Advice on long haul flights at 35 weeks

[Ruth96]

For unforeseen circumstances we are having to travel to Australia from uk. The flight out there I'm not so worried about because I'll be 31 weeks pregnant however flying back I'll be 35.

Just wanted to know if anyone else had done something similar. If so how did you cope?

Was it hard to get a fit to fly?

What happens if you go into labour on the plane?

What advice did your midwife and gp give?

Mine is currently researching answers. I am just worried it's going to be left to long as I fly in a short amount of time and do not know what to expect.

I’ll be honest even if one of my parents was on their deathbed I wouldn’t go. I couldn’t risk it.
I do hope things work out for OP and that baby stays put and is well but really I don’t think it’s a good idea at all x

**The risks to both of you flying long haul at that stage are huge. Risk of blood clots etc.

I think you are completely bonkers to consider going. It’s selfish and short sighted. Think about your unborn child. There is no reason more important than their well-being that could require a trip to Australia.**

^This.

What on earth is more important than your unborn baby?

There is no way I would have risked one of my three babies at this stage of pregnancy for anyone or anything on any flight never mind this length. I flew back from Canada at 27 weeks and in the throes of a nasty UTI. It was an awful experience.

I turned down attending a close family wedding which was in this country (5 hour drive) at 38 weeks pregnant because of the risks. I know this isn't about a wedding op but I'm just trying to show you how other people think carefully and make sacrifices.

There isn't anything that would make me fly to the other side of the world while heavily pregnant.

Be careful. Travel insurance will only cover pregnancy complications, not a normal birth. So you might only be covered if your baby needs to stay in hospital - from 34 weeks it’s quite normal for babies not to need that. So if it takes a few weeks to sort out the baby’s birth certificate / passport / travel documents you will be on your own in terms of travel and hotel costs.

Maybe we should assume this trip is for something like a parent about to die soon. Which is pretty much the main thing that would be a "must do if at all possible"
In which case it does need to be weighed up whether one can go or not and if risk is worth taking (versus a funeral maybe or a wedding)

Ok so I feel like this post has become quite sour.

I have been called, naive, selfish, not ready to become a mum and other things.

I didn't ask for your opinion if I should go or not. I'm not flying to the other side of the world at 35 weeks I'll be flying home.

I got advised to come on here by a friend to see what other people did when they flew long haul. Lucky I have had s few responses with great advice and who has done this trip or similar.

On the flip side I am glad that I am thick skinned. For those of you who have become quite abusive and a key board worrier that is jumping to conclusions on why I'm going. Saying nothing would ever make you go. Well I'm.glad your not me and being made to make this decision.

I really hope in the future you think before you start calling people names. The impact it can have on people.

Think of it from my point of view, looking for some. Advice on how to manage the trip and just getting abuse back saying I dont care about my un born child.

The next time I post on here will be to tell you when I arrive back safe to the uk.

Once again thank you for the great advice I have received from the few people that actually have knowledge or experience.

Hope you have a great Christmas 😁

Point proven.

I hope it all goes as well as it can for you and have a lovely Christmas yourself. I'm sorry that something has happened that means you need to go there.

I really hope all goes well for you. But please please make sure you take out a travel insurance policy that will cover all eventualities (giving birth in Australia/in random country on way there or back/having complications that mean you need to stay there to give birth) so that you don’t end up bankrupt. And take advice as to whether you should take heparin injections.

I’m definitely a key board ‘worrier’
All I can think of is something like a cord prolapse halfway through the flight for example it’s giving me such anxiety just reading this thread

Sorry to jump in but I have a prebooked holiday to The Canary Islands, flying back at 33 weeks. I get the insurance side of things but just wondered are people so outraged due to the length of flight?
I have been wondering whether to cancel, it's obviously a much shorter journey.
Any opinions?

I'm a GP, we don't write fit to fly letters as we're not insured to. I'd give you a factual letter only. You may need to see a private travel dr for the letter

I flew at 31 weeks so not quite as late as you. Wear flight socks, lots and lots of water and regularly walk up and down the aisle. Tbh I drunk that much water I was constantly getting up to go to the toilet .

