Air Travel

DanaColeman

Does anyone know if there are restrictions regarding air travel while you're pregnant? I'm going to call the doctor this week and ask but I was wondering if anyone knew anything. One of our very close friends got engaged this weekend and the wedding is in mid June. My husband is in the wedding, and we would have to fly on a Friday night from NJ to NC, and back on the Sunday. I'm hoping I will be ok to fly, but I had no reason to inquire about this to the doctor before!

DMBfan41

You're fine to travel until 36 weeks. 

DanaColeman

Thank you! Going to call the doctor tomorrow just to make sure :

sugarkissed

DMBfan41:

You're fine to travel until 36 weeks. 

 This, but you do need a note stating that you are fit to fly after 28 weeks with most airlines.  

NicknShan

My doc says 34 weeks. Also check with the airline. They can have rules as well.

DanaColeman

Thanks! I appreciate both responses. I had no idea! Definitely need to discuss this with my doc

1026pumpkin

NicknShan:

My doc says 34 weeks. Also check with the airline. They can have rules as well.

This is what my doc said....and all the airline rules are a little different. 

magdalina.h

Yup it's fine

psychgirl33

Yeah, you can fly up until close to the end unless you have complications.  I'm thinking that 35+ weeks is about when they want you to not fly anymore.

Habs2Hart

Also, don't go through the body scan machines.  If you get selected, they need to give you a pat down instead.

mmdd20

Ask your doctor on this one for sure. I was ok'd to travel up to 34 weeks. Some allow as late at 36 and others make the cut off soooner. I flew at 32 weeks while pregnant with DS and had no problems. We will be flying to Hawaii in late May this time around as well.

kat81again2

unless you have an unusual / high-risk pregnancy (which you won't necessarily know now), June will be a fine time to fly. 

I was due last time in Dec and successfully flew in Nov.

In terms of pregnancy itself, you're safe to fly the entire time, though you need to be mindful of clotting and make sure that you move around on the flight.

The flight doesn't harm the baby or induce labor in and of itself. However, insurance-wise, most practices will say you need to stay close to home after a certain point (e.g. 36 weeks). And many airlines won't want you on their plane after a certain point (e.g. 38 weeks) because they're afraid they'll have to make an emergency landing if you're about to deliver the baby. 

kat81again2

sugarkissed:

DMBfan41:

You're fine to travel until 36 weeks. 

 This, but you do need a note stating that you are fit to fly after 28 weeks with most airlines.  

I read about this a lot last time and that was not the case, I found. Only a few airlines wanted any note at all, and it was for a later time in pregnancy.  Maybe they've changed it in the past few years, though, or we were looking at different airlines. 

Most of the airlines, I found, said fly the whole time or stop at 36-38 weeks. Regardless the restriction was after my insurance-imposed restriction of 36 weeks. Also my insurance said that flying was the same as driving or any other method as far as they were concerned. I just had to be within an hour of the hospital at all times 36 weeks onward.