The latest you can go abroad during pregnancy

[Sophiebail]

I am due towards the end of March and me and my OH are desperate to get away before the baby is here.
Would the start of January be pushing it for going on a plane?
My Midwife hasn't give me a definite answer and NHS website isn't very clear.

It's up to the airline, and different ones have different rules. 36 weeks is I think usually thecut off but you will need a letter from a GP confirming you are fit to fly. I had no problems going to Venice at 7 months pregnant. Just make sure you will have access to good medical care wherever you go -and that you are well insured.

Hi, I've just returned from a holiday and I am 32 weeks pregnant. I could fly up to 34 weeks, but the airline said I needed a doctors note after 30 weeks to confirm I was 'fit to fly'. I paid £25 for it from the doctors. I got a few funny looks from the airline staff, but no one asked me to produce the note and so I didn't offer it. It was a great idea as I got to do loads of relaxing and now am lovely and brown to boot!

I'm due early March and I am planning to go away for Xmas. Totally depends who you fly with, I will need a fit to fly letter by then as I think most airlines you need one after 28 weeks.

You can easily fly up to 34/5 weeks. You'll need a fit to fly letter which is free from your midwife or you pay a small amount from your doctor.

I flew to South Africa on Thursday night and I would say that at 32 weeks pregnant doing an overnight long haul flight was a bit tougher than expected. (Around 17hour and two flights) and I'm not looking forward to travelling back at 34 weeks.

Check out your travel insurance as many don't cover you after 32 weeks so I had to get specialist insurance.

Entirely up to the airline (and your travel insurance, presumably). I was flying twice a week shorthaul for work up to 36 weeks, when both airlines I used had a cut-off point. I carried a midwife's letter after about 32 weeks, I think, but no one ever asked to see it, as far as I can remember.

The only word of caution I would give is that you just don't know how your pregnancy is going to progress. I have basically sailed through to 30 weeks but I'm now being monitored for a low lying placenta which hasn't moved yet. I've been advised by my consultant to make sure I'm not alone for long periods of time and that if it still hasn't moved by 32 weeks to expect some kind of early hospital admission for constant observation and monitoring. So my advice would be to see how you go and if you get to January and all is well, book something last minute if you can. Or book now but make sure you can cancel if you need to without losing too much money x

I went on a 2 week beach holiday when I was 26-28 weeks pregnant and got a fit to fly letter from midwife. It was fine only issue was stiffness and aching when we got back (4 hour flight) as I had started to develop pelvic pain (PGP). I'm planning to go on a short flight again when I'm 31-32 weeks along to visit family. With Ryanair you can fly up 36 (single pregnancy) and print off their fit to fly letter for midwife or doctor to sign.

I flew early Jan when pregnant with dc1 who was due mid march. Also flew long haul at xmas and it was fine. Got some compression stockings, drank loads of water and made sure I walked about the cabin. Had a doctors note but no one asked to see it. Just make sure you have insurance in case you need to cancel at a later date.

I flew very regularly through my pregnancy - the last flight before ds was born was with BA at 35 weeks with a fit to fly note (although no one asked to see it!). It was fine. If you can stretch to premium economy seats I'd recommend you do - just for the space in front of you!

I flew regularly when pregnant. The last flight I took before ds was born was at 35 weeks with a fit to fly note. It was fine and no one even asked to see the note! If you can stretch to premium economy seats I'd recommend you do, purely for the extra space in front of you!

Oops. Didn't think my first post had gone through

I flew at 36 weeks with mine. I didn't have time for a letter so I just wore a big hoody.

I've a colleague who sneers at me for avoiding pate and wine, who told me she would never fly during pregnancy because you are 'closer to the gamma rays'. This may be bullshit but she does have a PhD in physical chemistry.

Get a letter regardless of how many weeks you are when you fly. I was flying back from holiday when I was about 30 weeks pregnant (but massive due to excess amniotic fluid - and a huge baby as it turned out). They stopped the lady checking in before me and wouldn't let her fly until she got a letter faxed over from her doctors (it was a few years ago !)

They didn't question me - they probably saw me getting my doctor's letter out while they were talking to her

And also do the obvious stuff, i.e. get proper travel insurance (don't rely on your EHIC card if going to the EU), and check with the airline that you're actually going to use, as they're all different.