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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Flying whilst pregnant

28 replies

Frizz1986 · 28/11/2012 20:05

Hi everyone,

I am just doing a bit of research as myself and fiancé get married in April and want to start trying for a baby straight after our wedding.
I am aware that it may take some time to get pregnant, but we fly from London to Beijing 7 weeks after we marry (on honeymoon) and I am concerned that if we are lucky enough to get pregnant quickly is it still safe to fly?
I was hoping that some people who are already pregnant can give some advice as we would rather not postpone trying until after honeymoon as we know it can take up to a year to fall pregnant and neither of us want to waste time!

Thanks for any help.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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eltsihT · 28/11/2012 20:06

I am pretty sure you can fly up to 28 weeks pregnant with most airlines, and 32 with doctor note

lifesrichpageant · 28/11/2012 20:11

You'll be fine. I did long haul at 30 weeks and plenty of flights in between.

NulliusInBlurba · 28/11/2012 20:16

So you want to know if you would be OK to fly when up to 7 weeks pregnant? Yes, is the short answer. The only potential issue that might occur - and this is a comfort issue, not one of safety - is that should you conceive immediately and thus be around 7 weeks pregnant, you might well spend some of the flight throwing up in a very cramped loo (or into your sick bag), depending on if and when your morning sickness kicks in. But I wouldn't let the low risk of a bit of upchucking put me off.

mimmymouse · 28/11/2012 20:20

I flew up to 33 weeks. And, like NulliusInBlurba warned, I did fly when in the early stages of my first pregnancy and was horribly, horribly nauseous!! It was a long haul flight. However the nice air hostess gave me a whole stack of sick bags which I used for months. God bless her.

The upshot, you'll be fine. Good luck!!

Backinthebox · 28/11/2012 20:46

Here. That is all.

LittlemissChristmas · 28/11/2012 20:54

As others have said yes it's safe however please consider if you are lucky enough to fall pg straight away you may spend your honeymoon with exhaustion, nausea and sickness. Another thing to consider was if you did have any problems such as bleeding or cramps would you want to be in another country? Congratulations and good luck!!

forgetmenots · 28/11/2012 21:57

Just want to be the lone voice urging caution. I flew at 6 and at 8 weeks and I won't be doing so for the rest of my pregnancy. I've been really lucky with not many symptoms, and yet both times after the flights I had a tiny bit of brown/pink discharge in my knickers (sorry if tmi). I'm sure it's down to me being a nervous flier and the stress involved, but I felt so uneasy. Trust your instincts, if you feel ok you probably are.

KatAndKit · 29/11/2012 09:09

the discharge is common at that stage and is not caused by flying, or stress for that matter.

forgetmenots · 29/11/2012 10:27

I understand that - just from a personal perspective it only happened to me twice both immediately after flying which felt uncomfortable for me. Think it's all about trusting your own body. Not sure mine agrees with flying and my GP agrees (probably a huge over-precaution but will still be doing it).

Backinthebox · 29/11/2012 12:35

Forgetmenots, while I can sympathise with you being a bit uncomfortable about the whole thing, normal flying in a passenger aircraft will not cause spotting or even a miscarriage. Being in a small metal tube 6 miles up while you are having a problem WILL make you feel concerned, but it will not be the cause of it. I speak from an aviation and medical background. I wrote the post I linked to in order to try and clear up any confusion, and to prevent people from saying 'I had spotting on a flight and it was ALL THE AEROPLANE'S FAULT! In your case it was most likely an unfortunate coincidence. As someone else has said, spotting between 4 and 8 weeks is not uncommon at all.

KatAndKit · 29/11/2012 12:43

and obviously your GP will agree with you that you shouldn't fly. Not because it is dangerous, but because it makes you anxious and your GP doesn't want you to become a nervous wreck whilst pregnant. Nothing wrong with choosing not to do something because you are uncomfortable with it and prefer to avoid it, but to say your body "doesn't agree with flying" does make it sound like you think the flying can put pregnancy at risk. As backinthebox has said, this is absolutely not the case.

forgetmenots · 29/11/2012 13:25

No and I'm sorry, phrased it wrong - but as you've said, it's made me feel uncomfortable and stressed and the GP agrees. Anxiety brought on by flying is what I was referring to specifically when I said my body doesn't agree with it (and never has!) - my last flight was very unpleasant and after having taken years to enjoy flying I was back at square one.

I just wanted to let the op know that she should do what feels right - in RL I get people giving me loads of grief (really) about not flying because of how amazingly safe and fine it all is - that's fine, but bottom line is I'm not happy doing it any more and it's not really their business. Of course I'm not advocating anyone else avoiding it for no reason and I'm sorry if that is how it sounded. What I'm saying is that if you feel like you don't want to, or if you do, trust in your own body and instinct. I am (as are all the 100000s of women who make the opposite decision). If OP feels one way or the other she should go with her feelings.

ladymia · 29/11/2012 13:33

I always get scared to open threads like this because just as I convince myself flying when pregnant is OK someone will say something making me worry about it again.

