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Pregnancy

flying in the 18th to 20th week : ok or not???

13 replies

Rachael17 · 03/06/2003 17:03

my dad has been awarded a place on the gold members vienna trip with his work (some posh well paid job no idea what it is!!!)
and his g/f cant go and he wondered if id like to go with him
is about 3 1/2 - 4hr flight is this safe to fly ill be about 19weeks i think

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elliott · 03/06/2003 17:05

yes, should be fine - I'm going on holiday at a similar stage. You should just be careful to drink plenty of water and to get up and move your legs around every so often - pregnant women have an increased tendency to blood clots (though rare, and your flight is quite short, so don't panic about that!!)
Have a great time!

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wiltshirelass · 03/06/2003 17:05

yes, no problem up to about 30/32 weeks.
I'm 29 weeks pregnant and in the last month have been to france, denmark, italy and sweden. only bummer is you can't have a gin and tonic during the flight!

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Circe · 03/06/2003 23:19

Check with the airline whether you need a letter from your GP to say you're OK (probably not till later). I went to Hong Kong at 32 wks, and although it was v. uncomfortable, it was fine from a medical point of view. Also, it wasn't a big deal getting the letter

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Rachael17 · 03/06/2003 23:52

thank u for ur advice
ill check with my midwife next week
but hopefully if alls ok ill be jetting off to vienna soon
i cant wait as will be last holiday for sumtime!!

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SofiaAmes · 04/06/2003 01:31

There is no evidence that flying at any stage in pregnancy is bad for you or your baby. The only risk is that of going into labor on the plane. Hence the airlines try to limit your flying in the last month. Some airlines try to limit it even earlier. I flew at 7 mo. with my ds and at 8 mo. with my dd.

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Ghosty · 04/06/2003 04:59

I flew to South Africa (10 hour flight) at 25 weeks ... all I needed was a letter from my doctor ... just in case ...

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Ghosty · 04/06/2003 05:00

... meant to say ... just in case .. for travel insurance ....

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SueW · 04/06/2003 07:21

SofiaAmes is there no increased risk of DVT in pregnancy or is that for a short time afterwards?

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AliFar · 04/06/2003 08:06

I flew from UK to Australia (home) at 30wks - 24hour + flight. Not the most confortable I had been but overall I was fine. My obstetrican was great - he gave me a letter to take with me on the flight. He said pregnant women are slightly more at risk of DVT, but if you make sure you move around.,I was up and down like a yo-yo and drink heaps of water you should be fine. Also advised me to wear those surgical stockings (flight socks - you can purchase at Boots etc very attractive looking!!) and I had to take an asprin every 12 hours. Stockings and asprin more as a precaution because of the distance I was flying. I also mentioned to the flight attendants and they were great - kept making sure I had plenty of water throughout the flight.

Go ahead and have a great trip.

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aloha · 04/06/2003 08:34

Oh, yes, it's absolutely fine. I strongly recommend all my p/g friends have one last 'free' holiday before the baby arrives. I still cherish the memory of mine in Greece, about the same flight, I think, at about 6-7months. I even wore a bikini!

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loobie732 · 07/06/2003 19:14

Do make sue that you advise your travel insurance that you are PG though else your insurance will be non void. I deal with insurance and it is not the nicest thing in the world to tell someone that is pregnant that we cant cover them when they want to claim.

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happyspider · 07/06/2003 23:15

I flew with BA at 29 weeks and was fine, but do check the airline policy before you go, for BA you wouldn't even need a letter at your stage in pg.

FYI this was BA policy:

Pregnancy
In the interest of the pregnant passenger, for uncomplicated single pregnancies, we restrict travel beyond the end of the 36th week, and for twins, triplets etc., beyond the end of the 32nd week. After your pregnancy has entered its' 28th week, we ask that you carry with you a letter from your doctor or midwife, stating the pregnancy is uncomplicated and confirming the expected date of delivery. In this letter, your doctor or midwife should state that you are in good health, that they are happy for you to fly, and that (in their opinion) there is no reason why you cannot fly.

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susanmt · 09/06/2003 19:51

I'm flying to Canada when about 20 weeks and back at around 23 weeks in August of this year. There is a slight increased risk of DVT when you are pregnant and you cant take aspirin to thin your blood, so its important to move around and drink plenty water. But other than that it should be fine. Have a nice time!

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