Tips for Air Travel While Pregnant
Can you fly whilst pregnant? The short answer is yes! However, there are multiple things to consider before boarding a plane when you’re expecting. Air travel can be stressful and uncomfortable for many expectant mothers, so you may wish to plan your journey carefully to ensure a safe and straightforward trip for you and your baby.
Follow Your Doctor’s Advice
First and foremost, you must always follow the advice of your medical team. There are multiple factors regarding international travel that could pose risks and complications to your pregnancy, including high altitudes and extreme temperatures. According to the NHS, if you plan on flying after week 28, your airline may ask for a letter from your doctor or midwife confirming your due date. Some airlines may not allow you to fly following week 37, so check online to avoid disappointment.
Fly During Your Second Trimester
Your second trimester - 14 to 28 weeks - is often considered the safest period of time to fly whilst pregnant - this is primarily due to the comparatively lower risk of pregnancy-related issues. Furthermore, during your first trimester, you’re more likely to suffer from morning sickness, which will only be exacerbated by air travel and stress. Following the 28 week mark, international travel is largely discouraged.
Nausea Remedies
Although many women report the easing of morning sickness symptoms by weeks 16 to 20, others experience nausea throughout. As mentioned previously, travel may trigger or aggregate these symptoms, so having effective nausea treatment on hand could make your journey considerably more comfortable. You may wish to pack medication, lozenges, and dry biscuits to take as and when needed.
Keep Moving
Pregnant women who sit still for long periods have a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which increases with the length of the flight. Once it is safe to do so, walk around every half an hour or so to help stimulate blood flow. A few strolls up and down the aisle could also help to calm your nerves and curb any flight-related anxiety you might be experiencing.
Compression Socks
As well as staying hydrated and moving regularly, another way to reduce the risk of DVT on long-haul flights is by wearing compression stockings, which help to prevent blood from pooling in your legs. Compression stockings differ from standard flight socks, and you’ll require the correct size for them to be effective, so speak with your doctor or ask at your local pharmacy for suitable graduated compression or support stockings.
Plan Ahead
Stress can have detrimental effects on you and your baby during pregnancy, and air travel provides plenty of it. Planning everything ahead of time will reduce the risk of unexpected fees and unwelcome surprises. You can also save a considerable amount of money by booking cheap parking at Stansted airport and double-checking the weight of your baggage at home.
Ask For Accessible Seats
The majority of UK airports have exceptional accessibility features, providing passengers with everything they need to ensure a safe, comfortable journey. Most airlines will allow you to book accessible seats appropriate for your condition - you may require extra legroom or easy access to the aircraft toilet. At the very least, book an aisle seat to avoid repeatedly shuffling past other passengers awkwardly.
Stay Hydrated
Flight cabins are controlled environments, usually kept at 10-20% humidity, which means you are at a much higher risk of becoming dehydrated during your flight. Combat this by keeping your fluid levels up - sip water and avoid diuretics such as tea and coffee. Airlines prohibit passengers from carrying containers with more than 100ml of liquid on board, but you can pack an empty water bottle to fill at a water fountain after security.
Don’t Lift Heavy Bags
Prolonged standing or heavy lifting can increase the risk of pregnancy-related complications. Although what is considered ‘heavy’ may vary from person to person, it is advisable to allow somebody else to carry your heavy luggage where possible. Make use of the provided luggage trolleys and remember; airport staff are always on hand to provide help, so never hesitate to ask at the nearest assistance reception desk.