Flying tomorrow = me scared :(

osuwku · June 2011

I typically love to fly. But now that I am pregnant I am terrified! I know I need to be sure to drink a lot of water and walk around. Do I need to get up every 30 minutes, every 15 minutes? I just keep having terrible thoughts. My longest flight is about 3.5 hours. But I just can't shake the fear that I am feeling. Sad

kaydi327 · June 2011

I flew to Vegas last weekend (from Jersey) and it was fine. I was nervous for whatever reason but everything was great! On the longer flight (five hours) I got up and used the bathroom. On the three other flights (4 hours, and two one hour flights) I didn't get up and I was fine. Getting up and walking around is good for circulation so if you're nervous I'd do that!

Ess-elle · June 2011

You'll be fine. I flew at 16 weeks, 18 weeks, and will be flying again at 24 and 25 weeks. Just get up once an hour (that's all you need!) and take a quick walk up and down the aisle to get your blood circulating in your legs. I found I had to go pee nearly that often anyway, so a trip to the bathroom killed two birds with one stone.

Enjoy your trip!

karinothing · June 2011

I just flew at 19 weeks no problems. I didn't make any effort to get up but got up about ever hour to pee. You will be fine!

jmott427 · June 2011

I flew to Italy at 21 weeks. I was really really nervous about it as well. My doc said to get up and stretch your legs or walk around once an hour and to keep hydrated. So on the flight out, every hour I got up and went to the bathroom, did some leg stretches and took a few min walk. My doc also suggested compression socks so I wore those. Not sure if they did anything but they made me feel better at least. On the flight home I got up probably every 2 hours and just did stretches for a min and sat back down. You can also do leg stretches from your seat or just right beside your seat in the isle every 30 min if you are worried. Good luck! You'll be fine but I do know the feeling you have. I wouldn't hesitate to fly again pregnant now that I've done it.

Junebug060609 · June 2011

I flew just last week and was about the same gestation you are now Smile I think you'll do fine.

You'll need to drink lots of water & get up at least once an hour. Be sure you don't have a heavy bag to heave up in the overhead bin. You can even go through the backscatter if you need to, supposedly its the equivalent of a couple minutes in the air (I only went through it when I had to...would've missed my flight otherwise). I've had them do a patdown on me another time, and that's always an option if you prefer it. They get awfully friendly, but as long as you're ok with that its no biggie.

Hope your trip goes well!

osuwku · June 2011

Thanks ladies! I also meant to ask if yall have gotten the patdown, full body scanners or the old metal detector kind. I asked my doc but she wasn't helpful what's so ever. I was thinking about doing the patdown but ugh I just don't know. Especially since pp said they get friendly...but I want to do what's best for the baby!

StephRuns · June 2011

What are you scared of? I am also terrified on flights, but I flew at 18 weeks and I actually wasn't near as nervous as I usually am. And on the first flight I never got up (3.5 hours) because I was nervous. I got up on the flight home and walked around a little. It was fine. I'm also flying again at 23 weeks.

jmott427 · June 2011

Going through the metal detector is fine and is way less harmful than flying (more radiation from being up so high) but neither is a high amount. However, I still felt a little better just getting the pat down. It was not bad at all but those things don't bother me. It will always be a woman that does it and it's only a couple of seconds.

rkto · June 2011

I am flying next week and my doctor said "thats nice" when I told him. he wasnt worried about me at all.

I made sure to get an aisle seat so I can get in and out.

Junebug060609 · June 2011

osuwku:
Thanks ladies! I also meant to ask if yall have gotten the patdown, full body scanners or the old metal detector kind. I asked my doc but she wasn't helpful what's so ever. I was thinking about doing the patdown but ugh I just don't know. Especially since pp said they get friendly...but I want to do what's best for the baby!

I've done all three during this pg.

The friendliness of the patdown is basically a female TSA agent running her gloved hand under your boobs, quick shot down between them and then up the inside/outside of your legs and around your waistband. The lady who did mine didn't grasp what maternity jeans were (kept asking me what was sewn into the band of my jeans...to which I'd reply "elastic, they're maternity jeans" and then reminder her I'd requested the patdown b/c I was pregnant). If you opt for the patdown, just allow youself a little extra time and tell the agent near the xray belt you'd like a patdown. They didn't even flinch when I requested it, happens all the time for them.

The metal detector I just went through like normal.

The backscatter I've only done when I was in a rush to catch a plane. I know the radiation isn't much, but I'd rather avoid it if I can. It was the same deal it was not pregnant. Just stand how they tell you and go on your merry way.

Melbelle11 · June 2011

You will be totally fine! I fly twice a week for work every week, and although you may be a little tired after and you may have some swollen ankles, you will be totally fine. I also had an 8 hour flight to and from Italy about a month ago, so have put these practices to use quite a bit. Here are my tips for surviving plane rides:

1) Drink lots of water - when you get to the airport, buy a large bottle of water (liter size), and drink a third to a half before you get on the plane, and the rest throughout the flight. If you feel thirsty at any time during the flight, ask the flight attendant for more water.

2) Stay away from carbonated/caffeinated drinks while flying.

3) Avoid eating too much in the way of salty foods on the plane. Definitely bring some snacks, but opt for ones that are a little lower in sodium.

4) Walking around - it is recommended that you get up about every hour and walk the aisle for a few minutes just to keep the blood circulating.

5) If you feel tight at all - generally ankles or feet - either walk around or do some stretches of those parts in your seat.

6) As soon as you get on the plane, take of your shoes.

And last, try tro relax. Being scared and nervous and working yourself up will only make it worse. Take it from a frequent flyer - you will be fine!

blu-eyedwife · June 2011

I just recently got back from Vancouver and have been flying up to San Francisco and haven't had any issues.

Get up and walk around every hour. If for some reason you can't, see if you can do some leg stretches/foot exercises in your seat. The key is to keep the blood flowing up and down through your legs.

I also was really conscious about NOT crossing my legs - for the same reason - keep the blood flowing.

And I drank lots of water, but that's pretty typical for me.

I asked to go through the x-ray/pat down instead of the new screener. Probably paranoid, but they haven't been around long enough to have 10 years of research on reactions and possible side effects and I kinda rely on that 10 year thing. (Same reason I won't get an at home doppler or Lasik!)

hlkay31 · June 2011

My Dr. says that up to 32 weeks is fine with a pregnancy with no complications. Just drink heaps of water and keep walking. I will be doing 2 international flights in the next 6 weeks and she was not concerned at all about that. You should be fine!

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