Flying When Pregnant
Whether you’re jetting off on a baby moon or you travel heaps for work, getting on and off planes when pregnant can for some be more laborious than others.
As a frequent flyer, here’s my top tips to flying when pregnant.
Fit to Fly
If all is going well with your pregnancy you should be totally fine to fly but always check with your health care provider before booking a fight. The best time to schedule a baby moon is usually in your second trimester when you’re over the morning sickness / nausea and are starting to find your rhythm in the pregnancy. You’re also not showing too much and in the main not too uncomfortable yet so it’s a great time to factor in one last holiday as a two (or family if you already have kids) before the newborn comes.
When you’re Onboard
My Top Tips for flying
Stay Hydrated Bring lots of water on board and always ask the flight attendant for more if you need it. Remember if you get bored of drinking water you can opt for tea too, if you have a favourite flavour perhaps Camomile or Peppermint be sure to take a few teabags on board with you.
Wear Compression socks During pregnancy, fluid can accumulates in the body, which is why many women report swollen hands, ankles, feet and even their face. ‘… Flying can also cause temporary edema due to changes in cabin pressure and air circulation ”. This makes compression socks an invaluable item to keep on hand. “Compression socks act by squeezing the walls of our veins and redirecting blood flow back to the heart, This change in blood flow is what then reduces the swelling that is often associated with pregnancy and flying.”
Try to reserve the aisle seat to allow for regular toilet breaks and freedom to roam around the cabin as and when without disturbing anyone else.
Walk around and stretch as much as you can, I try to think of it as every hour. You'll be sat down on the flight for a while, so stretch your legs out and gently flex your feet to stretch your calf muscles. Rotate your ankles and wiggle your toes to promote good circulation.
Have snacks on hand! Essential! The plane will often have snacks to purchase or meals onboard however these aren’t always the healthiest / most beneficial to you so pack what you are craving and what will be a good source of nutrients to you and your baby.
Other factors to bare in mind
Travel in loose / comfortable clothing - nothing worse than being uncomfortable on a flight even more so when you’re pregnant.
Pregnancy pillow - the pregnancy wedge pillow is a great option to take with you when you travel.
Make sure where you’re traveling to is considered pregnancy safe. Ensure you’re travelling to a No Zika Virus country. Zika Virus is a mosquito-borne virus, to most it’s not harmful but to pregnant women the virus can harm a developing baby, it can cause problems with the baby’s brain and the cause the baby to have an unusually small head (microcephaly).
Scope out a doctor or hospital where you’re going in advance If you are concerned at all or just as best practice it is always recommended to seek of the nearest hospital or health service to where you’re staying incase you need an assistance while away.
Make sure your travel insurance covers you up until the week that you are (some stop at around 32 weeks for travel) Also, apply for a free Global Health Insurance Card (for British nationals only as far as i’m aware) if you’re travelling to a foreign country. The GHIC card replaces the EHIC card, and is now valid in the EU, and around the world.
Protect yourself against germs Planes are often breeding grounds for colds and germs. When you are pregnant you are even more vulnerable to catching something. Arm yourself against germs by using hand sanitiser or wipes to clean the surfaces around your seat.
How long is the flight and will there be jet lag If you plan on flying half way across the world think of two main thing. How long the flight is - make sue you stay active and hydrated and how big is the time difference. Baring in mind regency already makes you tired, daily. You are growing another human. So if you have a large time difference you will need a good few days to feel up to doing anything other than lounging by the pool :)
Stay calm If you’re particularly nervous about flying, take proactive steps to stay as calm as possible. The stress hormone cortisol can cross your placenta and affect your unborn baby. A good way to combat these feelings is by snacking on pumpkin seeds and bananas, both rich in tryptophan which helps your body produce melatonin and serotonin, boosting feelings of well-being.
When to stop flying
If you’re over 28 weeks pregnant, most airlines require a letter from your midwife or doctor to say that your pregnancy is low-risk and healthy. This is simply an assurance that there’s little risk of you going into early labour or your waters breaking early. ALWAYS check with the airline you are flying with, even if you’ve been flying throughout your entire pregnancy every airline is different and has different policies as to how many weeks pregnant they will allow you to fly up until.
For some it is 28 weeks, others 30 / 32 weeks others can go up until 36 weeks so it really varies.