Traveling

chelseakopperud · June 2012

Hey ladies- Just wondering if any of you know the specifics on airplane travel. I need to travel in December for work and I will be 36 weeks. Is that going to be an issue? TIA!

amh04 · June 2012

I think most Drs cut off travel at 32 weeks - I would definitely check with your OB, only he/she can give you a definite yes or no answer. It really varies if there have been complications in the pregnancy or not.

laurapacheco · June 2012

My OB said I should be okay to travel up to 36 weeks. But really it's going to depend on your situation at the time... I've had friends end up on bed rest that late in the pregnancy. Personally if it were me I wouldn't risk it (actually I'm planning to telework from 36 weeks until LO is born), but if that's going to cause problems for you at work you may have to do it. GL!

chelseakopperud · June 2012

amh04:
I think most Drs cut off travel at 32 weeks - I would definitely check with your OB, only he/she can give you a definite yes or no answer. It really varies if there have been complications in the pregnancy or not.

Yes great point. I have an appt on Tuesday so I will be sure to ask then. I have a friend who is pregnant and her doc gave her the ok to travel up to 37 weeks... so I am hoping all goes well and my doc says the same!

OhioLady · June 2012

Obviously your doctors opinion should hold more weight than my non-medically educated self, but...

From how I understand it, the effect of stress during flight is only minor - one thing I read says to avoid non-stop cross country or over-seas flights, because they are at very high altitude, so a bit less oxygen. I read that after I booked my non-stop flight from Ohio to California at 20 weeks. Oh well.

I think the big questions you have to ask yourself is would I feel comfortable seeking medical help and possibly delivering the baby at this destination if needed (not from the flight, but just like "bad timing")... and also, how much of an 'investment' is the trip, and would you feel comfortable canceling the trip last minute if needed (many airlines have an option to buy tickets at a higher rate, but you can get a refund if you need to cancel.)

Allycat11 · June 2012

amh04:
I think most Drs cut off travel at 32 weeks - I would definitely check with your OB, only he/she can give you a definite yes or no answer. It really varies if there have been complications in the pregnancy or not.

Exactly this. I know that after 35 or 37 weeks, my Dr. cuts off travel that is more than an hour from the hospital. Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable flying that late in pregnancy.

lulamagoo · June 2012

Check with the airline as well as some do not allow you to fly after a certain point.

OhioLady · June 2012

lulamagoo:
Check with the airline as well as some do not allow you to fly after a certain point.

this site lists a few...

https://www.babycenter.com/0_airline-policies-for-pregnant-travelers_6976.bc

chelseakopperud · June 2012

Thanks ladies! I will definately be checking with my midwife on Tuesday about this. It is really important that I make this trip- but obviously not at the expense of my LO! I had a very good pregnancy with DS and I would have felt completely comfortable flying at that point with him- but I also know every pregnancy is different. This trip is completely paid for by the company so I will need to find out the cancellation policies after I inform work of the pregnancy. Thanks again for all of your responses!

LoriLue31 · June 2012

How long will you be gone? I'd be nervous that close, but I'm a nervous girl.

jobiann · June 2012

Check with your OB and with your airline...some airlines will not let you fly after a certain number of weeks and want you to show proof from your doctor of how far along you are.

I would also be too nervous to travel too far from home that late in pregnancy. I've already told DH we are not traveling to his extended family Christmas that is only about three hours away. But that far along I just don't think I'll be comfortable being that far from my doctor.

chelseakopperud · June 2012

LoriLue31:
How long will you be gone? I'd be nervous that close, but I'm a nervous girl.

I would be leaving when I was 36W1D and returning when I was 36W6D.

chelseakopperud · June 2012

OhioLady:

lulamagoo:
Check with the airline as well as some do not allow you to fly after a certain point.

this site lists a few...

https://www.babycenter.com/0_airline-policies-for-pregnant-travelers_6976.bc

Thank you! That is so helpful!

this decaf life · June 2012

amh04:
It really varies if there have been complications in the pregnancy or not.

My grandma keeps telling me the story of my aunt who flew at 37 weeks. The airline made my grandma sign a paper saying that she was in charge of the pregnant lady if anything happened. I really don't think it would've helped at all had she gone into labor but I guess that was the rule 25 years ago.

I've heard 36 weeks is about the cut off. The airlines can make their own rules though so you need to look into who you're flying with & their restrictions. Sometimes you need a Dr. note to fly past a certain date. I'd contact the airline & your OB.

wootownlady · June 2012

To the OP - have you told your boss yet that you're PG? That work trip might be on the books now - but once they find out your PG they may change their mind about you going due to their liability. I was supposed to go to Paris at 32 weeks on business travel and they didn't even let me make the decision in the end because they were worried about a) how that made them look - sending a very pregnant woman on business travel and b) their liability/workmans comp if I got hurt/needed help outside my home state.

My doc was okay with me going and I was okay - I planned on eating my weight in bread and cheese and chocolate

Allison546 · June 2012

I'm planning on flying over Thanksgiving as long as everything is going well. I am gonna plan on having a note from my doctor with me just in case the airline gives us any trouble.

