Flying whilst pregnant

[Racheyg88]

Hi, I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child and I am due to fly next Tuesday and I had a scan Monday to check if the placenta has moved as it was picked up on my 20 week scan that the placenta is low lying, anyway it hasn't really moved so my midwife is unable to do a fit to fly note for me as I am classed as high risk. I have found insurance that would cover me if anything happened but i just want to know if anyone else has been in a similar situation and did get asked for their fit to fly note when boarding? I'm flying with jet2, how would they know how many weeks I am? I understand it is a risk for me and baby but how likely is it that I would start bleeding on a plane but not at home? There has been no bleeding at all! Please can anyone help as I don't know what to do!?

Unless the placenta is actually over your cervix I can't see why this would make you any higher risk than anyone else at your stage. You are getting on a bit though, are you sure you want to take the risk regardless? My 2nd tried to make an early escape on the Eurostar at 32 weeks for no apparent reason. Not a high point in my life.

No it's not over the cervix, it is near the edge. I understand where you are coming from but with having 7/8 weeks to go I think it is unlikely she will come that early as my other 2 were both vaginal births and eldest was a week over and youngest 5 days early, I'm not saying that there isn't a possibility as anything can happen but I wouldn't be planning on going if we hadn't have booked it before I knew I was pregnant and it is for my fiancé's fathers 60th so it is a surprise no one knows we are planning on going! I bet it wasn't and I must admit I've been nervous as it was flying at this stage but now cos of this it's even harder to know what to do!

@Racheyg88 I recently flew with British Airways at 34 weeks and no-one asked to see my fit to fly letter. So you could chance it but be prepared that they may not let you board the plane.

I think the bigger issue is that not having approval to fly from your midwife will probably invalidate your insurance because you are flying against medical advice.

If something happened, and the insurers asked for pregnancy notes (they're not allowed to go on "fishing trips" over your whole medical history, but asking for pregnancy notes for this pregnancy would be reasonable) then the remaining question is can you afford to pay for any costs incurred overseas - as your insurers will not cough up for anything to do with pregnancy/childbirth when your MW has been unable to sign off a fit-to-fly note

(edited to correct SPAG - hope I've not missed anything glaring!)

There's no way I would take that chance. I think it's a huge gamble. You might be fine, but if you are not fine the result could be catastrophic.

Why would you risk this for a party?

Look, usually I'm the first to tell posters how to fly when pregnant with a bog standard low risk pregnancy, but in this case, it's a bad idea for your baby.

The plane is a pressurised environment that can do strange things to the massive amount of fluid in your uterus and if you go into labour on a plane with a low-lying placenta you risk something happening to the placenta before the baby is delivered, which could kill the baby or starve them of oxygen, and there will be no one on board to save them.

Even if there is a doctor on board they are unlikely to have delivered a baby and even if they have, they will not have the specialist equipment needed to save the baby, they won't be able to perform an EMCS with a plastic knife designed for buttering bread rolls, and even when you land you will be nowhere near medical facilities (unless you're going to an airport next to a SCBU).

I really, really wouldn't do this if your midwife thinks it's too unsafe to sign off on your fit to fly note.

In your case, I'd only go if you have the means to pay for any medical treatment out of pocket, and you are mentally prepared for the worst to happen in a foreign hospital. I doubt an insurer would pay out if you've been advised not to travel.

For the sake of a birthday party? I wouldn’t.

To add to SisterMichaelsHabit’s wise words:

Having worked in aviation for eight years, you’re not always guaranteed to have a doctor onboard. Far from it. You’re even less likely to have one who is 1) Willing to assist 2) With enough recent experience in obstetrics to offer specialist assistance.

There’s also no guarantee that the flight crew will divert in a timely manner. While that may sound harsh, they have to balance the safety of everyone else onboard with the case of the individual. If the diversion options are unsafe or the aircraft is heavy with fuel, other measures need to be taken before diverting. If it looks safer to continue or return to base, they’ll do exactly that regardless of how long it takes and your physical state. The immediate response on the ground is then determined by how quickly air traffic control have mobilised the relevant agencies (ambulances etc), some airports do better than others on that front.

The ground staff and cabin crew won’t know how many weeks you are. But they can both ask for relevant documentation and refuse boarding/offload you. In my experience, captains always back the cabin crew when they feel uncomfortable about carrying someone. Mostly because diverting is a pain in the arse.

Overall, it doesn’t sound worth it for a birthday party. I know it’s a huge disappointment for you, but perhaps offset that with a particularly lovely gift and FaceTime in? I’m sure your family will understand.

Hi

Hope all is well.

Which holiday insurance provider did you go with?