Traveling during pregnancy?

Question

Is it safe to travel abroad whilst being pregnant and if so, what stage of your pregnancy is safe?

Answer 1

I spent a bit of time researching this on the internet and with NHS direct. The general consensus is that the second trimester is best. (in the first you may be very tired and puking - the last you might be pretty heavy and knackerd) Some airlines won't carry you after (I think) 28 weeks without a doctors certificate. This is more for their own benefit than for yours or your babies though, although if you have a lot of fluid retention it will be aggravated by flying. First trimester is most risky for miscarriage whether you have one or not will not really be affected by traveling - but you might prefer to be in a countrywhere you feel confident of the medical care system. If you are going to a malarious area you should be particularly careful because it can be life threatening to you and your baby during pregnancy. However, there are malaria chemoprohalactics (check which ones with your doctor) which are safe for use during pregnancy as long as you take 5mg of folic acid with them. In the end I reckon its the same as a lot of things in pregnancy; you take all the information you can get and then decide what you feel comfortable with. There are a lot of parents on the lonely planet website who you could chat to about this who have quite a lot of collective experience.

Answer 2

If you are fit and well you can fly anywhere you like until you are about 26 weeks pregnant, after that most airlines will require a "fit to fly" letter signed by your Doctor. This letter needs to have been signed and dated as close to the time you fly as possible (Max 10 days). As long as you have had no problems in your pregnancy (bleeding, premature labour etc.) this should not be a problem. Most airlines (and they have the final say) are then happy to accept you up to 36 weeks of pregnancy. What you have to bear in mind is that if you have an event (bleeding for instance) while you are abroad you will be unable to fly probably until after the baby is born. Before flying you need to abstain from caffeine 48 hrs before the flight, drink plenty of clear fluids and take some excercise on the plane to reduce the risks of D.V.T. (Deep Vein Thrombosis). You should also consider wearing compression stockings during the flight for the same reason.

Answer 3

Flying is completly safe and will not affect or harm your baby in any way. The reason airlines don't accept passengers after 35 weeks is to avoid getting into a situation where they need to deliver a baby mid air!

Practically though it might be uncomfy for you (travelling by plane train or car for any length of time) as towards the later stages you feel uncomfortable in any position for a long time.

Its really up to yourself. You know your body and when you've had enough. I would also be wary of travelling abroad as your never sure what the health services would be like!

Answer 4

Be careful of the foods and water!

It's also best not to travel in your 3rd trimester...flying in an airplane can cause labor due to the pressure changes but another important reason why travel is being away from you DR. If you travel out of the country or even a couple hours away from home you are away from your OBGYN who knows you and your pregnancy. Also, if you're traveling abroad, you may go to a country where the medical system is not as good. They might not be able to effectively handle complications you may have.

Answer 5

Hi this isn't based on an official "medical" fact but from personal experience myself and also my niece (who is pregnant and we are going away in 4 weeks) Ive been told you are safe to travel after the 12 week danger point then you are ok to travel up until 8 weeks before your due date so basically travel is ok between 3 and 7 months pregnant, if in doubt always get checked with the doctor or midwife as some insurers on holidays ask for doctors note to travel, hope i was of some use, best wishes for the pregnancy, bcbookworm.

Answer 6

i think of it relies upon on the guy and the being pregnant. Pregnancies that have had a great variety of problems with something it probably does no longer be sturdy to commute at any element interior the being pregnant. If the being pregnant has been regular and not had something incorrect happen i think of the rule of thumb is give up traveling on the commencing off to midsection of the third trimester. Air commute has been unquestionably popular to set off hard artwork interior the midst of the third trimester that's definately something to rigidity approximately seeing as an plane won't be equiped nor does it have any medical doctors to grant a new child. i think of it could be completely superb in a typical being pregnant interior the 1st or 2nd trimesters nevertheless.

Answer 7

flying is not contraindicated in an uncomplicated pregnancy. In other words, providing the mother and her unborn child are in good health prior to take off, flying is unlikely to pose significant risks.

Many airlines do not permit pregnant ladies after 36 weeks gestation, so as to avoid an in-flight delivery.

Most of the studies on pregnancy and air travel have been done on female flight attendants. One study did show that there was a slight increase in miscarriage during the first third of pregnancy, but this was for the flight attendants who worked a greater number of hours, flying on average 74 hours per month.

Answer 8

you can travel at any stage during pregnancy but only the second trimester is safe for flying. however, it is not recommended to travel by ship/ferry during pregnancy if you suffer from "morning sickness" as this can make it worse. also, it depends where you are travelling to. some countries require you to have vaccinations that could harm the baby. however, it's always best to check with your doctor first because different women's circumstances might make it impossible to travel.

Answer 9

It is safe but like the other people said only in the first and second trimester. I believe that my doctor is grounding me at 35 weeks. After that I'm not alowed to be further than an hour away from my hospital. Though you should always talk to your doctor before you travel, especially over seas. If your pregnancy is high risk or anything they normally don't like you traveling.

Answer 10

I flew from Ohio to Mexico while five months pregnant and again at 8 months within the US and didn't have any problems. I guess as long as you don't have a high risk pregnancy and your doctor thinks that it is okay you can do it. However, it was very uncomfortable flying while 8 months pregnant. I am pregnant again and flew within the US at 3 1/2 months pregnant.