Conflicting advice from doctor and MW

[PugOwner]

Hello, I wonder if anyone can advise. I am 18 weeks and going on a long haul flight on Saturday (first once since pg, so am a tiny bit nervous). A doctor friend who is also pg herself advised me to wear flight stockings and also take baby aspirin to prevent clotting, so I have bought these.

But when I saw my MW for my 16wk appointment on Friday, I asked her about this and she said she thought I should do neither thing and that "if I really HAVE to fly" then flight socks " do more harm than good". She said I should only wear them if they have been fitted professionally (which confused me as you just buy them off the shelf in Boots, so I'm not sure how a professional fitting comes into it...!)

I'm now not sure what to do. And also the way she talked about flying, as though it was a big risk, has made me even more nervous. Does anyone have any advice? It's a bit vexing to be given totally opposite advice by two medical professionals...

Thank you.

I would book an appointment with your GP and ask them to clarify the correct advice. Is there anything on a reliable website like the NHS about flying when pregnant?

I've asked two ob-gyns, as have a long haul trip coming up, and both said that flying is totally fine and yes, recommended flight socks.

I'd wear the socks they won't do any harm , don't start taking aspirin though without your doctor telling you.
I'm on aspirin for growth problems with my babies but that was prescribed by consultant.

I flew when I was 24 weeks and as there is a family history of clotting, my consultant recommended taking fragmin before and after flight (he acknowledged as it was a short flight there was no real risk, as risks tend to arise with long haul flight, but he sort of presented it as a 'belts and braces' approach due to the family history.

He also gave me flight socks to wear. He recommended I wear them the entire holiday (but to be honest we were in Spain it was high 90 degrees, I never tested positive for any of my family's clotting issues, and there was no way I was walking round in support stockings for a week!)

Obviously, my situation is different as I had a risk factor of clots (hence the fragmin) but the flight socks themselves were recommended as something that would help prevent clots, the consultant certainly didnt indicate they would do more harm than good (I find that an odd comment, if that was the case - why sell them?)

I agree with other posters, go to your GP and ask for their advice.

I'm on baby aspirin just now (due to risk of pre-eclampsia) but I wouldnt' recommend anyone takes it unless it's recommended by their own GP/consultant etc.

My OBGYN advised baby aspirin for two days before and after, but you are ok in just flight socks (I don't think I bothered with the baby asp anyway). Have done several long hauls when pregnant. It's safe. Just walk around every now and then and keep shifting your legs or do the exercises they explain in the flight magazines.
You may not want to go through the metal door way things they have you step through at security. My OB told me to request a manual search instead and I have done every time I have flown pregnant since, though airport staff have often reassured me they are safe. I think there is a difference between the metal detector ones and the x ray contraptions they use in the US, but I avoid both to be doubly safe. It is everyone's right by law to request a manual search anyway

Flew to Oz when 19 weeks pregnant (and back when 22 weeks). GP prescribed flight socks and I was very happy with them. Keep your legs moving and get up and down a lot (you're supposed to drink a lot on long haul flights too so getting up and down a lot won't be a problem :-)

The midwife advice does sound rather odd! Def go to see your GP.
My ob has told me to take baby aspirin for two days before, flight day and day after, and wear flight socks. Also said to drink plenty and move about...luckily the driving plenty and being pregnant means having to get up to go to the loo anyway!

Definitely take the baby(25mg) aspirin. Is a very small dose so will never do harm according to my gp. You can get it off the shelf in sainsburys. You'll be fine.

nhs does not mention asprin:

Is it safe to fly while pregnant?

I flew long haul at Christmas at 14 weeks. I just wore flight socks and drank lots of water, which after plenty of Googling seemed to be the best advice if you are low risk.

DVT risk increases in pregnancy so throw in flying and your risks increase again. However it doesn't mean you'll get one. The incidence is considered to be low in fit healthy pregnant women. Our practice recommend flight socks, hydration and moving really regularly. Your midwife is right in that Fight socks must be correct size or they can actually make the issue worse! So make sure they fit correctly. Socks that are too tight can cause circulatory problems and too loose is pointless. The socks work by assisting the blood flow through the viens to prevent it "pooling" and causing a clot to form. Therefore too tight will slow it down making matters worse and too loose just wont help! Aspirin can be taken if you are in a high risk group ie: bit overweight or family history of coagulation problems, have had recent surgery but only take it if prescribed by a doctor. I advise my patients to follow the above advice and to travel with caution, but ultimately it's up to them. Many pregnant women will take lots of flights with no issues, but there's always those who may be unfortunate and get a DVT. You just have to decide if the benefits are worth the risks. Incidentally make sure our travel insurance covers you in pregnancy. Have a safe journey!

i would ask the doctor and see what they think.. i always thought it was the first and third trimester you shouldn't fly in.. i could be wrong but that's what i have always been told. i have never flown whilst pg though xx