Community› The Bump Month Clubs› January 2016 Moms
January 2016 Moms
New Discussion

Advice for long flights

katyschaferkatyschafer member
in January 2016 Moms
Afternoon everyone. I've searched this topic but didn't didn't find anything. DH and I are going out of town a week from today. I'll be 23 weeks and it is an 8-9 hour flight. Does anyone have any advice for flying while pregnant? My biggest concern is staying comfortable. Thank you in advance for sharing all your wisdom!
Report Reply to Post

Re: Advice for long flights

  • emcarl24emcarl24 member
    Check in with your doctor first, but generally speaking- Try to get an aisle seat, stay hydrated, and get up and move around every hour or 2.
    Enjoy your trip!
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • sgafbagsgafbag member
    Drink lots and lots and lots of water, maybe wear compression socks too!
    Report Reply
  • Vamason89Vamason89 member
    I flew to Australia at 14 weeks. A good neck pillow, compression socks, water, and snacks were my saving graces. I also took my own small blanket because I've been frozen since being pregnant.
    Report Reply
  • katyschaferkatyschafer member
    This is all great. Thank you. Where can you buy compression socks and what exactly do they do?
    Report Reply
  • Leah6120Leah6120 member
    Def try to get an aisle seat. It makes it much easier on long flights to get up every couple of hours and stretch/go to the bathroom. The flight attendants allowed me to stand in their area when nothing was going on so I could stretch. Make sure not to keep your legs crossed and like everyone else said tons of water and snacks :)
    Report Reply
  • mrsgetz4000mrsgetz4000 member
    Get an aisle seat, walk around every couple hours. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. I even wore slippers when I flew to Spain lol. Bring snacks too! Layers too, a t shirt and a light sweatshirt that will be easy to take on and off. A hair tie, maybe a brush unless you have big curly hair like mine lol. Maybe some gum and some makeup wipes to freshen up.
    I've flown a lot! Safe travels and enjoy your trip!
    Report Reply
  • Cricket99Cricket99 member
    Definitely an aisle seat. I just did a 9 hour flight and that was a godsend. I also brought a giant bottle of water with me in addition to getting water or juice every time a drink was offered. I tried to stretch a lot and that helped. Good luck and safe travels!
    Report Reply
  • l4rkl4rk member
    Bring a pen. A flight attendant was a total bitch to me one time because I asked to borrow a pen. Ahahaha. But seriously: aisle seat, lots of yummy snacks, water, good book. Lock down those 4 things and you'll be all good.
    Report Reply
  • SunshineBaby26SunshineBaby26 member
    Great advice! Thank you for posting this. I am flying in two weeks as well and never even thought about how uncomfortable it might be.
    Report Reply
  • katyschaferkatyschafer member
    Thank you so much everyone. I took your advice and called the airline today and reserved seats for there and back to make sure I had an aisle seat. DH will have to sit in the middle seat if we want to sit together but I'm sure he'll survive. I will order compression socks tonight! I was already planning on bringing an empty water bottle to fill up once I get through security and a box of fiber one oat and chocolate bars for snacking. Can I also just say I am super excited to try the food on the flight? We're flying Turkish Air and they are supposed to have some of the best airplane food out there.
    Report Reply
  • somewhereinafricasomewhereinafrica member
    I just did two flights with Turkish one 8hours and
    Report Reply
  • katyschaferkatyschafer member
    @somewhereinafrica How were they?
    Report Reply
  • fricktion21fricktion21 member
    Definitely get compression socks, my doctor told me it wasn't safe to fly without them! I just did a 4 hour flight at 24 weeks and my back hurt so bad it made me nauseous. Nothing seemed to help. Maybe try to find a pillow to put in the small of your back to avoid that situation as I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone!
    Report Reply
  • cawalpcawalp member
    All of the advice above, plus make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before. I just flew a 9 hours worth of flights with 3 hours of layovers and I only got about 2 hours of sleep the night before (not from lack of trying, I laid in bed with no lights or phone for about 4 hours before falling asleep) and it was the most miserable day I've had in a long time. I couldn't get comfortable on the flight and my ribs hurt the entire time from leaning over to try to fall asleep. Also, bring a variety of snacks. I only brought the granola bars that I eat basically every day and for some reason that day I wanted nothing to do with them. Good luck on your flight, and hope you enjoy wherever you're going.
    Report Reply
  • satindawl83satindawl83 member
    I just flew a four hour at 29 weeks (lurking from December), and bought a pillow for the small of my back since that's been my main source of pain when sitting for long periods of time. I bought it at the airport and it was by the neck pillows, but I'd buy it before you get to the airport since they mark everything up.

