Flying and pregnancy

[tzechuk]

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.

And this is how controversies begin.

You see, from what I've read and been told, first trimester miscarriage isn't something that can be prevented - well yes, OK. If you get hit on the tummy or if you have a particularly traumatic experience, physically or emotionally, then sure, you can have a miscarriage that way. But most first tri. miscarriages occur naturally and I really don't believe that flying is going to cause you to lose your baby IF you are really meant to have him/her.

Except, of course, as you said - high risk pregnancies should avoid it. But they should avoid most things anyhow.

 

[annahk]

Exactly, like I said above - it's not that the flight will cause m/c, it's that if one is going to happen anyway, doctors are concerned that not ebing at homw wnd with familiar facilities/doctors etc. just increases the stress.

 

[tzechuk]

But that's the thing - whether you are stressed or not makes no difference.

My own dad died when I was 11 weeks along. That in itself was stressful enough. I had/have a demanding job that meant that I could only get away for 4 days max. So within 4 days, I flew from Incheon, South Korea to London Heathrow (13 hours non-stop), then another 3 hours up North to home.

So if stress was meant to cause miscarriage or to contribute towards it, I think a lot of women would have a miscarriage.

What I am saying is that stressed or not - if it's going to happen, it will. Flying and stress won't cause it to happen.

At least that is what I believe in.

 

[annahk]

The stress is NOTHING to do with causing the miscarriage; it is that the doctors do not want to make it any more traumatic than it has to be, if it is going to happen anyway. They are referring to the stress of dealing with the miscarriage AFTER it has happened; whether you have surgery or let it happen by itself, it is stressful and can be very traumatic for many women. Therefore, their point is that if you are going to have to go through this, it is that bit tougher on women who are in an alien environment (having to find a new hospital, new doctor etc.). i.e. they are not advising against travel or flying per se, just cautioning that if something is going to go wrong, it will and it is easier to cope in an environment and with people with whom you are familiar.