Flying and pregnancy

C

Canucker

Registered User
Hi All,

I was hoping some people might be able to share their experiences about flying while pregnant.

My husband and I plan to go back to Canada in late July returning early August - I will be just be at the end of 31 weeks and will return before I am 35 weeks pregnant. I just checked out the Cathay website and they allow woment to fly with single pregnancies up to 36 weeks - provided they have a doctor's note.

But now I have friends filling my head with stories about how "their co-worker went to 2 doctors and they were not allowed to fly after 20 weeks and there is no way I will be allowed to fly" and "doctor's here won't let women fly."

I am 13 weeks along and have had no problems so far - not even morning sickness. Now I am aware things can change down the road, but if anything is going to get me worked up and stressed out it is not being allowed to fly home to see my family who I have not seen in a year. My husband and I booked our holidays before we got pregnant and have have booked a cottage where both sides of the family (from oppositie ends of the country) are meeting for 3 weeks.

Has anyone else flown in their 7th and 8th months? Are doctor's ok about giving permission to fly if you have had a "normal" pregnancy?

Thanks!
Hopefully stressed over nothing.... Canucker
 
why don't you ask your doctor here to give you a note that covers both directions. if as you say, you have had an uneventful pregnancy so far, then he should be able to accomodate that request.

just have the note saying that you have permission to fly between such and such dates. and that you are required to be back in HK by a certain date.

good luck!
 
Good Luck Canucker,

the problem is even though things are uneventful they can become so very quickly. I speak having just spent 4 nights in hospital at 28+ weeks. It may be that one way is fine, but you get stuck. As long as this isn't a problem then you will probably be able to get a doctors note. Remember by 31 weeks you will be on 2weekly antenatal appointments in case anything happens.

Hope you sort everything out.
 
My doctor allowed me to travel since the first day of my pregnancy. Though she did mention that IF anything goes wrong (which you cannot predict), I should see a doctor immediately. So we ended up not travelling for the first trimester (though we had an expensive vacation booked in Cape Town). Everybody tells me that one should avoid any heavy travel during the first and third trimester. Then again, it is your doctor who can judge better. Talk to him/her and get a note accordingly. Don't forget every pregnancy is unique.
 
I travelled through my pregnancy until my 32 week.
As I had no complications my doctor gave me a note no problem.

His only advice was, don't travel unless you are prepared to give birth at your destination should something go wrong.

Flying was fine, though more tiring and uncomfortable than usual towards the end.
I did notice that he kicked like crazy on descent. I guess he noticed all the pressure changes, which did make me a little nervous.
 
I travelled right through my pregnancy, each month til 36 weeks. You can check each airlines policy. I suggest having a doctor's note or evidence of how far along you are- otherwise they can say you 'look' further along and can't fly.

Travelling at that late stage gets uncomfortable. I could hardly move my stomach was so big!
 
I flew from LAX to HKG at 31 weeks. I had a Dr's note giving me permission but Cathay didn't even check it! Anyway, I was VERY uncomfortable even in business class - just FYI. You're just going to have to play it by ear until then however, see how the pregnancy goes and then you and your Dr can decide if it's a good idea.
 
Thanks everyone for the great advice.

You are all right, I will just have to see how I am down the road - if I have any complications at all I will not fly - but if I feel okay I hope the doctor gives me the okay as well.

The cottage we have rented for 3 weeks is about 45min -1 hour away from a hospital so if I did have trouble or go into early labour I would be prepared to give birth back in Canada.

I will chat with my doctor at my next appointment just so they know I hope to go back to Canada for 3 weeks.

Best,
Canucker
 
Hi Everyone,

I asked the RN at my appointment yesterday (24 weeks) about getting a note and she pushed me on to the DR who has told me to see the "Head of Obstetrics" at Queen Mary if I want the note.

Seriously.... no troubles so far. Have been told the baby is normal and have put on 5kg of weight so far. I know things can turn wrong very quickly and the DR's are probably being just cautious in waiting until I need the note. I'm just ticked "at the system" here and how overly cautious they are.

I talked with a friend back in Canada who flew to the US at 32 weeks and she said the airline's didn't question her at all. I just wanted to get a note in case anyone questions how far along I am. Oh well... will see what happens next month.l

Canucker
 
hi, i travelled back to australia at 36 weeks to have my baby. Cathay asked for a doc's cert but all it said was i was 36 weeks! So it all went fine.
 
jamesandsimo,

Thanks for letting me know that... I will look into getting a note that just says how far along I am in my pregnancy. I might not even need the note but thought it is better to be safe then sorry.

