Travel and pregnant

MissyT40

Please can anyone give me any advice on the following: I am due to go to Spain in a few weeks time (girly long weekend) and will be 7 months pregnant. Is it safe to travel at this time in pregnancy and has anyone done so?

Flight is paid for and cant get refund. Accommodation booked but not paid for. Where do I stand regards travel insurance?

Should I stay or should I go? dont want to be a party pooper

_party_

lesleystrawson

Can't quite remember the rules on flight when in your 3rd trimester. Your best bet is a day or so before you go, get a check up by a doctor who is willing to give you a 'safe to fly' note, that you can produce if the airline at check-in queries whether you should fly with them, and also to help with travel insurance.

maggie1976

It all depends on the airline I believe. Some will let you travel up to 32 weeks pregant, some need a note from your doctor etc. Have a word with the airline concerned and if they need a note then you'll need speak to your GP.

Your travel insurance policy will probably have some 'small print' somewhere about pregnancy so dig that out and see what you can find too.

MissyT40

Thanks, I will check all these out.

Twinkle_Mitchell

I was told the cut off without a safe to travel certificate was 28 weeks - but as you say, insurance may also be a problem as some firms will not insure very pregnant ladies.

divadee

Make sure you see the dr as said above, and double check everything with the airline. You dont want to get there and find you cant go how bad would that be.


Also make sure you have your E111 form from teh post office, as that covers some (not all) medical bills.

$17mma

I travelled right up to 32 weeks on long haul flights and had no problems at all, although this may be different for others. However walk with your green notes (are they still green?) doctors numbers and dont leave home without insurance.

CharleneUK

I wasn't able to fly after 28 weeks.

Hope you get your holiday, how lovely, just before baby arrives!

jamesebaker

Here is the abstract of an article published in the british journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, thought it may be of use:


J Obstet Gynaecol. 2004 Nov;24(8):859-62.

Thromboembolic disease and air travel in pregnancy: a survey of advice given by
obstetricians.

Voss M, Cole R, Moriarty T, Pathak M, Iskaros J, Rodeck C.

University College London Hospitals, London. UK.

The objective of this study was to document the awareness of risk and the nature
of advice given by obstetricians to pregnant women who intend to travel by air
and to compare the results with the advice given in an opinion paper of the
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The results were based on a
self-completed questionnaire. All registered members of the Royal College of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists comprising 1349 individuals, obtained from a
list provided by the RCOG, were invited to participate. An anonymous postal
questionnaire was completed by the individuals before publication of the opinion
paper of the RCOG. A total of 862 (62%) questionnaires returned, and 690 (51%)
were available for analysis; 67% of obstetricians regard flying as being safe
throughout pregnancy, 33% only in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. Nearly all
obstetricians advised on simple prophylactic measures such as mobilisation,
fluid intake and leg exercise. Fifty-three per cent would advise the use of
prophylactic aspirin (75 mg), 49% the use of compression stockings; 4%
recommended heparinisation; 44% believed this advice to be applicable only for
the 2nd and 3rd trimester, while the RCOG emphasises that the risk of developing
venous thromboembolism begins in the 1st trimester. Obstetricians as well as
other health professionals need to be made aware that advice on air travel in
pregnancy needs to start in the 1st trimester. Further research is needed to
explore the relevance of the duration of flight when considering the application
of thromboprophylactic measures as well as the value and choice of
pharmacological treatment such as aspirin and heparin.

PMID: 16147636 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

$17mma

jamesebaker wrote:

Here is the abstract of an article published in the british journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, thought it may be of use:


J Obstet Gynaecol. 2004 Nov;24(8):859-62.

Thromboembolic disease and air travel in pregnancy: a survey of advice given by
obstetricians.

Voss M, Cole R, Moriarty T, Pathak M, Iskaros J, Rodeck C.

University College London Hospitals, London. UK.

The objective of this study was to document the awareness of risk and the nature
of advice given by obstetricians to pregnant women who intend to travel by air
and to compare the results with the advice given in an opinion paper of the
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The results were based on a
self-completed questionnaire. All registered members of the Royal College of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists comprising 1349 individuals, obtained from a
list provided by the RCOG, were invited to participate. An anonymous postal
questionnaire was completed by the individuals before publication of the opinion
paper of the RCOG. A total of 862 (62%) questionnaires returned, and 690 (51%)
were available for analysis; 67% of obstetricians regard flying as being safe
throughout pregnancy, 33% only in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. Nearly all
obstetricians advised on simple prophylactic measures such as mobilisation,
fluid intake and leg exercise. Fifty-three per cent would advise the use of
prophylactic aspirin (75 mg), 49% the use of compression stockings; 4%
recommended heparinisation; 44% believed this advice to be applicable only for
the 2nd and 3rd trimester, while the RCOG emphasises that the risk of developing
venous thromboembolism begins in the 1st trimester. Obstetricians as well as
other health professionals need to be made aware that advice on air travel in
pregnancy needs to start in the 1st trimester. Further research is needed to
explore the relevance of the duration of flight when considering the application
of thromboprophylactic measures as well as the value and choice of
pharmacological treatment such as aspirin and heparin.

PMID: 16147636 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

:rolleyes: she has probably had the baby already.