Air travel during pregnancy: Safety tips and what to expect
Are you thinking of travelling abroad during pregnancy? Find out ways to keep safe and protected when travelling and how airline policies can affect your decision on when and where to go
Jetting off for a babymoon or a family holiday before you give birth? Holidaying with a bump is always going to be a little different.
Throw in being pregnant and travelling with a toddler and you're really in for an adventure! Though you can forget the sangria and mimosas, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy one final jaunt before your baby arrives.
You might be wondering can you fly in your first trimester or more specifically, can you fly at 8 months pregnant? How safe is it to fly during pregnancy?
Follow our essential tips to make it safe and stress-free from the moment you book your break and discover what you need to check and bring with you on your travels.
Is it safe to fly during pregnancy?
Getting away is a great thing to do when you’re expecting. It’s a chance to reflect on your pre-pregnancy life and to look forward to becoming a mum. And with a little pre-departure planning, you’ll return relaxed and ready to embark on the biggest journey of all.
Generally speaking, it's safe to travel during pregnancy and you can do so as far into your pregnancy as you desire as long as you have no pregnancy problems and depending on the airline. We recommend notifying your GP and midwife about your travel plans in advance so you can make an informed decision about how safe it is for you to travel during your pregnancy.
The distance of your flight, and any current or previous pregnancy complications such as a history of miscarriage, preeclampsia and high blood pressure are a few things that might disqualify you from flying while pregnant.
It almost goes without saying that you will certainly need to have travel insurance in place and make sure that you're covered for any pregnancy-related eventualities. You'll want to make sure that your place of destination has adequate medical resources should you need medical care when you're on holiday or experience pre-term labour.
You never know when you might need them, so always have your notes handy. Pop them in your hand luggage so if you need to see a doctor while you’re away, your notes will contain important information about your pregnancy.
When is the best time to travel by air during pregnancy?
You’ll need to undergo important tests and scans in your first trimester, so many expectant mamas prefer to stay grounded during their first 12 weeks.
Morning sickness and exhaustion can also take their toll, but symptoms usually begin to ease once you reach week 14 or 15, so your second trimester is often the most pleasant time to travel.
On the flip side, travelling towards the end of pregnancy could be cumbersome as you'll be feeling tired and may have aches and pains. So the sweet spot for flying whilst pregnant is around 4-6 months.
Airline policies for pregnant travellers
Airlines have different policies on letting pregnant women fly, some will not carry a woman in her 35th or 36th week. So you must check with your airline before purchasing your plane ticket and let the airline know when you book.
You might be feeling fine, but from 28 weeks most airlines require written confirmation from your doctor or midwife that you’re – what they call – fit to fly. Some airlines won’t allow you to fly at 34 weeks or over, although some will allow you to travel up to the end of your 36th week, provided you’ve had no complications. If you’re having twins, most airlines won’t allow you to fly past your 32nd week.
How to stay comfortable and safe during a flight
Fasten your seatbelt
During your flight, keep your seatbelt buckled when you're seated. You can secure it under your tummy to keep you safe and comfortable.
Drink plenty of fluids
Stay hydrated, keep moving your legs and take regular walks around the plane. This is easier if you can book an aisle seat, or ask a fellow traveller if they wouldn’t mind swapping seats with you.
Constipation is a common complaint among mums-to-be and can be worse when you fly due to dehydration. It’s best to skip the peanuts and snack on fresh fruit instead, which is full of fibre and has a high natural water content. It’s a good idea to take pregnancy-friendly probiotics to aid digestion.
Pregnancy-friendly probiotics available here:
Avoid blood clots
Your blood gets more ‘sticky’ when you’re pregnant so your chance of having a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a blood clot increases. It's easy to get dehydrated on a plane and because you don’t move your legs very much (especially on long flights) this can be a risk if you’re pregnant. Compression stockings can be a good idea to wear before boarding although they’re not enough to fully prevent DVT.
Compression socks available here:
What to check before you travel
Remember that flying during pregnancy isn't harmful to you or your baby. As long as you put the precautions in place, feel comfortable and are fit to fly then we encourage you to have a great time away before baby comes.
It is worth considering though, do you need to travel? If you're not travelling for work, could you perhaps pick a destination with a shorter flight?
As much as you can (and once you get the green light from your doctor) aim to book your holiday during your second trimester. The further along you are, the greater the risks.
Your overall health
We can't emphasise this enough, the quality of your pregnancy will affect whether you're able to travel by air or not.
Get the all-clear from your GP and midwife 4-6 weeks ahead of booking your flight if possible. They can assess your overall health and decide if you're fit to fly.
Don't forget to consider taking anti-sickness aids if you may feel nauseous during your travels.
Anti-nausea acupressure bands available here:
Travel vaccinations
Be sure to check if you need any vaccines ahead of your holiday to protect you and your unborn baby from infectious diseases. CDC Traveler's Health website offers guidance and up-to-date information on global health risks and you can check which vaccines you'll need for the country you're visiting.
Vaccines that use live bacteria or viruses are generally unsafe to receive during pregnancy but some are safe depending on whether the risk of infection outweighs taking the live vaccine.
It's advisable to speak with your GP and midwife to get the most up-to-date advice on which travel vaccinations to take during pregnancy.
Food and drink abroad
Before planning your travels, find out what foods and drinks are going to be safe where you're going.
Check if tap water is safe to drink and if it isn't, we suggest erring on the side of caution and only having bottled water whilst on holiday.
Airline policies
Always check that your airline allows you to travel especially if you're considering flying in your third trimester.
Once you're more than 27 weeks pregnant, you'll need to get either a signed doctor's note or an airline fit to fly form signed by your doctor or midwife.
Pics: Getty
Read more:
Authors
Janet is a Digital Journalist for MadeForMums and mother to a boy and girl both under 4. With a keen eye and passion for creating online media content, she enjoys sharing her own journey of motherhood, and providing encouragement for new mums.
Create the perfect wishlist for your baby with MyCrib
Are you expecting and don't know where to start? Discover how MyCrib can help you build your dream wishlist. You can add products from any site with just one click and even use MyCrib's buying assistant to help get you started.