What Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know
Many Pregnant women miss out on meaningful pre-baby trips because they can't find the information they need from a trustworthy source.
I've now asked hundreds of pregnant women what their main worries are with regards to pregnancy travel, and they often aren’t the same as my clinical worries. Here I'll tackle your most common concerns:
Is it safe to fly in pregnancy? Are airport scanners safe? What paperwork do I need?
My main clinical concerns are the risk of DVT and obstetric complications - yet expectant mums naturally tend to focus on the safety of the fetus. Air travel is generally safe for a fetus (for guidance on repetetive work travel and radiation exposure do make contact- the current limit recommended for a fetus is <150 flight hours). The risk is usually for you, the mother. See www.childrenstraveldoc.com/travel-advice-for-pregnant-women.
Can I Fly when Pregnant?
The short answer is YES! Much of the risk of travel in pregnancy is down to the destination. However there are some risks of the flight itself, and in our experience many women worry excessively about them. The good news is that air travel during pregnancy is generally considered safe. The slight drop in oxygen levels at high altitudes isn’t harmful to most pregnant women or their babies, but if you have any underlying conditions, such as sickle cell or anaemia, it’s best to check with your obstetrician.
There are certain times during pregnancy that it's safer to travel...
When Is It Safest to Fly During Pregnancy?
Usually flying in the first trimester isn't so great, with morning sickness and lethargy being part of your daily life. Early pregnancy is also the time when the most miscarriages happen- 80% of miscarriages occur in the first trimester and noone wants to be up in the air feeling devastated, bleeding heavily in public, or worse- needing a blood transfusion in an unfamiliar overseas hospital. We discuss these risks along with the destinations hospitals and blood supply in our consultations.
For most expectant mums, the sweet spot for flights is from 14 to 28 weeks. You can pass through the airport happily with most airlines until 28 weeks (less if twins/multiples), so long as you bring proof of gestation. Of course there is always a risk of preterm labour in any pregnancy and you should always declare pregnancy on your travel insurance, it is not an illness and therefore does not increase the premium. Then you will be covered if you need to pay for obstetric care overseas.
After 28 weeks you'll need to provide the airline with a midwife or doctors note to say that your pregnancy is not high risk and you're 'safe' to travel. So dont book before you have checked that you will get that letter! We can provide letters for airlines after consulting with women who demonstrate normal pregnancy notes. In most cases, you can then fly up until 36 weeks, but remember that includes the return journey (the return flight usually must be before 36+0).
What Are the Real Risks of Flying While Pregnant?
Aside from carrying with you the normal risks of pregnancy related emergencies, the other main, but small, risk you face is DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis).
Do NOT buy poorly fitting flight stockings at the last minute in the airport
Pregnancy increases the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis tenfold. That risk is doubled again in geriatric pregnancies (like mine!), and of course long flights mean sitting for extended periods, which can further increase the risk of blood clots. You'll need a plan to reduce your risk especially if your flight is longer than 4 hours.
For example always choose an aisle seat, move around the plane regularly, stay hydrated and only use 'flight stockings' if they have been correctly sized for you by a midwife. If you have extra risk factors for DVT your obstetrician may also want to give you heparin injections for travel.
Are airport scanners safe in pregnancy?
UK and USA airport scanners are almost always magnetic and these are safe. A few airports in other parts of the world continue to use backscatter X-ray machines and other low ionizing radiation sanners. They have minimal radiation but you are well within your rights to ask for hand search instead.
Is the destination too risky?
The flight is one thing, but there may be health risks at the destination. You need to avoid malaria and other mosquito borne viruses. You should also consider the risk of road traffic accidents if travelling to a low income country.
Please research the health facilities at your destination; find out if they have a blood transfusion service, and if that blood is screened for viruses like HIV. These things are immensely important in pregnancy.
In upcoming blogs I'll discuss travel vaccinations and antimalarials for pregnant women.
With conflicting information everywhere, I want to cut through the noise of travel health for pregnant women and give you expert advice. Book here for personalised guidance on flying while pregnant.
