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2nd Trimester
TiffanyTheMom
member
What's the farthest along you'd fly?
TiffanyTheMom
member
I'll be 24 wks tomorrow, and DH won't be able to take leave until the middle or end of December, for 2 or 3 weeks. He wants to go home... to FL.
I'll be about 34 weeks along by Christmas.
He wanted to take the 2nd leave period, which starts Jan. 1st, but I'll be 36wks on Jan. 3rd. So... Too far, I suppose? I told him there's no way my OB would let me fly that far along (the air pressure can send a woman into labor, and I've been known to go into labor at 37-38weeks.) DH is still trying to see if he can take the first leave period, but even then I'll still be about 33 weeks along by then.
It's probably a stupid question to ask, but I wanted to see if anyone has a different POV from flying that far along. I know some women have to for their jobs and have been okay'ed to fly up to 36 weeks... I dunno, I'm confusing myself now.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: What's the farthest along you'd fly?
IF I remember correctly my Doc didn't want me flying past 35 weeks. I suppose if I were you I'd check with your OB just to make sure.
Also I think some airlines won't let you fly beyond a certain point. But you might be fine at 34 weeks.
How long is the flight?
I flew from alaska to Texas 12+ hours
and I was DYING. I was in coach and was so swollen and had to pee and omg...dying.
if it was a short flight I would consider it, but 36 weeks is a pretty normal cutoff.
It really depends on how you are feeling and if you can afford to get a ticket that allows you to change if necessary.
Most airlines have guidelines, as well as OB's/insurance providers. I would check all three before making a decision.
I flew to VT in my first trimester (did not know I was pregnant) and was nauseous as hell the whole time, which does not normally happen so I should have known something was up. So I would probably worry more about yaking on my seatmate than the labor thing.
Same for me, from Ohio to LA.
From San Diego to FL it's usually 7-9 hours, depending on where the layover is. (Can never seem to find a flight without a layover.) And, when we fly, I'm usually the one handling the kids because DH 'can't help' falling asleep on every flight. I don't want to do it, but DH wants to go home 'with his family'. Last time I saw his mom and gramma by myself with the kids (he was deployed), I only stayed one night because they flipped out on my kids for absolutely no reason. I made an excuse about my mom's dad being super sick and my mom needing to come get me when really, I was trying to get away from them. They can be nice, but they can NOT handle kids. And he'll want to spend half our time there.
First, check with your doctor and your midwife- those deadlines might put a halt to everything.
Second, I had DD before 35 weeks, so if there's even the slightest risk that you may go into preterm labor, just consider whether having a baby in a different state or, worst case scenario, on a plane, is something you and DH want to do. I had no indications that I would go into preterm labor and was actually going to start the four hour drive through the nothingness to my father's home the weekend DD was born (I can't imagine anything scarier than being on the side of a highway surrounded by nothing but fields and trying to get an ambulance or something to me!).
I personally wouldn't risk it. That being said, with my history, I am being restricted to non-essential travel from 28 weeks on and need to clear being more than a few hours away with my OB.
I'd fly whenever. I don't think airlines let you past 36 weeks. And they are pressurized better than they were 10-20 years ago.
How long is the flight? If its only a few hours, what are the chances you'd go into labor and have the baby in the amount of time it would take them to get to your destination?
My friend, who is 37 weeks, just flew from CA to NJ for her sister's wedding this past weekend. She had a bad time on the way there, with swelling and all kinds of pain that turned out to be Braxton Hicks per the doctor. The flight back was uneventful though.
Personally, and just because I'm totally uncomfotrablt on a plane anyway, I wouldn't fly that far along. But if you feel ok about it and your Dr give you the ok, then go for it. It's been done.
I fly weekly for work and did so with DS until week 36 per Dr orders. My flights are all quick, about 1.5 hours and I never had any issues or difficulties.
One thing my Dr did say was that if I was experiencing issues and go to a hospital while traveling I need to be okay with delivering there. If you have real complications they can't release you without delivering/recovering there. He said that unless it was a real emergency I should just get on a flight home and go to my hospital.
I flew over the weekend (2.5 hours) and I think that is the last time I will fly. I was already so uncomfortable at 23 weeks!!!
However, my best friend who is due the same week as me is flying at Christmas (with a Dr's note)
EDD 1/31/13, MC May 17. EDD 3/31/13, MC July 26. I miss you so much already my angel loves