STM - flying 8 months pregnant?

fluffyflea · July 2012

Hi everyone,

I have a close family member who is planning a last minute wedding in Italy in mid-October. I am due Dec 1 so I will be about 34 weeks. I am getting a lot of pressure to go (I live in Boston).

Aside from what I am ALLOWED to do (some airlines I can fly, some I can't) and aside from the medical stuff (I have had an easy pregnancy, no complications etc...), won't I be miserable flying at 8 months pregnant on an 8 hour flight, or is it generally ok?

I have this sense that flying 7 hours across the ocean to Italy for a weekend is going to be the last thing I want to do at a solid 8 months, but this is my first kid so I don't know.

Any thoughts?

Sprite2012 · July 2012

You can definitely do it, but you will be very, very uncomfortable. Even in first class. I'd opt out.

o_so_in_love · July 2012

While flying doesn't personally concern me, I would not want to fly overseas where, if there was an emergency, there would be no place to land.

ZooCrewMom · July 2012

I felt like crap 32 weeks pregnant on regional flights with DS - I can't imagine a 7 hour flight for that short of a trip.

wesandlauramcdonald · July 2012

We are planning an 8-hour flight when I'm 25 weeks and I'm dreading it already. I have a doctor's appointment the week before to make sure that I can still go!

egingras · July 2012

Uh no. Most airlines and OBs will not permit it. Because if you go into labor, you will have to see it through wherever you are. Deliver and postnatal care away from home.

JEN1974 · July 2012

Personally--I wouldn't do it. I flew with both my other kids up to 35 weeks with one and 33 weeks with the 2nd and the longest flight was about 2.5 hours and I was miserable. You can't get comfortable in the seats because you have a watermelon pushing into your ribcage. Walking through the airport induced lots of Braxton Hicks--also uncomfortable and overall it's really not anything I would choose to do. Plus at that far along, I'd defintely not go overseas for fear something could happen while there and you're in another country where english is not the primary language...that would concern me...going to a hospital and not only having something going on but potentially having a language barrier as well to overcome.

ObLaDi · July 2012

Not a STM, but just wanted to share that I'll be doing something very similar. My BIL is getting married in Arizona when I am 34 weeks. We also live in the Boston area. I figure the trip will stink, but I'll live.

If it wasn't a really important wedding to attend, I'd pass, though.

MommaAmers · July 2012

I was told with my first to stay within a 90 minute radius for the last month of my pregnancy.

twister22 · July 2012

o_so_in_love:
While flying doesn't personally concern me, I would not want to fly overseas where, if there was an emergency, there would be no place to land.

This. Also, what if something happens while in Italy? What if your baby is born premature? They could never be U.S. president... No, but seriously, that would be really scary.

And you will be SERIOUSLY uncomfortable.

WiscoMom67 · July 2012

My vote is no. Safety concerns aside, I think it would be a miserable experience -- ESPECIALLY if it was a short trip where you'd fly twice within a few days.

robyn2201 · July 2012

I would not want to spend 8 hours on a plane at 34 weeks. Sooo uncomfortable! And not to mention what if you go into pre-term labor while in Italy?

SIL was 35 weeks along and we all flew about an 1 1/2 hours north up to Sacramento for a funeral. She started to develop pre-e, (head ache that would not go away) while we were on the trip and was admitted to the hospital for 2 days for observation. They started making plans thinking my niece might be born there. What would they do about this and that, being an 8 hour drive from home. The hospital ended up letting her leave. She boarded a plan immediately and flew back to So Cal. She ended up back in the hospital a day later and was then induced.

maestra816 · July 2012

I agree with everyone! I get fidgety, antsy and uncomfortable on flights to Europe when I am not pregnant, I can't even imagine at 8 months preggo. But besides being uncomfortable, I would be more concerned about going into labor in a foreign country. The first time I went to Italy, I had a medical issues that required me to got a hospital and I was so nervous and frustrated that I couldn't communicate well my issue because I didn't speak Italian and it is not their issue they didn't have someone to speak English to me. Just imagine having to go through labor and delivery possibly with no one being able to communicate well with you. There are so many things I could think of that would be scary and inconvenient if you went into labor there but overall, if you feel like it will not make YOU comfortable to go overseas, I am pretty sure your family will get over it.

JenLa21 · July 2012

My thoughts are, you're gonna be uncomfortable at that stage no matter where you are. I'm 22 weeks and already can't sleep. So I think the comfort thing is not a great reason. A good one maybe, but not the deciding factor.

My Dr said i can fly anywhere in the world up to 32 weeks. But I asked about going to Vermont from NYC for the weekend at 36 weeks and she said no.

You don't want to be in labor far from home. Especially in a foreign country. I had a family emergency in Italy last year and it was a complete nightmare. The translating was impossible. The nearest hospital was more of a walk in clinic, and my FIL had to get driven almost 2 hours to the nearest real hospital. Which was still nothing like our hospitals here.

PittPurple · July 2012

I'm stopping any travel after 26 weeks because my travel insurance won't cover me after that point. So beyond the miserable flight and language barriers, if there are any issues you could be out a lot of money.

I flew at 12 weeks pregnant and it was horrible. We're planning a babymoon to Italy in August and I'm already dreading the flight - I just find flying miserable right now. I can imagine it wil only get worse.

AliceMM · July 2012

I wouldn't go- for all the reasons stated above. If there are any complications you would have to stay there till the birth.

My sister lived in Italy for a year also- and had some not so great hospital experiences there. So no way for me.

Lastly- not sure if anyone mentioned this, I just skimmed the other responses- but your insurance may not cover you if something happens and you need to deliver over there.

ambrlynn8 · July 2012

Honestly, past 32 weeks many doctors will not allow you to fly. Most airlines won't allow you to fly. And if you buy your ticket now, your doctor MAY ok it, but then come closer to the 34 weeks, s/he might change their minds and you won't be able to go. That's quite a bit of money down the drain.

I would discuss with your doctor before make any decision and calling airlines. Some airlines you will need a doctor's note to fly if they allow you to fly past 32 weeks. Will you be miserable? Maybe. Uncomfortable? Probably. I would just be worried about going into labor at 34 weeks.

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