Travelling while pregnant

[nataliefruit]

Hi all

Does anyone have any experience of travelling I.e. long haul flights while pregnant (early 2 nd trimester)? Not sure if I'm being completely unrealistic with my baby making plans!

Thanks

Are you pregnant and asking can you travel in second trimester? I think if you have had no complications it's fine. Airlines only ask for a doctor's letter from 32 weeks

I thought WHO guidelines said letter from 28 weeks? Might be worth checking what your planned airline requires.

Rule out destinations which require travel jabs you are not already in date for, and I suggest you rule out ones where you need malaria prophylaxis. Read up on the spread of zika as well.

Flying should be OK. If you have the money to spend to go business class, this is the time to use it for the extra space and comfort. But even if not, early second trimester is still an OK time as you're likely to be over morning sickness and extreme tiredness, but not be so bulky that an ordinary seat is too small.

You'll need to pay attention to staying hydrated, and follow the advice about moving round the cabin regularly and actually doing those in-flight extercies. Might be worth considering those oh-so-flattering support leg thingies as a further way of reducing DVT risk.

Make sure you have good travel insurance, that covers all eventualities for you and the baby (just in case you need hospital admission at destination and have to stay until after delivery).

If there are no complications, there are no reasons not to. Lots of people feel much better in the second trimester, compared to the nausea and vomiting in the first and exhaustion/heartburn of the third.

RCOG leaflet here: www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/air-travel-pregnancy/?gclid=CjwKEAiAiZK1BRD509nPsYiUk2YSJAAMoAwCiwqPSeecgB4z1XzHei4NwsKz0qE35ShyOIFV3UbEcxoCWSbw_wcB

It may depend on your pregnancy, if there are no complications then most airlines are fine & give details on their websites of limits eg. www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travel-assistance/medical-conditions-and-pregnancy
However I am currently 24 wks and I personally couldn't do a long haul flight at the moment. I find being in a car or train for more than an hour agony on my hips and back and has been for the past few weeks.
If you go you must also make sure you have appropriate medical insurance as it doesn't always cover pregnancy and even when it does the small print can be crucial.

Thanks everyone, I've got a trip to see family booked but am planning on when to start TTC & whether it will be OK to fly or if its best to wait (not not sure I'll be able to gold off for too much longer!) If we get pregnant when I'm hoping then I'll be just 4 months at the time we fly out so not too far gone. I'm flying premium economy for this exact scenario so space should be OK it's just a long flight

I flew from the UK to the East Coast of the U.S. at 23 weeks and it was absolutely fine. Can't remember how long it took - 7 or 8 hours? I took my maternity record with me but otherwise it was a totally normal (and brilliant) holiday. I'd definitely recommend having one before baby arrived.

I went to Sri Lanka when 6 months pregnant with work. That's an 11 hour flight. It was uncomfortable but OK on the way out. The way back was horrible though. There was a really fat woman behind me who wouldn't let me tip my chair back so I was really cramped up and uncomfortable.

When I got home I ended up in hospital on warfarin with suspected DVT. Thankfully I did have it but I got quite a talking to by the doctor for not adapting my lifestyle while I'm pregnant.

I'm 32 weeks with my 2nd now and have avoided all long haul travel this time after my experience

*didn't

Even if you and partner are young and healthy it can take a good few months to conceive so I would'nt go planning any trips around a hoped for conception date.

Went to Canada at 18 wks. Sickens had stopped about 2 weeks before thankfully! No ill effects whatsoever but very important that you wear the dvt socks. I also had a little glass of champs on take off to chill me out.

I've got a a trip booked, about 8 hours flying time and will be 25 weeks by then. I think so long as you will have space to be comfortable and you get up and move about regularly/do some exercises it should be okay.

Main thing I would say is check with airline about their rules on travelling during pregnancy, also see where you stand with your travel/medical insurance in case you do need to cancel for whatever reason.

oh and if you are likely to need vaccinations maybe try and get them done before pregnancy

And depending on where you are going, keep an eye on FCO advice on Zika virus, which they think is going to spread across all the Americas now

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35399403