 weeks).  We had to go to a funeral otherwise I wouldn't have went. 

I don't think I'd want to travel after 35-36 weeks for my own personal comfort.  Different doctors say different things.  Airlines generally don't have a cut off, but they some do have a request for a doctor's note if you are 37 weeks or beyond.

Mrs.Greeko

From United's website:

Can I travel on a United flight while I am pregnant?

In general, air travel is permitted during pregnancy. However, it is a good idea to consult your physician, midwife or obstetrician first, especially if you have had any complications during your pregnancy.

Passengers traveling in their ninth month of pregnancy must obtain an obstetrician?s certificate between 24 and 72 hours prior to flight departure.

The certificate must state:

• The date and time when the certificate was issued
• Departure and arrival destinations and dates
• The passenger's due date (when the baby is expected to be born)
• That the passenger has been examined by an obstetrician and is physically fit to travel by air.

From Frontier's website:

I'm pregnant. Do I need to know anything special about traveling with you?

Congratulations! We know you want what's best for that baby, and so do we. Please check with your doctor if you intend to travel during your final weeks of pregnancy. Your doctor should be the one to guide you in your decision to fly. (And in a few months, we hope you'll visit our section called "Traveling with Children!"). If your itinerary contains a flight operated by one of our codeshare partners, check with the operating carrier to see if there are additional requirements.

 

And from American's website:

Q:

What are the guidelines for traveling on American while pregnant?

A:

A medical certificate is required if travel is within 4 weeks of the delivery date in a normal, uncomplicated pregnancy For domestic flights under 5 hours, travel is not permitted within 7 days before and after the delivery date. If you should need to travel within 7 days before or after delivery, a medical certificate is required as well as clearance from our Special Assistance Coordinator. For International travel or any flights over the water, travel is not advised within 30 days of the due date, unless the passenger is examined by an obstetrician within 48 hours of outbound departure and certified in writing as medically stable for flight. Travel within 10 days of the due date for International travel must have clearance from our Special Assistance Coordinators. Travel within 7 days after delivery requires clearance as well. For more information, please contact a Special Assistance Coordinator through AA Reservations at 800-433-7300.