Canucker
 
yes, my note was from queen mary, all it said was i was pregnant and how far along i was / or when i was due, either one. they wouldn't do anything else for me. That was fine, it was just the check in staff asking how far along i was and if i had it from the docs.
 
I travelled to London & then to Madrid on my 30th month and all was ok, taking into consideration that i had low risk pregnancy. Please make sure that you have the necessary papers in case the airline checks. Furthermore, my OB also advice me to put a about 2-3 days rest day in between the flights...Seriously though in hindsight I should have stayed in Hong Kong during the advance stage of my pregnancy, I was so tired from the trip that my immune system was not that great when I came back, plus added pressure from work & jet lag made it even worse am not sure if this contributed to my delivering the baby 3 weeks early.!!.. If this trip is important and can't be postphoned then by all means go, just remember to bring necessary items and some doctor's contact where you're going just in case..

Have a nice trip!
 
I travelled to London & then to Madrid on my 30th month and all was ok, taking into consideration that i had low risk pregnancy. Please make sure that you have the necessary papers in case the airline checks. Furthermore, my OB also advice me to put about 2-3 days rest day in between the flights...Seriously though in hindsight I should have stayed in Hong Kong during the advance stage of my pregnancy, I was so tired from the trip that my immune system was not that great when I came back, plus added pressure from work & jet lag made it even worse am not sure if this contributed to my delivering the baby 3 weeks early.!!.. If this trip is important and can't be postphoned then by all means go, just remember to bring necessary items and some doctor's contact where you're going just in case..

Have a nice trip!
 
Canucker,

With my 2 experience, I travel intensively (every 2nd week) right through to the end and did not experience any difficulties. Nevertheless please bear in mind this really varies from everyone.

Most important thing is have a through check-up a week before your trip (requirement by airlines) to ensure you are fit to travel.

Good luck and enjoy pregnancy experience!
 
firsttimer and cmnd,

Thanks for the advice... up to this point my pregnany has been trouble free and nothing so far has come up to make me think I may have some trouble in the coming weeks. But if I start having trouble I will certainly cancel the trip.

I know the flight to Canada will be long and probably longer then usual being I will be pregnant this time, but once I arrive all I will be doing is staying in one city (and relazing) for 2 weeks until we fly back. We have also started looking into where the closest hospital/doctor will be if I have any trouble and I will take my pink medical book that I take to every appointment with me on the trip.

You both have really put my mind at ease... I was under the impression my request for a note saying how far along I was a FIRST at Queen Mary the way the nurse/doctor reacted. The nurse even wrote in my pink book how I was "pushing" for the note... but then again, she also told me 8-9 servings of fruit and vegetables a day is too much. Oh well.

Thanks again!
Canucker
 
Considerations

I was in a similar situation when offered an opportunity to fly to the United States from Hong Kong for some business meetings during my 31-32nd week. The temptation was that it would allow me to visit my family who I have not seen in almost a year and a half.

Consulted a few doctors and most young doctors would say NO PROBLEM. The one consideration from a doctor who really went into details that I would like to share with you:

For people who fly frequently, deep-vein thrombosis is an issue. Considering your veins are more swollen than someone who is NOT pregnant, the tendency of this occurence is at a higher risk. So long-haul flights are not recommended. If you choose to take such a flight, best advice is to not go for a direct flight, but transit after every few hours to allow you to walk-around to help alleviate such effect.

Hope this information is helpful in your decision making.

By the way, I have decided not to fly as I wanted to minimize the risk. As for my family, I have sent them videos and photos as well as held video conferences which really helped eased my feeling of not having the family involved in my pregnancy.
 
Ive travelled extensively all the way through my pregnancy and had no problems getting doctors notes or with airlines. Just made sure I wore those special tight flying socks, got an aisle seat and walked a little pre and post the flight. I was flying business though, not sure I would want to have done the long hauls in economy... However, I have to stop at 32 weeks for insurance purposes! Defintely check with your work or provider.
 
I am a little surprised to read the poster who said one shouldn't fly during the first and the third trimesters. I flew when I was just around 12 weeks from Seoul, South Korea, to London, UK to attend a funeral and I had no problem whatsoever!

I would be hesitant to fly in my third trimester but if there's a need or want for it, then why not?
 
tzechuk, I think the reason that some doctors advise against flying in the first trimester is because that is when there is greatest risk of miscarriage. It is not that the flight itself is likely to cause miscarriage, just that if it does happen , it can be more traumatic for a woman who is away from home, in an unfamiliar hospital, new doctor etc. etc. There are some high risk pregnancies when they advise against flying at any stage.
 
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