Long Haul Flight while pregnant

[cwhite]

I'm delighted to have found out I'm pregnant and am now a little concerned that i have a beach holiday to Mexico booked later in the year. I'll be about 16 weeks pregnant - do you think it's safe to take a 10 hour flight then? I read on the NHS website that it's fine, but would be reassuring to know if anyone else has done it. Thank you!

[TarkaTheOtter]

Yes I did a similar flight at 14weeks returning at 16weeks. It's a great time (relatively speaking anyway) to go away when pregnant as ms will have hopefully passed and you won't be too big and uncomfortable yet.

[soundsystem]

yep, pretty much the perfect time to take a holiday! I found my jet lag was a bit worse than usual but if you can relax on a beach then not a massive problem :)

[Mistyautumn]

Yes. I had to fly to New Zealand when I was 14 weeks and returned when I was 16 weeks. Did it without anything more than a 3 hour layover. When you have your booking in appointment mention it to your midwife to see if she has any suggestions as to ways to make it more comfortable, safer for you.

In my case I am consultant led due to obesity so was at a higher risk of DVT. Didn't really give them the option of saying I wasn't fit to fly (my dad was in intensive care in NZ). They ended up putting me on aspirin and clexane injections because of the distance and my size.

But it is definitely do-able. My midwife advice was to make sure I moved around as much as possible and stay as hydrated as possible - sensible stuff really xx

[eurochick]

I took several long haul flights for pleasure and work while pregnant. It's fine. Keep hydrated. Get an aisle seat if you can so you can get up and move about and for loo visits. I chose to wear flight socks on anything over about 5 hours,

[ruralmyth]

Came on to say flights socks too euro.

[ohthegoats]

I went to Thailand at 15 weeks, and back at 17 weeks. I was already injecting heparin due to a previous flight-caused DVT, but other than that I made sure I had an aisle seat, and kept drinking. Was fine.

[Annbag]

I went to Hong Kong around the same time. Drink lots of water and move about lots. Only problem for me was I still had awful morning sickness, couldn't get an aisle seat and the person next to me wouldn't swap... I got through it though! Take your notes with you too just to be on the safe side, and have a great trip

[DanyStormborn]

I did an 11 hr flight at 7 and 10 weeks. Nothing to worry about, just take usual DVT precautions like exercising legs in your seat and walking round the cabin as pregnancy is a risk factor. You could also wear DVT compression socks to be extra safe. I preferred an aisle seat as I was peeing a lot and didn't want to annoy people. Also buy a big bottle of water after security so you have some for between drinks services to stay hydrated.

[WingsClipped]

Annbag am I just evil? If someone refused to swap with me in those circumstances I would be pretty tempted to just throw up all over them or keep getting up to visit the loo 10 thousand times (which I did anyway but was in an aisle seat)

[WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo]

You have to get a doctors note between 28 and 36 weeks and should not (normally) fly after 36 weeks.
16 is fine :)

[kmini]

I flew to Australia at 21 weeks. It was totally fine. More uncomfortable than normal, but very doable. You will be fine. DVT socks & plenty of water.

Have fun!

[Annbag]

WingsClipped haha yeah I kind of did the same! Was up every half an hour at least for toilet or finding food and drink. I don't think they got much sleep!

[Droflove]

Yes totally fine.

[Littlepeanutbump]

I flew a long haul flight whilst in my 1st trimester, not advisable I know but the trip was booked and the conception took us by surprise, the morning sickness proved the worse barrier to overcome x

[Gennz]

I recently did NZ - Bali (9.5 hours there, 8 hours back) at 20/21 weeks. Was totally fine. Only issue was all the fab bars there that I couldn't drink mojitos at ...

[Droflove]

Little peanut bump there is no advice against flying in the first trimester. You just might feel extra rotten if you have bad morning sickness. Some docs may say to avoid it if you are having bleeding etc but actually there is little grounds for that.