Low lying placenta and flying

[Oatmilktea]

I know this has likely been asked a number of times but hoping for some advice before I see the consultant on Monday.

At my 20 week scan today the sonographer told me I have a low lying placenta which is fully covering my cervix. She said there’s a chance it will migrate to where it should be on its own however she referred me to the consultant and booked a 32 week scan.

I have a short haul holiday booked for the 11th of March for a week when I will be 21 weeks.

Does anyone know if the consultant will tell me not to fly? I do have travel insurance already which I bought last week before I knew about the low lying placenta. If my consultant says I can fly, does this mean I need to inform my insurer about the low lying placenta?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

@monchik my placenta was completely covering the cervix. How far along are you and when are you planning on flying?

@monchik I wasn't given an exact measurement but the 20 week scan report just says the edge of the placenta was less than 2cm from the cervix - I think 2cm is the threshold for whether it's considered low-lying or not. If the placenta is covering the cervix you've got a bigger issue as you might not be able to get insured - my insurer explicitly didn't cover placenta praevia if it was known prior to travel. Worth adding that I haven't had any issues at all thus far with the low lying placenta - no problems on holiday and also no issues since either and I'm 30 weeks tomorrow. Due to be scanned at 34 weeks to see if the placenta has moved up, fingers crossed!

@CluelessInLondon hope it fully moves for you! Mine was stubborn and I also developed vasa previa so baby was delivered at 35 weeks.

My placenta was completely covering and I was insured by world first travel insurance. I had to explicitly ask my consultant for their permission to fly, which they gave me. Ultimately I think she gave me permission as I was under 24 weeks and if something happened there would have been no saving baby… it’s scary to think now!

@Oatmilktea mine is 1.2 cm away from the cervix! and I'll be 20 weeks when flying and 21 coming back. my doctor says there are always risks but I should be fine... so gathering all opinions here!

@CluelessInLondon mine is also not covering, but 1.2 cm away, so I guess it means it should be fine. thanks for the details, so glad to hear you had no issues! hope you'll be in the clear at your next scan!

@monchik theres always the risk that you’d start bleeding on the flight and there’s nothing that could be done to stop it. It’s so difficult to weigh up the risk! Is it a long flight?

Also, mine was diagnosed at my 20 week scan so if I were in your position I wouldn’t have even known yet about my low lying placenta!

Hey I am currently 23 weeks with Placenta Previa, I have booked a holiday to Greece ( 4hour flight and I will be 25/26 weeeks) I have the ok from my consultant but from what I am seeing online is i shouldn’t go. Has anyone had this and flown?

Only just seen this @Daizeeg. If your consultant has said it’s ok it’s up to you to make the call as to whether you go or not. Do you mind me asking if you’ve had a bleed at all? And whether the placenta is fully covering your cervix?

flew at 22 and 23 weeks and was fine. Essentially the consultant said to me yes there was a risk id have a bleed but the risk was very low. If you do go, whatever you do take out travel insurance covering this condition. I used world first travel insurance (about £50 for the week).

I was absolutely fine however I did then go on to have my first bleed only a week after coming home and ended up admitted for 2 days. Also I was later diagnosed with vasa previa at 30 weeks which wasn’t visible at my 20 week scan, if it had been there would have been no way my consultant would have said it’s ok to go!

It might be worth joining the placenta previa facebook group. One is worldwide and lots of Americans seem to fly with placenta previa