Pregnancy & Flying?

Icey77

Good Afternoon Peeps,

Can anyone advise the times I wouldn't be able to fly if I was pregnant?

DH and I want to start trying for a baby soon but have our honeymoon booked for the middle two weeks in September - we going to west coast USA, so the flights are long.

Obviously, we're not likely to fall preggers immediately (although it would be nice!) but I was hoping someone could advise, for instance, that I could fly reasonably comfortably in months 2-6?

Also, any other advice anyone can contribute will be very gratefully received :beer:

Many thanks!
Icey x

MODs - if you feel this is better suited to another thread please move, thanks!

Mojisola

Icey77 wrote: »

Obviously, we're not likely to fall preggers immediately (although it would be nice!) but I was hoping someone could advise, for instance, that I could fly reasonably comfortably in months 2-6?

I wouldn't be too sure of that. I've got two friends who fell pregnant in the first month of trying.

Pregnancy isn't always an easy time - there are a lot of potential problems and discomforts. Even if it was only piles and needing the loo every half hour, I don't think I'd want that on my honeymoon!

I_try

Flying at 2-6 months should be fine. I believe it's from about 36 weeks that they don't like it, more out of fear that you'll have it on the plane I think! At the later stages you can get quite uncomfortable in constricted positions/limited movement though.

As a small warning - I was pregnant within 6 weeks of stopping contraception.

peachyprice

It depends on the airline, some will want a doctors letter stating you are fit to fly from 28 weeks, many won't let you fly after 34-36 weeks at all unless it's an emergency incase you go into labour on the flight.

It's perfectly safe to fly in early pregnancy.

HTH

clearingout

not pleasant if you're feeling very sick which is highly possible in the early stages (never went away for me). And I suspect there are situations in which a doctor would advise you not to fly for the sake of the baby. I would suggest you have a good insurance policy which will cover the cost if you do find yourself pregnant and are unable to fly due to medical advice.

lovebargainshatewaste

AFAIK, all UK airlines require a doctor's letter after 28 weeks. No flying at all after 34 weeks, due to the possibility of giving birth onboard. Pregnancy with twins/triplets has different rules in regards to flying. Many doctors/midwives recommend no flying in the first couple of months of flying, although I cannot for the life of me remember the reasons why.

Flights to the West coast of the US are long, unfortunately, so if you have the opportunity to upgrade to more comfortable seats, I'd recommend you do. More space for you and tummy, as well as extra legroom, for your legs and excercises.

HTH, and good luck with the trying. I've heard that's the best bit :rotfl:

digitalphase

It's not obvious that you won't fall pregnant straight away, at all. People have been known to fall pregnant whilst on the pill, me being one of them. You could fall pregnant in the first month of trying, or it could take months. No way of knowing.

TBH I would wait to try for the baby after your honeymoon. Pregnancy varies a lot from person to person, and you have no way of predicting how you'll feel. For example I have had or have: 24/7 nausea, fatigue, depression, constipation, frequent weeing, gagging at random smells when I was first pregnant, heartburn, cramps.. Oh and most joyous of all - SPD which is otherwise known as pelvic girdle pain. Means I am constantly in pain. Though I got this from around 20 weeks. Varies again, from person to person.

I'm not trying to put you off at all, I know it all sounds doom and gloom, but I am so looking forward to having my little boy, and don't regret it at all. But I certainly wouldn't have wanted any of that whilst on honeymoon. Good luck

p_joker

I don't know if it was flying but I fell pregnant just before I got married, we had honeymoon to Canada all booked and I started bleeding on the plane and lost it, but as I say I don't know if it was flying or if it would have happened anyway :-(

Mojisola

It would be worth checking the price of medical insurance for the States if you travel while pregnant. As an MSE contributor, I'm sure you wouldn't want to start married life with a huge debt owing for medical treatment.

somethingsgottogive

Even if you're only a couple of months pregnant, there's always the chance of pregnancy related complications that could make a flight unbearable - and even something like bad morning (afternoon and evening) sickness would ruin your Honeymoon, wouldn't it? I don't mean to sound morbid, but the other thing I would worry about is something going wrong with the pregnancy while I was abroad, and wondering if it would have happened if I'd stayed home?

If it were me, I'd wait until afterwards!

Sammy_Girl

I flew to LA when I was 8 weeks pregnant without any problems. But make sure you move around on the plane, drink plenty of water, and be prepared for frequent loo trips! Also make sure that your insurance covers pregnancy.

Check your airline's website and see what their policy is on pregnancy travel as it does vary from airline to airline.