So many good points raised on the thread. I too would be giving this serious second thoughts.
You seem determined though OP so just research all of the points thoroughly andai wish you all the best.

@Ruth96 you're asking advice about doing something very risky- potentially life threatening- on a public forum. Of course people are going to tell you it's a bad idea. However, I'm sure we all wish you genuinely well and hope it goes without problems for you.

I’m not flying to the other side of the world at 35 weeks I’ll be flying home

Um....still flying to the other side of the world though.

I’d also want to spare a thought for everyone else on the plane - and their connecting flights, commitments etc - if you did go into labour and it had to divert somewhere random.

@Ruth96 your opening post asks;

*‘What happens if you go into labour on the plane?

What advice did your midwife and gp give? ’*

And you’ve got those exact answers on this thread from an airline pilot and a GP. But you don’t like the answers.

Your primary concern seems to be that you want a ‘fit to fly’ certificate, but the GP has told you that GPs won’t give you a fit to fly certificate because no one wants to guarantee that you are good to fly so far at such a late stage - it’s a risky business guaranteeing anything like that. The airline pilot (me) has told you that if you become a medical emergency we will drop you off at the nearest place that will take you if we are advised to by the company doctor. You won’t get a say in it. And if that is somewhere like Turkey or Indonesia or a tiny island in the South Pacific that is where we’ll drop you because we would rather drop you in a remote place with a hospital than be sued for carrying on the flight with you or your baby in medical distress. I’m not sure what you want us to say. You say you want reassurance from someone who’s done the trip but it’s not there.

I have book an appointment the other side. My auntie is a CEO of a medical centre. Which is what we would call a hospital over here.

Very confused. Australian healthcare professional here who also worked many years in the UK. An Australian medical centre is not even remotely close to a hospital in the UK, or indeed a hospital in Australia. You say you are coming ‘home’ to Australia so I would think you would know exactly what a medical centre here is yet you don’t seem to?

I would think you may get a fit to fly out but will really struggle to get one back. You may get an appointment easily but getting a note may not be easy.

This all sounds very odd for a whole host of reasons and I think you are being quite naive as to the simplicity but wish you all the best.

I'm flying home from Australia back to the uk. I'm just going off the information my auntie has given me on the health care in Australia.

Have the baby first you can go in two months time with newborn . Then you know if everything ok or not. No one has to fly .

I flew from Cairo to LHR at 35 weeks 6 days, the cut off was 36 weeks . The airline did ask for my certificate from my doctor, and there was some discussion among the staff, but they did allow me on the plane.
I was fine. Uneventful flight, but it was only 5 hours. I am not sure how I would have handled a long haul flight.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

Hi Op,

I’ve flown short haul at 34 weeks. It changed babies movements - I found she moved a lot with changes in air pressure and was very glad of my aisle seat, so I could stretch and walk around.

I wouldn’t have been comfortable on a longer flight. However, to answer your question re advice. Do triple check your insurance - while I understand you are saying your comfortable to give birth in Australia. The plane will divert to the nearest countries airport should it need to. Have you documents ready should it not be as simple as the UK or OZ?

The tip re internal transfers in the airport is a good one. Long distances and walking quickly at 35 weeks is not much fun!

In terms of fit to fly, your midwife can also give you the letters. Have you tipple checked that all of your connections need the same form? Some airlines have their own documentation process! I’d advise carrying copies.

Wear lots of layers, carry water and snacks and I’d bring a pillow to sit on, as well as compression socks. Honestly, even if you can do it safely, you will not be comfortable on your return flight so think about how you will manage this. What helps you at home to distract yourself? Keep yourself calm? Heat packs? Music etc?

I know it seems that people are being unkind - but very few people I know would do that sort of journey at that stage. There are health risks for you and baby in doing so. Make sure you travel with all of your maternity notes in hand luggage - and have anything that could impact your care very clearly highlighted (Ie. Allergies etc.).

Wow some very judgemental mums but hey ho. I would definitely fly if family members were critically ill. Anything can go wrong anytime whether I'm at home or on a plane. No point living life worrying about the what ifs when the chances are so slim. Anyway I hope all went well x

How did it go OP? Do you you have any advice for any others needing to fly longhaul in late pregnancy?