Would you fly 3 hours (direct flight) at 31 weeks?

[hokiegirl82]

There's a motorcycle race in Austin, TX in mid April right when I'll be 31 weeks, and I'm trying to figure out if it would be too risky to fly 3 hours at that time. I've Googled it, and it seems that it's definitely not recommended to fly after 36 weeks, so I feel like 31 weeks might be ok but I'm not sure. We would have a direct flight so it wouldn't be too messy. Anyone flying around 31 weeks? I'll definitely be asking my doctor about this at my next appointment.

[andthentherewere10]

i will be flying from Atlanta to LA at 32 weeks, so yes.

[simpsongal]

I hate flying personally, but I would have been fine to fly last week (32 weeks). Just get up and walk around, stay hydrated, etc. 3 hours is not terribly long. I probably wouldn't fly to Hawaii.

ETA: We're driving to NJ when I'm 35 weeks.  That's a little under 4 hours.  My doc doesn't recommend travel after 34 weeks but he said he'd make an exception for Christmas

[andthentherewere10]

i will be flying from Atlanta to LA at 32 weeks, so yes.

[annabear07]

As long as your pregnancy is uneventful I woul dhave no issues flying at 31 weeks. I had a business trip at 34 weeks and felt comfortable traveling (although the traveling was not too comfortable).

[changedname]

I flew cross country (5 hours) last week at 28 weeks and was fine. I just made sure to get an aisle seat so I could get up a lot.

I am driving to WI at Christmas (14 hours).... haven't asked the ob about that yet. Ill be 31 weeks.
Last year DH wouldn't even let me drink anything basically the whole trip because he says I take too long in the restroom. I already warned him that this year will be different. lol

[earlgreyhot]

Yes, absolutely.

[redpenmama]

Yes. I did a 15-hour drive at 31 weeks with my first pregnancy, and it was manageable.

[vmars]

Sitting in a small space for that long would make me super antsy…however, you will have a bathroom nearby so that helps. I also had bad swelling at that time so I needed my feet up. I probably wouldn't, but it's up to you!

[hillarywhitney]

I plan to fly from CA to NY when I'm 28/29 weeks and will be flying back 1-2 weeks after that (I will check with my dr. about it too). So I vote it's ok.

[runblondie26]

3 hours, direct? Go for it.

We flew to France when I was 31/32 weeks, and Utah right before I hit 36 weeks.

[smock]

My Dr. had no problems with my plan to fly at 28 and 31 weeks, though she did recommend bringing a copy of my medical records just in case.

[hokiegirl82]

I like these answers! I will definitely talk to my doctor about it, and will wait until a little bit closer to the date before getting plane tickets, but I REALLY want to go to this race. Every vacation we go on is to MotoGP races - we managed to go to 4 races this year - and it is looking like the Austin race next April is the last race we'll get to go to until at least 2015 so I have a strong desire to go, even at 31 weeks pregnant.

[shelbyann]

Yep, I'll be flying from Atlanta to Seattle at 31/32 weeks. Go for it!

[purplecow0206]

I just flew over Thanksgiving (33/34w) with a connection each way. A 3 hour direct flight should be no problem, just check with your doctor. I also got a note JUST IN CASE someone at the airline asked, but I didn't expect to have to use it, and I didn't.

[lauren170]

I would. Just make sure to stretch/stand-up every half hour to hour. I have sciatica and even after a 2 hour car ride where I didn't stretch, it got way worse for 3 days.

[chicago]

I'm a little behind where you'll be, but I just flew to Iceland for Thanksgiving. I just made sure to get an aisle seat near the bathroom so I could get up, stretch, and pee to my heart's content!

[sh10]

Yes, I'm flying two hours at 34 weeks for my sister's wedding. The doctor said it would fine, unless I show signs of preterm labor. We booked with Southwest so it's not a huge deal financially if we can't go, however emotionally is another story. Go and have fun!

[Yankees21]

I'd go for it!

