Is It Safe To Fly During Pregnancy?

One issue that many women face is whether or not it’s safe to fly while they’re pregnant. Everyone is different of course, so what might be safe for one may not be a good idea for the other, but generally speaking, during the second trimester is the most ideal time to fly. There are, however, other tidbits of information you should know and things you should do first before you start planning your next vacation.

Determine if It’s a Good Idea
If you’re a very anxious flier or you know you have certain medical conditions that could become a problem (such as high blood pressure), you might want to hold off on buying your plane ticket. You don’t want to risk there being an issue, especially when you’re thousands of feet up in the air.

Talk to Your Doctor
This is the absolute number one thing you should do when you’re thinking of taking a vacation. Your doctor is the one who knows your health and pregnancy, so they’re the best person to determine whether or not it’s safe. The most important thing, however, is to not go against your doctor’s orders if they say no; they’re saying it for the health of you and the baby.

Get a Note From Your Doctor
You don’t want any issues with the airline if you want to fly while you’re pregnant, so regardless of how far along you are, it’s best to get a note from your doctor saying that you’re able to fly. The information included on official letterhead would basically state that you’ve been recently examined, that you’re cleared to fly, and that it’s not anticipated that you’re going to go into labor during your trip.

Choose an Aisle Seat
You’re going to want to try and avoid edema, so getting an aisle seat can allow you to better stretch your legs and go for a walk back and forth when you desire. It’s also a great way to have easy access to the bathroom should you need it.

Check With the Airline
If you’re past 37 weeks, it’s typically not advised that you fly considering you could go into labor at any moment, but many airlines have a policy that women cannot fly without a doctor’s note if they are past a certain point in their pregnancy. It’s for this reason that you’ll want to check with the airline about what their specific policy is before you buy your ticket.

Plan in Advance
Wherever your destination, make sure you have a plan for how and where to get obstetric care should you need it during your trip. This isn’t to say anything will go wrong, but having a plan in place will likely make you feel a lot better. Also, have your medical records with you just in case.

If your doctor doesn’t give you the green light to fly or you end up deciding that you’d rather stay local or drive to your destination, all is not lost. There are numerous things you can do instead that don’t require you to get on a plane whether it’s staying at a fancy hotel nearby or going to a nearby city that you have yet to explore. Happy travels!