Flying at 35.5 weeks

[Monsy]

Virgin Atlantic have confirmed to me that I can fly up to 36 weeks provided I have a doctors letter, but has anyone actually done this as late as 35.5 weeks? This is my second pregnancy and my first ds was born 12 days late, but I need to fly from the UK to India where I live (and will have the new baby) at 35.5 weeks and not sure if this is cutting it a bit fine. Any advice much appreciated!

Hi Monsy - I am 30 + 1 and I flew to the states where I am from at 27 weeks and returned at 29 weeks. It was not a pleasant expereince, I was very uncomfortable the entire flight (both there and back to the UK). We were seated in economy though so may be more comfortable if business class or first class is a possibility. I know that you will be further along than me when you fly but I just wanted to let you know about my experience. I am pregnant with my first so I may just be a bit of a wimp!!

hi Monsy.

To be honest i really didnt think you could fly as late as this.

i would suggest you talk to your midwife in the UK and see a doctor and see what they suggest.

I am not entirely sure wether i am correct in saying i didnt think you could, but my general thoughts were that you couldnt fly that late during pregnancy.

I flew at 35 weeks, butonly a short hop London to Edinburgh. It's not really a case or can or can't, it's whether the airline is prepared to take the risk of you going into labour in the air and whethre you are willing to take that risk too. I was, and so were British Airways, but as i said was only a short hop. I had doctors letter (had to pay for it, about £20) and noone looked at it, noone asked if i was fit to travel. If you can move yo r flight to the week before or sooner then i would do so. Butif the airline says you can fly and you are happy to do so, noone will stop you.

I'm flying at 33 weeks - soon - but only a 3 hr flight, getting my docs letter next week - I'm kicking myself for not booking extra legroom seats.
I reckon if you feel ok to fly at 35 weeks make sure you book extra legroom or 1st class or something to make sure you're comfy, especially on a long journey.
And walk around as much as you can to keep blood flowing.
I'm worried about being stuck in between the chair and the tray table!

thanks, I asked my doctor on Friday and she told me that she knows many of her patients who have flown long haul that far gone, I just need a letter. I will have my son with me so I'll get the bulk head seats so I will have leg room (and my husband to help!) but i'm not looking forward to it... If anything happens and they don't let me fly, I'll just have to have the baby in the UK!

Flew from Hong Kong at 34.5 weeks. I was fine.

Make sure letter from doctor states it is only one child not twins or more as it is an ealier cut off date for multiple births. I thibk the aussie docotor that did mine wrote 'singleton' on the letter.

doctor even. Oh and it would help if I could spell earlier.

If you have an uncomplicated pregnancy I don't see any issue at all. Most airlines will take pregnant women up to 36 weeks and some even up to 38 weeks shorthaul. In some countries with longer distances than we are used to in the UK you may have to fly to reach a hospital with maternity care the fortnight before your due date (seriously). There is no danger it is purely a matter of comfort and the risk the airline takes that you go into labour onboard, which is clearly more of an issue on a longhaul than a shorthaul flight.

Quite a lot of women fly immediately before their due dates or even whilst in labour purely in order to give birth in another country so I don't think you need to worry about the medical side of things. The exception would be if you are known to be at risk of premature labour, in which case I would want to be within touching distance of hospital care rather than air stewardesses and whoever happens to be on board.