Agshan08 · June 2012

I will also have to be flying (short distances) a couple of times late into my pregnancy, it's either that or ride in a car for 12 hrs across middle-of-nowhere. Southwest Airlines lets you fly up to 38 weeks (I checked). The risk is just that you go into labor in whatever city you end up in. I'm just going to bring my ACOG record with me when i fly just in case I wind up in a different hospital without my normal doc.

Again the risk is just delivering far away, without your hubby and family, etc.But if you are ok with that then there isn't anything about the actual process of being in the air that will cause you to go into labor or anything.

brittandjp · June 2012

Allycat11:
amh04:
I think most Drs cut off travel at 32 weeks - I would definitely check with your OB, only he/she can give you a definite yes or no answer. It really varies if there have been complications in the pregnancy or not.
Exactly this. I know that after 35 or 37 weeks, my Dr. cuts off travel that is more than an hour from the hospital. Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable flying that late in pregnancy.

I think I've always heard 32 weeks, although I honestly haven't asked my doctor about his opinion. Personally, I'd be too nervous to travel that late in pregnancy. I'm unfortunately a "what if" person and I'd be too scared about what could happen. I don't want to be far from DH, my doctor, and my hospital.

chelseakopperud · June 2012

wootownlady:

To the OP - have you told your boss yet that you're PG? That work trip might be on the books now - but once they find out your PG they may change their mind about you going due to their liability. I was supposed to go to Paris at 32 weeks on business travel and they didn't even let me make the decision in the end because they were worried about a) how that made them look - sending a very pregnant woman on business travel and b) their liability/workmans comp if I got hurt/needed help outside my home state.

My doc was okay with me going and I was okay - I planned on eating my weight in bread and cheese and chocolate

No- we havent told anyone yet. I will be telling them in a couple weeks.

chelseakopperud · June 2012

brittandjp:
Allycat11:

amh04:
I think most Drs cut off travel at 32 weeks - I would definitely check with your OB, only he/she can give you a definite yes or no answer. It really varies if there have been complications in the pregnancy or not.

Exactly this. I know that after 35 or 37 weeks, my Dr. cuts off travel that is more than an hour from the hospital. Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable flying that late in pregnancy.

I think I've always heard 32 weeks, although I honestly haven't asked my doctor about his opinion. Personally, I'd be too nervous to travel that late in pregnancy. I'm unfortunately a "what if" person and I'd be too scared about what could happen. I don't want to be far from DH, my doctor, and my hospital.

I would be super bummed if H couldnt be there... but hospitals and docs are pretty much interchangeable IMHO.... I am doing all of the work!

brittandjp · June 2012

chelseakopperud:
brittandjp:
Allycat11:

amh04:
I think most Drs cut off travel at 32 weeks - I would definitely check with your OB, only he/she can give you a definite yes or no answer. It really varies if there have been complications in the pregnancy or not.

Exactly this. I know that after 35 or 37 weeks, my Dr. cuts off travel that is more than an hour from the hospital. Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable flying that late in pregnancy.

I think I've always heard 32 weeks, although I honestly haven't asked my doctor about his opinion. Personally, I'd be too nervous to travel that late in pregnancy. I'm unfortunately a "what if" person and I'd be too scared about what could happen. I don't want to be far from DH, my doctor, and my hospital.

I would be super bummed if H couldnt be there... but hospitals and docs are pretty much interchangeable IMHO.... I am doing all of the work!

Meaning you're okay with going to a different doctor/hospital to deliver if the need arises? While I'd of course do this in an absolute emergency, I'm going to put in every effort to ensure my doctor delivers this baby at our hospital. I'd be really uncomfortable and unhappy going to anyone else, anywhere else, which is why I'm adamant about staying close to home those final 8 weeks.

chelseakopperud · June 2012

brittandjp:
chelseakopperud:
brittandjp:
Allycat11:

amh04:
I think most Drs cut off travel at 32 weeks - I would definitely check with your OB, only he/she can give you a definite yes or no answer. It really varies if there have been complications in the pregnancy or not.

Exactly this. I know that after 35 or 37 weeks, my Dr. cuts off travel that is more than an hour from the hospital. Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable flying that late in pregnancy.

I think I've always heard 32 weeks, although I honestly haven't asked my doctor about his opinion. Personally, I'd be too nervous to travel that late in pregnancy. I'm unfortunately a "what if" person and I'd be too scared about what could happen. I don't want to be far from DH, my doctor, and my hospital.

I would be super bummed if H couldnt be there... but hospitals and docs are pretty much interchangeable IMHO.... I am doing all of the work!

Meaning you're okay with going to a different doctor/hospital to deliver if the need arises? While I'd of course do this in an absolute emergency, I'm going to put in every effort to ensure my doctor delivers this baby at our hospital. I'd be really uncomfortable and unhappy going to anyone else, anywhere else, which is why I'm adamant about staying close to home those final 8 weeks.

Yes- exactly. I would be bummed about DH not being there.... but I wouldnt care about the doc/hospital. I am pro-home birth so location and docs just dont really matter to me, unless the doc was against all natural child birth and wouldnt listen to my wishes- of course there would be an issue then!

With my DS, I doctored with a team of midwives, I met almost all of them.... when i went into labor one of the midwives I hadnt met was on call.... it turned out to be an amazing experience. But like I said previously.... I did all the work so as long as I could deal without DH it wouldnt be the end of the world for me.

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