    I didn't do the compression socks, but did select an aisle seat. I'm weird about getting up and walking up and down the aisles, so I chose one towards the back and would go to the restroom and stretch out a bit.
    Report Reply
  • loveymayloveymay member
    Lurker from April

    I haven't flown pregnant, nor will I because I get terrible motion sickness and eat Dramamine like candy. I can only imagine the horror of combined motion sickness and morning sickness, eek!

    I flew to Australia this summer, it was a 17 hour nonstop flight. It.was.brutal! My only advice for long flights is to choose an aisle seat AND choose exit row seats! We bought our tickets about 6 months in advance and reserved aisle seats in an exit row, and let me tell you it was like first class!! Exit row seats have so much leg room, we could completely stretch out. It was still long and miserable, but definitely make sure you get up often and stretch. I second the compression hose and also bring lots of snacks and buy a big bottle of water to bring on the plane. Ask the attendants to refill it for you. Good luck and enjoy your trip!!
    Report Reply
  • katyschaferkatyschafer member
    Compression socks have been ordered!
    Report Reply
  • AchaeAchae member
    loveymay said:
    Lurker from April I haven't flown pregnant, nor will I because I get terrible motion sickness and eat Dramamine like candy. I can only imagine the horror of combined motion sickness and morning sickness, eek! I flew to Australia this summer, it was a 17 hour nonstop flight. It.was.brutal! My only advice for long flights is to choose an aisle seat AND choose exit row seats! We bought our tickets about 6 months in advance and reserved aisle seats in an exit row, and let me tell you it was like first class!! Exit row seats have so much leg room, we could completely stretch out. It was still long and miserable, but definitely make sure you get up often and stretch. I second the compression hose and also bring lots of snacks and buy a big bottle of water to bring on the plane. Ask the attendants to refill it for you. Good luck and enjoy your trip!!
    I'd be shocked if the air stewards allowed a visibly pregnant woman be in the exit aisle. At least for people with kids they won't let you sit there.
    Report Reply
  • HelBellesHelBelles member
    edited September 2015
    I am glad I found this, next Saturday I'm flying from UK to Hong Kong which is a total of 18 hours travelling. I will be 23 weeks then. Everyone I have mentioned it to including midwives have said it will be fine but no one has said about these socks! What are they? What do they do?
    I am pretty small still so hopefully not going to be too uncomfortable although I do suffer with my back!
    Fingers crossed I get through it [-O<
    Report Reply
  • kmo8986kmo8986 member
    loveymay said:

    Lurker from April

    I haven't flown pregnant, nor will I because I get terrible motion sickness and eat Dramamine like candy. I can only imagine the horror of combined motion sickness and morning sickness, eek!

    I flew to Australia this summer, it was a 17 hour nonstop flight. It.was.brutal! My only advice for long flights is to choose an aisle seat AND choose exit row seats! We bought our tickets about 6 months in advance and reserved aisle seats in an exit row, and let me tell you it was like first class!! Exit row seats have so much leg room, we could completely stretch out. It was still long and miserable, but definitely make sure you get up often and stretch. I second the compression hose and also bring lots of snacks and buy a big bottle of water to bring on the plane. Ask the attendants to refill it for you. Good luck and enjoy your trip!!

    Yea you definitely can't sit in the exit row pregnant. They will give you the boot real quick.
    Report Reply
  • krrpe99krrpe99 member
    Ditto what everyone has said about snacks, water, and compression hose. I flew at 22 weeks, so I wasn't as big. But I would wear clothes that make it obvious that you're pregnant. People tend to be more friendly, understanding, and accommodating.
    Report Reply
  • loveymayloveymay member
    We sat in the middle row, behind the bathroom. There were 3 seats on each side next to the exits, and 4 seats across in the middle. We in the middle row were not given the "can you assist in an emergency" speech like the people sitting on the side rows, but we still benefitted from the extra leg room.
    Report Reply
  • katyschaferkatyschafer member
    What about airport security? Can I go through the machines like everyone else or do I need to get a pat down?
    Report Reply
  • kmo8986kmo8986 member
    @katyschafer you can go through like normal. I am flying this weekend (for the 2nd time this pregnancy, and I flew 3 times with my last) I asked my OB and they said it was fine
    Report Reply
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"