flying during first trimester

[mellie35]

I am 7 weeks pregnant. We are leaving for our annual holiday trip on Saturday. I was very excited because we can tell my husband's family in person. So, I went to my doctor today and he actually said he would have advised me not to go. I was a little surprised. We are still planning on going.

Of course, I am stealing the aisle seat from my husband, I will get up frequently and am going to bring snacks.

Should I be concerned about anything else?

[gibbinator]

Weird. Usually, flying is really only restricted in late 3rd tri... unless you're high risk or something? I flew 8hrs across the country when I was around 12 weeks. No problem

[kangaroo11]

WTF? My OB had no problem with me flying to Europe at 26 weeks (and home at 28.5 weeks!) I'm also in CA, so that's 11 hours on the plane each way.

Take an empty bottle with you to fill after going through security so you can drink lots of water. I had trouble staying hydrated on the plane.

[Deleted]

I flew at 5 weeks and my RE was totally fine with it. I didn't even walk around or anything because the flight was only three hours.

[mellie35]

No, I am not high risk. I think he was just worried about hydration and blood clots?

[Deleted]

I have flown throughout my pregnancy the doc said it was fine until 34 weeks.

[kangaroo11]

I did wear a pair of those circulation socks whenever I was on a plane and asked for water whenever I saw a flight attendant, if that's the concern.

[Deleted]

I flew at least once a month though out my entire pregnancy with no issues. Just get up and walk once an hour if you feel the need to be super cautious, but that's really it.

[livinitup]

No flying at 8 weeks? Why the hell not?

[ssmjlm]

I flew twice before I even knew I was pregnant and then again at 17 weeks.

The doc was fine with it.

[Deleted]

I'd consider finding a doctor that wasn't crazy.

[h]

I have flown multiple times during the first tri with each of my pregnancies without issue. That advice surprises me.

[dcn]

Weird! We moved to Alaska from tx when I was 30 weeks pg and we flew up here. It was fine.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2012 20:09:49 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

I'd consider finding a doctor that wasn't crazy.

:Y:

I flew from Montana to Florida at 6 weeks. I also flew from Montana to Colorado at 35 weeks, all with my ob's blessing. Ditto the comment to take an empty water bottle to fill up (I usually ask a restaurant to fill it with ice for me). And take snacks like trail mix.

And have fun!

[mellie35]

Thank you everyone. He seemed so lax about everything else I asked him, except for this. Who knows?

Thanks for all your advice.

[spk926]

That is really weird. Did your doctor tell you WHY he would advise against it? I flew at 10 weeks and was fine. Heck I had two long flights to Mexico and then was in Mexico for 2 weeks and had two long flights back and my Dr. was totally fine with it.

I chose a pat down/wand instead of going through the x-ray scanner for my own piece of mind.

[CloudBee]

I'm shocked they would advise you not to go. I flew to Micronesia in my first trimester, which was nearly 22 hours each way. My doctor had absolutely no problem with me taking two 22 hour flights. I was told to drink a lot of water, and to get up and move around often. She even gave me Zofran in the event that I got stuck up in the air with nausea. I packed a few pads and comfort items in the event that something went wrong.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2012 21:25:16 GMT -5 spk926 said:

That is really weird. Did your doctor tell you WHY he would advise against it? I flew at 10 weeks and was fine. Heck I had two long flights to Mexico and then was in Mexico for 2 weeks and had two long flights back and my Dr. was totally fine with it.

I chose a pat down/wand instead of going through the x-ray scanner for my own piece of mind.

I also opted for the freedom frisk for peace of mind.

[mrshandy]

Dec 11, 2012 20:09:49 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

I'd consider finding a doctor that wasn't crazy.

I'm going to go with this.

[minzy]

Maybe your doctor has issue with it being cold and flu season and all the recirculated air on the plane? It does seem to be an unusually conservative viewpoint, but that's all I've got that hasn't already been mentioned as a possible explanation.

[biscoffcookies]

The only thing I can think of is that your doctor doesn't want you to travel far from home in case you have a miscarriage, as I understand that typically requires medical care? Assuming the your destination is somewhere with decent medical facilities, though, I don't think that should be a major issue.

I've never heard of any risk to a pregnant woman/her child from the act of flying in the first trimester. I flew several times in my first tri without any problem, although like others I did opt out of the body scanning machines just in case.

[Deleted]

I flew at 6 weeks and didnt do anything differently. I don't think I even got up during the flight (only about an hour and 45 minute flight though). I did fly at 27 weeks to Puerto Rico (so about 4 hours each way) and then I did make sure I drank a lot of water, I got up every hour or so, etc. My OB said she recommended travel during the 2nd trimester over any other time, but 1st tri was fine too if you felt fine.