Flying in pregnancy

[Littlemissimpatient]

My gp has advised that I cancel my holiday to Spain in 2 weeks as she does not recommend I fly.
I will be 8 weeks and had 2 mc.
She advised flying can increase your risk of mc. So do I? I wouldn't want to go against gp advice and really don't want another mc but I've had a google and looked at my many books and found nothing else to suggest I should cancel. So what would you do?

I've just come back from Spain and am 8 weeks now. I just read you should stretch your legs out more but it should be okay. I don't know how that changes with you having MC previously though. you could always get a second opinion from a midwife or another Dr and decide then.

I had a late MMC with #DC1 last year and fell pregnant again and flew to New York (booked before I fell pregnant to cheer us up after the MC) when I was 9 weeks pregnant. Midwife assured me there was no risk to the baby even though I had miscarried before and told me to relax and enjoy my holiday! All was fine and I am 22 weeks with a healthy baby now. I'd be inclined to get a second opinion.

Can't believe your GP said that AFAIK there is no evidence for that at all.

There is an increased risk of blood clots so you should make sure you move around lots on the plane and drink plenty of water.

I had a miscarriage last year & am currently 8 weeks-ish with no 2 - have just had a discussion with my hospital consultant re: long-haul flight to New York in 2 weeks - her advice is TED stockings, plenty of fluids, aspirin (because of previous PE), stretching legs when I can.

There certainly wasn't anything said about flying increasing miscarriage risk.

My only concern is having to go through a MC abroad & checking insurance covers me.........

good luck with whatever you decide

I am surprised your GP has said that as I am super cautious and paranoid and really pressed mine and my midwife about flying (albeit at 19/20 weeks) and they have assured me its fine, just to wear flight asocks, keep moving and keep hydrated.

Why does she think it can increase the risk of mc? I would ask another doctor for a second opinion before cancelling.

Thanks all.
I want to go but not keen to go against gp advise and would never forgive myself if it caused a mc.

I don't think your GP is basing that advice on anything solid I've ever heard

yes flight crew are grounded when pregnant, only because flying EVERY WEEK = slightly higher radiation exposure.

the main risk is DVT

although if you are at a higher risk of MC you might want to consider the possibility of MCing abroad. I had a bleed abroad and the thought of leaving the remains behind in a different country was awful (turned out okay)

anyway I flew at 8, 16 and 22 weeks last pregnancy, and at 6 weeks this time, my GP was aware and no concerns voiced. I don't plan to fly for the rest of my pregnancy because having a scare abroad was somehow worse than having one at home. But that's a personal thing, it felt wrong to me to MC then "leave it behind" - not sure if that'll make sense to anyone else though??

I was going to say what monkeymoma said basically. I'd only consider what it's like mc'ing abroad. I had a mc in Cuba, but we were 3 hours from the nearest town and it was 5am when it started so no one around. We just dealt with it ourselves and didn't speak to a doctor or go to the hospital. I didn't know I was pg beforehand and never found out how far gone I was. It was very unpleasant, but possibly more so for my DP.

I had a very traumatic miscarriage 2 years ago and have needed support from my GP ever since. She encouraged me to fly to Australia at 18weeks pregnant and back again at 21 weeks which I did and am now approaching 39wks.

My understanding is that it depends why you are miscarrying as there are certain conditions which can cause recurrent miscarriages that are made worse by flying (e.g. if you have "sticky blood") However, if they don't know why you're miscarrying, then the advice is probably overcautious.

I flew to Singapore and australia return. Left at 8 weeks pregnant came back at 11 weeks pregnant. I'm nearly 31 weeks pregnant and typing this from Ibiza - flew yesterday. I think you need to do what your gut feeling says. Spain is short haul and I wore those flight socks from boots on both flights. Good luck x

I flew at 10 weeks, 17 weeks, 20 weeks, 32 weeks and yesterday at 36 weeks. I have not come across any literature that suggests this was not a good idea.
I agree, she is worried about a m/c while abroad.

Sorry, posted too soon.

And being alone and possibly unable to communicate, but I imagine most medical staff in tourist Spain speak English.

I had assisted conception to get pregnant with DD and got conflicting advice on going on holiday at 7 weeks pregnant. My clinic were happy for me to go as was my midwife, but a complementary medicine practitioner told me not to and my GP suggested I didnt go. In the end I went with the advice from the clinic and the midwife as they see more early pregnancys than the other two, and it was fine. You might want to get a second opinion, can you see a midwife or a private obstetrician for advice quickly. Definitely yes to the hideous flight socks and plenty of water.

I flew at something like 4, 10, 19, 21, 26/27 and would have flown at 36 had it been necessary. Never told not to.

Also flight staff are no longer routinely grounded when pregnant although they can request if and some airlines still have that policy.