I flew at 5 weeks (2 days before testing positive) I will be flying next week at 25 weeks (8 + 6 hours 1hr stop off) and flying back in jan at 30 weeks. my midwife is not worried about it and if she had a concern she would tell me. I had to go to the GP yesterday to get a letter that it's safe to fly. I very much doubt they would have told me to not worry if there was cause for concern.

I have had a problem free pregnancy, I have had NO symptoms except some food aversions and I am very comfortable flying it doesn't stress me out i have done it loads but I think it's an individual thing. You would have to see how the pregnancy is going first I would say?

forgetmenots · 29/11/2012 13:52

think you will absolutely fine lady as others have said its not unsafe and from my perspective the fact you're a very comfortable flier seals it. But you're right (and more eloquent than me )it's an individual thing. Sounds like you've made your decision and good on you. Hope the long flight is for pleasure not business!

forgetmenots · 29/11/2012 13:52

Apologies for dodgy typing (on phone!)

princesschick · 29/11/2012 14:14

I flew at 5 weeks and 10 weeks and have just had my 12 week scan today. Everything is tickety boo in there. I'll be flying to my parents at Xmas at 16 weeks too. NHS state that there are no problems flying in the first trimester apart from comfort and that the second trimester is the best time for holidays abroad. I must admit that I was really sick on the way out with MN at 10 weeks but after about half an hour and several sick bags later had a nap, then a sandwich and peppermint tea and felt fine. I wore flight socks and kept a bottle of water with me and made sure I wore really comfy clothes. I also got up to walk to the loo a couple of times. I really worried about flying because I've had 2 MCs previously and one was 2 days after a short flight but I've been told that the flight would have had nothing to do with it and I didn't fly when I had the second, so I'm sure that I was just unlucky.

Oh and there is a thread on here somewhere written by a pilot who flew when she was pregnant and rules say that pilots and cabin crew can fly up until 26 weeks pregnant (that's long haul too). That gave me a great deal of comfort that it must be ok.

Enjoy your honeymoon and good luck :)

ladymia · 29/11/2012 14:15

Oh no definitely pleasure! Escaping a month of UK winter weather to go somewhere warm can only be a pleasure .. thanks :)

princesschick · 29/11/2012 14:21

Ah Backinthebox I see you already commented and linked to your excellent thread that I mention above! Can I just say to you how grateful I am for your calm and eloquent explanations. They really put my mind at ease after my midwife told me that traveling by air in the first trimester isn't a "brilliant idea". We were baffled as she was contradicting the NHS website. And we didn't really know what she meant because she then went on to say keep hydrated, wear flight socks, wriggle your feet and move around (so, the advice that airlines give all of their passengers - pregnant or not!) We wondered whether she was talking about the comfort aspect for me but I didn't really want to probe any further as she had already spouted a load of other piffle too. Anyway, I told DH about your thread and he was happier afterwards too.

Backinthebox · 29/11/2012 14:37

Thank you Princesschick, for my first MN bunch of flowers. Glad to be of help! (Normally I have a blunt way of putting things that makes people want to post a rather than !)

StaceymReadyForNumber3 · 29/11/2012 14:38

I flew at 33 and 34 weeks in oct this year. I needed a doctors note but it was fine.

Good luck ttc.

SucksToBeMe · 29/11/2012 18:02

I'm flying to South America in Jan. I will be 19 weeks, I actually thought of backinthebox's post when I booked the tickets. It would put even the most cautious mum to be at ease. Just wish she was flying me there!!

DizzyDizzy · 29/11/2012 18:41

i read somewhere that they don't recommend flying before 12 weeks, or after 32 weeks (if multiple pregnancy) or 36 weeks (if single pregnancy). and if you do, make sure you wear flight socks, and keep walking around on the plane, to boost circulation xxx

Nicky1306 · 29/11/2012 19:00

I flew with dd at 14 weeks and about 20 From uk to Cyprus. Then with this pregnancy I have flown at 12 weeks and 14 weeks to Florida. No problems other than nausea with Dd1. Have a great time, don't forget your flight socks! x x

Original poster

Frizz1986 · 29/11/2012 19:25

Thanks for everyones advice.
It has really put my mind at ease to know that i shouldnt worry about waiting to start a family until after our honeymoon as on the off chance we get pregnant quickly it is mainly comfort reasons why you may not want to fly.
It will mean we can get started sooner rather than later and still enjoy our honeymoon. Would be lovely to be away in the early stages as there will be no need to hide it from people so we can really relax and enjoy ourselves as no one will know us.

OP posts:

CityDweller · 29/11/2012 19:27

I'm a pretty terrible flyer (usually take Xanax to calm me down) and have now flown four times since being pregnant - at 10, 18 and 22 weeks. First return flight (at 10 weeks) was a bit rough (I was nervous and felt a bit nauseous), flights at 18 and 22 weeks were much better, in terms of my nerves (and, of course, no nausea at that point either).

I felt perfectly comfortable (physically) on all the flights, had no repercussions (that I know of) and the only annoying thing was having to get up to wee every hour (on transatlantic flights at 18 and 22 wks).

The biggest issue for me was psychological and flying without drugs. Between my first flights at 10 weeks and the later ones I read a book that really helped - Fly Without Fear. I've had a pretty bad flying phobia for about 8 years now and that book has helped me believe I may finally be able to conquer it, without the help of drugs.

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