Flying twice a week during pregnancy

[hephaiston]

My work involves international travel and I'm concerned about it. I'm currently 10 weeks pregnant, and I haven't told my work yet. I've flown twice already on 2-hour flights. Next month, it looks like there will be three weeks in which I will have to take two flights a week. I will spend each week in a different city for a month. Each month of the pregnancy I will have to fly at least twice, up until week 30 or so when airlines won't permit it.

I read the biggest scientific study on this, based on women in Israel who flew during pregnancy, and it states that statistically there is no risk detected (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7004371/). However, I'm sure most women studied were just flying occasionally, not continually for work.
I've also noted that several airlines offer Air hostesses ground roles as soon as they say they are pregnant, and take them off flights. Why would this be done unless there is a danger associated with frequent flying?

I plan to tell my work in about two weeks, once I've had my scan to check everything is alright. I'm in a bit of a precarious situation in terms of my contract and employment rights and I'm at risk of not getting paid leave and/or not having a job to come back to so I'm keen to demonstrate to my job that I intend to keep working and want to keep my job.

I spoke to a GP about flying and she said no risk was indicated and it mostly depends on how I feel. Family members don't think it's a problem and view it as a luxury. I don't think people understand that it's not just the flying, it's the disruption to my routine, spending weeks alone with no support, having to figure out meals, and managing that on top of a high pressure work environment in which I have to deliver finished pieces of work each day.

My partner has told me I can give up my job and rely on him, but I'm concerned that I will end up with no financial independence and won't be able to find a job after I've had the baby.

Any advice much appreciated.

I flew regularly while pregnant with my first, not quite as often as you, but quite a lot of international travel, and I was absolutely fine.

I think the reason why they take staff off flying duties when they work for an airline is likely more to do with how physical the job is - they're on their feet a lot of time time, lifting things above their heads and also need to be able to operate the doors in an emergency which you cannot do while pregnant.

I think it needs to be more about how you feel than what is the "risk". If you're not happy with flying so often then don't do it, your anxiety will be worse for your pregnancy than the flight will. Your work cannot fire you for being pregnant (assuming your in the UK or similar?). Could you perhaps ask to reduce your flights as your pregnancy progresses?

Congratulations by the way!!!

Is there anymore info you can look at from the USA they use planes like we use buses

I travelled for work, sometime longer flights, sometimes shorter flights, for this pregnancy (I'm 18 weeks) and last. Not as frequently as you, more monthly than weekly. I didn't think there was a risk, and like PP said, I'd imagine flight crew are grounded because of the physicality of the job.

I did struggle with morning sickness, and lack of energy for client meals and drinks etc. This time around I've passed on very long haul trips (Singapore etc).

One thing to bear in mind is if you get any complications (I had gestational diabetes) you won't be fit to fly for your last trimester. I think I couldn't fly from 26 weeks last time, so I had to cancel trips.

Why would this be done unless there is a danger associated with frequent flying?

Because they do a lot of heavy lifting; and moving things around. Not because of them flying itself. There is a limited number of crew seats on any plane and they can't put air hostesses on limited duties in the sky without massively increasing someone else's workload, so they're grounded when they reach the point in pregnancy that they can't lift.

There's nothing that says flying is dangerous; especially at your really early stage. Down the line, if you have any complications, you may need to be grounded. Your work should do a risk assessment which will cover this, and in all likelihood, will say that you'll be grounded should your doctor or midwife recommend it. If everything is okay with your pregnancy, you can fly until 36 weeks with a singleton, and a bit earlier with multiples.

I flew quite a bit in pregnancy too; so did a lot of research. There's nothing to suggest that it's a problem at all. I had to do the same regarding changing routines, finding food, delivering work, reducing stress... To be honest it was good practice for having the baby! It feels daunting now but it'll be absolutely fine. I'd do it a million times over giving up my job and independence, and I'm married. There's no way that would ever be an option for me if I wasn't.

I am in a similar situation as you as my job involves travelling and the latest travel was not later than last week. I am 12 weeks today. Once I have passed the scan and NIPT, I intend to inform my boss and will let them know that pregnancy is considered high risk due to my age and that therefore I will only travel for what is really necessary. As you said it's not just the flight, it's everything else: food, lack of sleep, disrupted routine. I came back from it absolutely knackered and wasn't a great experience. Are you in the UK? I don't think they can discriminate you on the grounds of pregnancy.

I have flown quite a few times this pregnancy, long and short haul. I don't think there are explicit safety concerns but it is so draining. I have vomited on most flights, even late in second trimester long after the morning sickness phase. I have also been delayed in the airport and stuck on the runway for almost every flight. Airports worldwide are shirt of staff so a simple journey may not be simple. And extra time in a confined space feels so much worse while pregnant. If you have to fly pack more snacks than you could imagine needing!

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Regarding the comments about protections for pregnancy in employment law, without going into too much detail my situation is complex and my protections/right to paid leave unclear. I have an unusual fixed term contract and as an international cross-border worker I'm not covered by the social security system of any country and it's unclear which legal system would apply to me as a worker. In a harsh interpretation, my employment could simply end once I take maternity leave and I could get no paid leave from either my employer or the state. I just have to hope they behave well, hopefully they will.

@hephaiston

FYI the main reason crew (both flight and cabin) are grounded during pregnancy is nothing to do with lifting, etc, it is do with the regulations that crew are subject to due to their exposure to cosmic radiation by virtue of their occupation.

I'm on the road ATM so don't have sources to hand right now (if there's any demand for more info I'll look and post later), but employers generally find the easiest way to comply with the demands of the regulations when it comes to the fetus and exposure is to ground the crew member as soon as pregnancy is announced.

Thanks. I've found some research papers on that. It's not very reassuring. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9819162/

Hi again

Hopefully I've not put the frightners on people with that post...

It's worth bearing in mind that often the regulators and certainly the companies are going to be very risk averse when it comes to occupational health (risk of being sued etc).

That can mean the employers will often take the easy option which is grounding a crew member once they are known to be pregnant, no matter how small the risks posed by radiation.

I think there are a few countries where crew are allowed continue to fly for work but with restrictions.