[speckledfrog]

Without hesitation

[sent]

Wow, I had the opposite experience. I went on a 4 hour driving trip to Vermont at 26 weeks where my husband did all the driving. My doctors were disapproving and everything was normal at that time, no risks for anything. When we returned from Vermont, I asked her if I could do a 6 - 8 hr driving trip during the Christmas holidays (week 35.5) and she said no way. Then my amniotic fluid levels dropped at week 28 so they said no driving at all and certainly no driving 4 hours to my in-laws for Thanksgiving. My father then started driving me the 45 - 60 minutes to work from week 28 - 32. When they found out I was still working even though my dad was doing the driving and entertained my in-laws for Thanksgiving when they came up to our place (though not nearly as extensive entertaining as we would've done if I wasn't pregnant), they freaked out and said we have had a miscommunication. You were supposed to be "taking it easy" meaning "do nothing but lay in bed and watch DVDs" and sent me to bed rest.

My husband flew to Jacksonville for a wedding at week 30. We had decided after our Hawaii trip at week 10 that I wouldn't fly for the remainder of the pregnancy so we never even looked into booking a ticket for me to go to Jacksonville. Good thing because clearly it was never in the cards for me.

My MFM wasn't even super thrilled that I went to Hawaii at 10 weeks. Even though when I got there, there were pregnant women all over the resort. Clearly they all had to have flown there unless they were from Hawaii which seems unlikely.

[stealthmom]

Assuming there were no other problems, sure. Just buy travel insurance or a refundable ticket. I had to cancel a third tri. Trip once I became high risk.

[stealthmom]

Dec 7, 2013 17:30:18 GMT -5 sent said:

Wow, I had the opposite experience. I went on a 4 hour driving trip to Vermont at 26 weeks where my husband did all the driving. My doctors were disapproving and everything was normal at that time, no risks for anything. When we returned from Vermont, I asked her if I could do a 6 - 8 hr driving trip during the Christmas holidays (week 35.5) and she said no way. Then my amniotic fluid levels dropped at week 28 so they said no driving at all and certainly no driving 4 hours to my in-laws for Thanksgiving. My father then started driving me the 45 - 60 minutes to work from week 28 - 32. When they found out I was still working even though my dad was doing the driving and entertained my in-laws for Thanksgiving when they came up to our place (though not nearly as extensive entertaining as we would've done if I wasn't pregnant), they freaked out and said we have had a miscommunication. You were supposed to be "taking it easy" meaning "do nothing but lay in bed and watch DVDs" and sent me to bed rest.

My husband flew to Jacksonville for a wedding at week 30. We had decided after our Hawaii trip at week 10 that I wouldn't fly for the remainder of the pregnancy so we never even looked into booking a ticket for me to go to Jacksonville. Good thing because clearly it was never in the cards for me.

My MFM wasn't even super thrilled that I went to Hawaii at 10 weeks. Even though when I got there, there were pregnant women all over the resort. Clearly they all had to have flown there unless they were from Hawaii which seems unlikely.

wow. That is *really* conservative. My ob prefers her patients not travel past 24 weeks and I thought that was ridiculous!

[marie3246]

Yes I would. We traveled a lot from weeks 12-25 so I'm glad we have nothing planned until after the baby is born, but I wouldn't hesitate especially if it was something I really wanted to do.

[laurack]

Sure, as long as you aren't high risk I see no issue.

At 38 weeks no. But very few people go into labor at 31 weeks so the main issue would be possible discomfort but at 31 weeks everything is uncomfortable so why not

[SJ]

I have a trip planned at 30 weeks (2.5 hour flight) and my doctors have no problem with it at this point. They said they would prefer I not travel after 32 weeks, but that it will be a case by case basis.

We also want to go away for the weekend (about 2 hours driving) at 36 weeks, but that one will probably be a last minute call. Well really I wanted to fly to TX that same weekend for a close family member's wedding, but I have resigned myself to the idea that there is no way that will be allowed.

[browneyedgirl9]

Yes. You should be fine. I feel like even now at 34 weeks I would feel fine flying somewhere.

Just drink lots of water to stay hydrated, and get up and walk around a few times to stretch your legs.