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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 in early pregnancy

22 replies

PinkElephant · 17/05/2007 22:16

Hi all,
Can I get your ideas on flying ladies.... We've got brief holiday booked in Canada for a friends wedding in 10days time. By then I will be 7wks pregnant - do you think it is safe to fly? Would you go or stay and put your feet up? I had an ectopic at NYear and have had my first scan today which shows the sac is in the right place this time, which is such a relief . Have nice big cyst next to it causing me some cramps and generally feel a bit washed out and queasy......help what would you do?

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cece · 17/05/2007 22:25

I would go. Went to states at your stage with DD. Also went up in a depressurised light aricraft over the Grand Canyon at the time too. However this is not recommended in pregnancy but I din't realise till I got home...

skibump · 17/05/2007 22:26

Never heard of any problems, but bump for someone who knows a bit more

Hulababy · 17/05/2007 22:27

It will be fine. I flew to the Carribean at 9 or 10 weeks pregnant. Infact, in the air was the only place I didn't suffer from sickness!

fettleandminifettle · 17/05/2007 22:35

Hi PinkElephant!

First of all congratulations!!!

I did some research into this after Christmas as I had an early mc at Christmas. I could find nothing conclusive about air travel - I'm not even sure what airlines rule for pregnant staff - if there was an issue, i'm sure they would ground airstaff as soon as they got pg.

The only reason I was concerned was that I flew at 5 weeks pg and started miscarrying 4 days later. however, I was also at high altitude in a ski resort, so I wondered if that might have affected it - again there is not conclusive either way.

the only reason I suspected the flying was that a friend of my sister's who was undergoing IVF was advised by her consultant once her embryos had implanted not to fly for the first 12 weeks, as it was not worth the risk.

Having said all that many many women will fly in the first few weeks of pg and have no problems whatsoever. there could have been any number of reasons as to why I mc - it was my 2nd and I didn't fly early in pg with my 1st mc.

Personally, if it was all booked, I would still go - it will be fantastic! I would put your feet up while there though - you'll deserve it!!! And make sure you drink plenty of water on the flight and keep moving - if you can stand it get some of those flight socks as well!!

take care and good luck!
xxx

paulaplumpbottom · 17/05/2007 22:36

Congratualtions!!!!!!

I flew at 7 weeks with dd and she was fine but:

No lifting heavy luggage
Leave all the stress to your DH

Original poster

PinkElephant · 17/05/2007 22:41

Hi Fettleandminifettle - thank you!! How are you? I remember your mc at christmas as my ectopic was the same time. Its a really hard decision as the more I look into it the more there are arguements from both side....still hopelessly confused as to what to do

Paulaplumpbottom - absolutely!! DH has agreed to this already. Wish it was a beach holiday but its going to be a lot of trapsing around a big city whcih worries me too. maybe I'm just worrying too much

OP posts:

Moomin · 17/05/2007 22:47

I flew at 8 weeks to new york and was fine (although did a huge barf as we were coming in to land )
Also was a walking-aroundy type break but at least we were staying with friends so I had a nap every afternoon and made sure we didn't walk for too long and took more cabs than we normally would have. STill managed to enjoy it and even went up empire state and twin towers - which I'll always remember as we had our photo taken up there and then they were destroyed the day after dd1 was born

but I digress, sorry!... you should be fine as long as you take it easier than usual and leave time to rest between trips out, I think.

paulaplumpbottom · 17/05/2007 22:47

trapsing around a city is fine

fettleandminifettle · 17/05/2007 22:50

Why don't you try phoning your MW or GP and asking their advice? There would be nothing worse than deciding to go and then worrying the whole time, as that will spoil your holiday. I really don't know what I would do in your position TBH - but I really couldn't find anything conclusive either way when I looked into it.

As for doing stuff - as long as you stop when you are tired for a rest, you'll be fine, I would think!

We are doing well thank you - had my 20 week scan earlier this week and everything is ok - finally relaxing and starting to enjoy this pg at last!

So hope everything is ok for you too - come over and have a chat on the TTC graduates thread - everyone would love to see you!
xxx

plummymummy · 18/05/2007 09:21

I think the advice is to wear flight socks and mobilise frequently on the plane. Pg increases risk of dvt. I went on a long haul flight to the states when I was 11 weeks pg and it was fine. I think frequent flyers are at greater risk (eg air hostesses) than women doing a one off journey. I will be going on a 3 hour flight when I will only be 9 weeks pg but there's no way I'm going to miss out on our family holiday.

