Flying while Pregnant

lil.smartie

Flew loads, inc long haul at 35 weeks insurance & airline fine. Air France allow (well 5 yrs ago) up to 38 weeks. All OK'd with midwife too.

Kate

Girlzmum

I returned from a 2 week holiday in USA yesterday and I turn 24 weeks pregnant tomorrow. All fine with both me and baby, who seemed to use the holiday as a chance to expand and I now look very pregnant (had no bump 2 weeks ago!)

I did make sure my pregnancy was covered by travel insurance - checked the fine print and it said it covered for emergencies but not for routine appointments. I also got a letter from my GP to cover both my pregnancy and gestational diabetes (I needed to bring insulin and needles in carry on luggage), because of the diabetes I wasn't able to wear the compression stockings but I haven't had any swelling so its been ok.

emg

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Just to add to the not scaremongering brigade, check the insurance should you give birth abroad.

There was a case recently where the woman gave birth (I think) about 32 weeks, and although the treatment relating to the birth was given free due to her having the european medical card, the baby need to be flown home by specialist air ambulance.

Of course they didn't have insurance and were trying to (effectively) beg for donations to pay the £12K cost.

Yes, I heard this couple being interviewed on Radio 4. She had given birth at 28 weeks despite getting the all clear from her midwife the day before she flew. They had been in Spain for weeks and weeks and were unsure how long it would go on for. They couldnt leave until the baby did and they didnt have cover or funds to fly the baby home. They were struggling to afford their accomodation too.

The experts basically said what people on this thread are saying, ring your travel insurance company and check they cover you and the baby, including bringing you both home by air ambulance if required.

lil.smartie

My daughter flew home with me at 3 weeks old, from the US, on our scheduled flights after being born 5 weeks premie.... Insurance just had us both get a check before we flew.

Kate

loracan1

VK-2008 wrote: »

What is peoples opinions of flying while pregnant?
Has anyone flown while pregnant?

Im intrigued to know after a conversation i had with a nurse today

The OP's had numerous responses and yet we still don't know what this nurse said!

valk_scot

loracan1 wrote: »

The OP's had numerous responses and yet we still don't know what this nurse said!

The OP referred to it in post #25

duchy

VK-2008 wrote: »

lots of points
thanks girls!
talked about flying to florida which is long haul for october time however im not preggers yet was just discussing and things
they mentioned the whole what if you miscarry when abroad, would you be covered by insurance, would you consider short haul like spain/france, and also premature birth etc which is kind of what all have mentioned
dont quite know how it all works with travel insurance, ill need to phone mind to check where i stand with being preggers - would i be covered, will it cost extra, if i need to cancel if i cant fly. also need to check does it make a difference if you are trying for child or become pregnant before holiday booked. or will they only cover if you book then become pregnant.
loads of questions my insurance company will love me tomorrow

The nurse sounds a bit of an idiot-Florida has excellent hospitals (as you'd expect in America) often better equipped than here.

If you are going to miscarry away from home -it'd be equally hard whether you were 800 miles or 3,000 the only main difference is the US hospitals would have English speaking nurses which would probably be one less pressure

Pregnancy is a pre-existing condition -eg you need to have taken out cover before you fall pregnant but these's no problem in normal "trying" (might be an issue if you are taking fertility drugs though) with taking out a policy.

If you booked a holiday and then fell pregnant-provided you aren't travelling against doctor's advice and aren't more than 30 weeks (varies a bit airline to airline exactly how many weeks) then you'd be covered -or if medical advice said don't fly your cancellation cover for the insurance would cover you. You just need to check your particular policy covers pregnancy.

If you found you were expecting twins (or more !!) your doctor would probably advise you not to travel from an earlier date.

I didn't find flying whilst pregnant any issue at all -like most women -but there will always be people with other views (like most aspects of pregnancy) so basically follow the first rule of pregnancy -If it feels rights for you -do it-if you have doubts-don't !

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Unless there is specific medical advice to the contrary, there is no reason not to fly at any point until the airlines' own cutoff points.

Used to work in travel insurance, for my sins. Due to the expense of dealing with mid flight births and so on, they were very careful to research the risks to both woman and child before deciding what to cover and what to exclude.

anyhow, lots of study showed that a healthy pregnancy is low risk. So until the airlines say 'no way' or a consultant obstetrician says 'no, there is a specific medical condition that makes her unfit to fly safely', then there's no reason not to.

duchy

I used to handle repatriating people with medical issues for some of the holiday insurance companies. One thing I learned was that if flying late the changes in pressurization can bring on labour so never try and get around the dates set by the airlines. I had one client - flew to Benidorm at 8 months pregnant with twins. She went into labour almost as soon as she landed and we ended up flying out a nurse with a portable incubator to bring Mum and babies home. Why the heck she wanted to go on a beach holiday at 8 months in August when it was stinking hot anyway -totally baffled me.

rachbc

I flew every 2 weeks with my preg with DS up til 36 weeks