Newborn and new mother plane travel

CrazieMeh · September 2014

I did see one older post on this but didn't answer my curiosity. My bro in law will be getting married right after my bb is born. Depending if I'll be on time or late, bb will be about 4-6 weeks old. I'm a little worried about being on an enclosed plane for 4 hours full of people and the bb still hasn't been vaccinated yet. Is this something the paediatric will tell me what to do at that time? Also since I'll be a first time mom and don't know much, will I be fully healed (natural birth or c section) to sit in a narrow uncomfy seat for 4 hours?

flyer23 · September 2014

My oldest daughter's first flight was at 4 weeks old. I did ask the pediatrician at the hospital and she gave me the go-ahead, but it's ultimately your decision as to whether or not you're comfortable with it.

The flight was a little under 4 hours. I had a vaginal birth with a third degree tear, but I was definitely healed enough at 4 weeks to sit for that long.

ngolimento · September 2014

I wouldn't personally do it. Baby's health comes before a wedding. It's not just the plane you have to worry about either. Think of all the people who will want to hold and touch her at the wedding who won't have the Tdap shot people are supposed to get before holding newborns. Nope nope nope.

jpavenski · September 2014

Is it possible to wait till baby is here to decide. With my son I felt so much better after the two week mark after a vaginally delivery. And I was the type that just needed to get out of the house with him, not on a plane but we did a lot of shopping!

CrazieMeh · September 2014

I didn't think about all the ppl wanting to hold the baby! Good point! Both DH and I are uncomfortable about me and bb going. He doesn't want to go but it's his brother's wedding so he has to. It's really his parents who want me to go... One big happy family, right?! Blah.

capulet · September 2014

I flew cross country with DS (and his older sister) when he was seven weeks old. We were moving so travel wasn't really optional. I'd had a c-section and was physically fine. I was able to get his first round of vaccinations a little early, right before we left, so that might be an option. And personally I think traveling with a newborn is way easier than with an older child. If you can defer the decision until your LO is born, it will probably be easier to decide then. But if you're not enthusiastic about going anyway, I think not going is perfectly reasonable.

mandi195 · September 2014

I flew across the country with my son when he was about 4-5 weeks old. It wasn't a big deal for me, but everyone is different. Back then (8 years ago) I flew very often, so was comfortable with it. Now, I think I've been on about 4 plane trips in the past 5 years, so I would probably be more nervous about it. Health wise, I think baby will be fine; but to be safe I'd ask your ped.

copperrose · September 2014

I flew with my DD at around 5-6 weeks and it was fine. The worst part about it was having to change her diaper and the poor lady next to me but what can you do? I think it's Jet Blue that has changing tables in the bathroom though, just to keep that in mind.

071115 · September 2014

With my first I never would have I didn't leave my house for weeks I was so freaked out, and paranoid! And 4-6 weeks so to tiny and vulnerable to be on a gross plane

Farrah626 · September 2014

I agree with others posters. The baby will be so young and that's a lot of different people to be exposing them to before vaccinations. With my first, I had a vaginal birth and didn't really feel like myself again until at least 6 weeks PP. Getting to the grocery store was an event let alone flying somewhere. For your own recovery and for the baby, I say you stay home.

Critter015 · September 2014

I flew with DD at 4-5 weeks. Our flight was 3ish hours, and then we had a 4 hour drive after we landed. It was just fine for both of us. I wore my Moby wrap and nursed her on takeoff and landing and in between she fell asleep so I tucked her into the Moby so I could rest my arms. I just changed her right before we boarded and then as soon as we landed. I borrowed a carseat and pack-n-play from my brother while we visited so I didn't have to worry about our's getting damaged. It was absolutely worth it for all of my family to be able to meet DD while I was still on maternity leave.

JenLa21 · September 2014

You can always book a refundable flight, or make sure you have travelers insurance. That way you can decide after the baby comes.

randomnames · September 2014

I would probably go, but I took my first to my work and a restaurant when he was a week old and I fly all the time. Wearing the baby in a moby or something similar would probably discourage people from trying to hold him/her.

EDWHIP · September 2014

Everyone is so different. My neighbor is so laid back and nothing ever seems to bother her. She would be the type to fly with a baby who was just a week old. Me? No way. With DD#1 it took me 3 weeks to leave the house, 6 weeks to do it alone, 10 weeks to go on a walk (healing), and 15 weeks to even start having sex again. I am kind of a wuss, though. It also depends on the type of baby you have. DD#1 was a high need baby where you couldn't put her down. I wouldn't be able to hold her on the plane because I also don't think it's safe to have a lap baby. That's just me, though! Good luck.

