Flying at 34/35 weeks

duckfaces · December 2012

Has anyone flown at 34 weeks? My best friend is getting married March 16th and I will turn 35 weeks on her wedding day. I am in the wedding. She lives in Ohio I live in South Carolina.When I told my doctor about the wedding I for some reason (pregnancy brain) thought I would only be 32 weeks. My doctor said she would check me before I go, before writing a doctor's note. Has anyone every traveled this far this late in the pregnancy?

2u2wow · December 2012

most airlines won't let you i thought after 34 weeks....but maybe if you have a Dr's note

i'd check with the airline first!

duckfaces · December 2012

American Airlines requires a doctor's note if you travel within 4 weeks of the due date. I would hate to miss her wedding. We have been friends since we were 5. I know I need to do what is best for baby.

drpayne · December 2012

Certain airlines may not let you. It varies. If its against their policy they may not care if you have a note but I'm not sure. I wouldn't fly, personally, but that's just me.

RJM050705 · December 2012

drpayne:
Certain airlines may not let you. It varies. If its against their policy they may not care if you have a note but I'm not sure. I wouldn't fly, personally, but that's just me.

This.

bdutton0005 · December 2012

drpayne:
Certain airlines may not let you. It varies. If its against their policy they may not care if you have a note but I'm not sure. I wouldn't fly, personally, but that's just me.

This and I also wouldn't want to be that far away from my Dr/home that late in the game. I'm 34 weeks and I want to stay at home and not go anywhere. But I know that varies person to person also.

highlights · December 2012

How long is the flight? I would definitely go if my doctor gave the okay.

ByGrace22 · December 2012

I have flown at 32 weeks and was just fine. Have you considered driving? Depending on where in OH and SC you need to be it might not be that bad. Plus you would have a lot more control over stops and snacks and temperature etc. But I like car trips and I know many people do not.

DachsieMama123 · December 2012

A good friend of mine is getting married tonight in Alabama and I live in DC. I asked my doc about going to the wedding and she said she would strongly recommend against it. She pointed out that if I were to go into labor, I would be stuck there away from my doctor, with a slightlly pre-term baby who would possibly need to be in the NICU for several weeks. But it's a little different, because though I've known this person since I was six years old, I'm not actually in the wedding. I think it's a really tough call, but I'd probably skip it if I were you.

jensriot · December 2012

duckfaces:
American Airlines requires a doctor's note if you travel within 4 weeks of the due date. I would hate to miss her wedding. We have been friends since we were 5. I know I need to do what is best for baby.

I flew AA at 35 weeks and a couple days for a wedding. DH was best man and DD1 was flower girl. I'm sure my doc would not have liked it, but it was non-stop for a couple of hours. I wasn't concerned at all until we returned. I started having contractions when we were landing back at home. We were considering going from the airport to the Dr's office. In hindsight was it a wise move? Probably not, but I didn't end up going to the Dr and baby came weeks later. I wouldn't do it again though.

No one from the airline questioned me or even seemed to notice.

javagrl · December 2012

I wouldn't even consider flying that late in the game.

sthomas1222 · December 2012

My doctor cut me off at 35 weeks, I was supposed to go to OK for a week from VA. Depends on the Dr and the airlines. My research showed most of their policies are now stating 1-2 weeks out from due date is fine but most want a doctor's note. Mainly b/c if they stop you they're not going to believe that you're X weeks just b/c you say so. But if you're dr is ok with it, call the airline to let them know and make sure you don't hit any hiccups along the way. Get a nonstop flight just in case.

saturdaynightdoubletree · December 2012

ByGrace22:
I have flown at 32 weeks and was just fine. Have you considered driving? Depending on where in OH and SC you need to be it might not be that bad. Plus you would have a lot more control over stops and snacks and temperature etc. But I like car trips and I know many people do not.

This is kind of where my head is at. We are in the car traveling all the time. just last weekend we drove 5 hrs away for fun and then came back the next day, no problem. Im one of those who could care less if I deliver with my doctor at my hospital, so maybe Im a bad person to ask.
On another note, Can an airline really tell how far along you are?! I've looked the same from 22weeks until now, lol, Id be pissed if I had to go somewhere and they denied me because I was pregnant.

Ninja77 · December 2012

javagrl:
I wouldn't even consider flying that late in the game.

This!!

zonagirlie · December 2012

I travel a lot for work and flew my last flight at 26 weeks. When hubs and I had to move at 31 weeks from AZ to MA we drove. Didn't want to risk it and being pregnant with bags and all the people and the lifting and security and blah blah blah. No thanks. Driving was so much fun anyway, like a mini-babymoon

cylynn · December 2012

I flew at 35 weeks with #2 and had no problems with the airlines or the midwife. We had to fly home for a funeral. If you are feeling up to it, than go for it!

duckfaces · December 2012

Thanks everyone! It is a 14 hour car drive and my doctor recomended flying vs. driving. She said I would need to get out and walk every 2 hours if we drove. The flight would only take 3-4 hours. I will play it by ear.

meltoine · December 2012

For the airlines that have policies in place, they work on an honor system. It is illegal for them to ask you how far along you are, or even if you are pregnant. Under the Americans With Disabilities Act, they cannot ask about medical conditions. It is up to you as the individual to ask the business for any special services you might need and they have to cooperate tothe best of their ability.

As a pregnant person, you don't have to ask for any special services besides not sitting in an emergency exit row, so I wouldn't even mention it. If you have no risk factors for preterm labor I say go and enjoy it.

FWIW, I was evacuated from my home at 35 weeks and flew 10 hours to get to safety. I had no issues, save for being uncomfortable sitting for so long.

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Flying at 34/35 weeks

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