BeachBunni · 18/05/2007 09:36

Flew myself 2 wks ago at 9 wks and it was fine. Read up about it and it does say to consult your doctor first but mine was last minute so I didn't.
One of the main risks is DVT, as mentioned before, so I asked for an emergency exit seat as they have more leg room. They couldn't do that on the way back but instead gave me three seats to myself. Stretch your legs and walk about frequently and wear flight socks. Drink loads of water as it prevents DVT and stops you getting dehydrated at high altitudes.
You may also be prone to motion sickness if you've had morning sickness so be prepared.
Enjoy your holiday.

MrsMar · 18/05/2007 11:27

Dunno if it's entirely relevant, but I flew to Switzerland at 15 weeks, and skiied every day for a week at high altitude. But it was a shorter flight and I was in my second trimester (just).

SweetyDarling · 18/05/2007 11:30

I went to Aus and back at a similar stage, but ask your doctor/midwife.

fettleandminifettle · 18/05/2007 11:43

Hi Pinky

I remembered this morning that with DD I flew nearly every other weekend to Belfast to see DH - so although not long haul, was pretty frequent exposure and she was perfectly fine!! Makes me more happy that my mc at Christmas was just one of those things and nothing to do with air travel or altitude.

HTH
xx

Original poster

PinkElephant · 19/05/2007 13:04

Hi all,
Thanks so much for all your valuable advice. I have finally made a decision.....drum roll please..... I am NOT going. Reasons are A. Worried I may loose my second little beanie B. Am mid thirties and feel I do not have time to play with if this does happen and C. Have evening nausea which lasts from 5pm until I drag myself off to bed about 9.30pm. The thought of having to eat out everynight and the possiblity of barfing on the bride to be fills me with horror!!

OP posts:

itsme123 · 19/05/2007 21:16

Hi Pink Elephant,

Just seen yr thread and read it through. When i saw the title i was intrigued as to what everyone would say. I was told to avoid flying by my midwife when i was pregnant with DD. I did avoid it - (cancelled a holiday as due to fly when around 10 weeks) and had no problems. The second time i was pregnant, i didnt actually know i was pregnant, but i did miscarry shortly after i flew (short haul). I do not know if it was linked to flying, but i would not risk it. My friend also miscarried a few days after flying when she was around 9 weeks. Again nobody can know if the two were linked.
I think you have to make your own mind up how you feel.
Enjoy the time when you should have been away relaxing!!!

MunchiesMama · 19/05/2007 22:36

Hi I was about 5/6 weeks pregnant when i flew to Vancouver and it was all fine. I flew with Zoom and told the person at check in that i was pregnant and was given a spare seat beside me on the way there, and a whole row to myself on the way back - great when you are suffering from morning sickness, i just slept.

PS dont forget your flight socks.

MunchiesMama · 19/05/2007 22:38

Ooophs, just read that u are not going...

Popi70 · 20/05/2007 08:24

I had to make the same decision a couple of weeks ago. I also decided to cancel my flight because I am over 35, I have a bad history and I am only 6 weeks pg plus suffering from terrible nausea all day. My GP said that the safest period to travel by plane is the second trimester and although research on this is inconclusive, there is a chance for miscarriage before than period and a chance of blaming yourself and feeling guilty if it happens.

Cyee · 20/05/2007 18:34

I know the decision has already been made, and ultimately whatever decision you make is the right one for you. Congrats on yr pregnancy!

Just thought I'd add that I've flown a lot in this pg (easily 15-25 flights). Last flight was today (33wks). They were all short haul and I've had no probs. In fact I'm hoping this is going to make the LO a very good flier!

Docs and midwives I've spoken to have been supportive and airlines are fine with flying, albeit with a doc's note and up to 32-34 weeks approx. I think if there was conclusive evidence that it was dangerous, we wouldn't be allowed to do it. I say this based on the fact that most of the maternity 'rules' that we currently abide by (alcohol intake, certain foods, basic drugs etc.) are in the main not backed up with any research.

MrsMcJnr · 24/05/2007 15:42

PinkElephant ? I know you have made the decision you are happy with but I just wanted to share this.

I have a blood clotting disorder and am 6 weeks pg. I am seeing a Consultant Haematologist and injecting heparin daily to protect the pregnancy. I asked specifically about flying at my appointment on Monday because I am due to fly short haul quite a lot in the next few weeks. I truly believe that my Consultant would have told me not to do it if she thought I was at risk of MC she knows my history and how precious this bean is to me. She told me to wear proper flight socks to protect me but told me it would be fine.

Heidi1 · 09/12/2007 20:22

i am pg for the second time having had a missed mc earlier in the year. we are both worried about how to proceed now and are about to fly long haul. anyone been through something similar? i will be 6 wks pg when we go and this will be our first child! the unknown is very frightening!

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