DM718 · September 2014

I have family members have had to fly long distances with their babies (US to Belgium, Morocco, & South Africa). All report back that it went well. I think the baby that goes back & forth to visit family in Africa was a bit older and better vaccinated on his first flight, but I know the one going to Belgium was supposed to be born there, so she was leaving the US pretty early.

Anyways, my thoughts are that an international population is likely to be less well vaccinated than a US one, and those that are not vaccinated are mostly young, so you'd probably be at greatest risk on a flight to Orlando. Otherwise, I wouldn't expect a whole lot of germy kids.

lalaroller08 · September 2014

I took my 4 week old in a plane and if was perfectly fine. She slept the whole time and didn't get sick. You can wear your baby or keep him in the car seat with a cover over at the wedding. We did this and no one asked to hold her. People worry too much. If it was like within 2 weeks of birth, that's different. Just my humble opinion.

jack12trip · September 2014

I'm in the same boat you are. My BIL is getting married when our newborn will be approximately 6-8 weeks, depending on when we deliver. Except his wedding is in Italy. Long story short, they already legally married, but having a ceremony and wedding a year later.

Ultimately, I think it boils down to what are you comfortable with? That was the hard decision I had to reach myself after finding conflicting information about whether or not it is safe or healthy for a newborn to be on an international flight.

At the end of the day, I based my decision on two things. First, as everyone mentioned, what would make me comfortable? A wedding/trip isn't much fun when you're running to a hotel room and/or airport bathroom to pump every two hours. Would I feel comfortable having all those strangers passing around the baby? The second was that I know in my heart that if anything happened overseas where the baby needed medical attention, got sick on the plane, etc...I'd never forgive myself. It's a little different in your case because you're domestic.

I felt terrible declining, but told my DH to go ahead without me. I would never stand in the way of him attending his brother's wedding. Don't go because you feel obligated. Think about what makes you comfortable, and if you decide it's more than what you're willing to take on for you and baby, send them a heartfelt email or give them a call to let them know you've put a lot of thought into it, but can't attend. But let them know they'll be in your thoughts that day and you're sending them all the best.

hydrangeablue · September 2014

It sounds like the logistics of it will work but if you're not ready or simply don't want to travel that close to birth you shouldn't. Just because you'll be physically able to doesn't mean that you should feel guilty about not going. I think having a very young baby and being first time parents are reasonable excuses that everyone should understand.

adirain · September 2014

So, the way I look at this. Is its a personal decision. Personally I had my kids out of the house before they were a week old - at the grocery store, etc. Our ancestors did the same thing and survived. I prefer to expose kids to environments vs keeping them in a bubble. 4wks old. If you are nursing they are better off getting your antibodies to help fight infection anyway. I travelled when my DD was 5 wks old on an 8 hour flight. I just didnt let people coo all over her. I was still protective and they understood.

As far as health. Its different for everyone. I was out running a week after delivery and with this one I will be out doing a half marathon 5 weeks after delivery. Its really too each their own. No right and no wrong. You know your own comfort levels best to make these decisions.

Lmsq1611 · September 2014

@jack12trip‌ thank you for your opinion. I have a similar situation that will occur when my baby is about 3 months. I previously posted the question and really appreciate everyone who says that in the end it's up to you whether you go and to never feel guilty for choosing to not expose your baby to travel or yourself to that stress. DH comes from the type of family who does not take no and will be overly dramatic and upset about us not attending a wedding but we realize in the end we have to do what is right for us.

I hope you find a solution that works for you!

erinel · September 2014

I definitely wouldn't. Babies that young don't have an immune system, and planes are filled with germs. Even the slightest cold can be very serious or deadly to a newborn, not worth it.

cesquer · September 2014

My cousin is crazy. She took her 3-day old to Disneyland. She checked into the DL hotel to recover. Walked around with the baby at the park. Hmmm.

thejucheidea · September 2014

I'd do it, but we also travel all the time and will probably be having to fly out to California to visit family when baby is pretty young because my grandma is in poor health and my dad wants nothing more in life than for her to meet her first great-grandchild.