Pregnancy and Air Travel

Occasional air travel during pregnancy is not harmful for you or your baby as long as you are having an uncomplicated pregnancy. Long haul flights (over four hours) may increase your chance of developing a blood clot. There are certain things you can do to reduce the risk of developing clots. Also, It is important to check the healthcare facilities that are available at your destination, in case you need any emergency care.

 

There is no evidence that flying will cause miscarriage, early labour or your waters to break.

It is safer to fly before 37 weeks, if you are carrying one baby as the chances of going into labour after 37weeks increases. And it is safer before 32 weeks, if you are carrying an uncomplicated twin pregnancy.

 

If you are taking a short haul flight (less than four hours), it is unlikely that you will need to take any special measures. Your midwife or doctor should give you an individual risk assessment for venous thrombosis and advice for your own situation.

To minimise the risk of a DVT on a medium or a long-haul flight (over four hours),
you should:

• wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes
• try to get an aisle seat and take regular walks around the plane
• do in-seat exercises every 30 minutes or so – the airline should give you information on these
• have cups of water at regular intervals throughout your flight
• cut down on drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine (coffee, fizzy drinks)
• wear graduated elastic compression stockings – your midwife or doctor will need to provide the correct size and type for you as they are different from standard flight socks. 

If you have other risk factors for a DVT, regardless of the length of your flight, you may be advised to have heparin injections. These will thin your blood and help prevent a DVT. A heparin injection should be taken on the day of the flight and daily for a few days afterwards. For security reasons, you will need a letter from your doctor to enable you to carry these injections onto the plane.

Low-dose aspirin does not appear to reduce the risk of a DVT but you should continue to take it if it has been prescribed for another reason. 

A medical condition or health problem can complicate your pregnancy and put you and your baby at risk. For this reason, if any of the following apply, you may be advised not to fly:

You are at increased risk of going into labour before your due date.

You have severe anaemia. This is when the level of red blood cells in your blood is lower than normal. Red blood cells contain the iron-rich pigment haemoglobin, which carries oxygen around your body.

You have sickle cell disease (a condition which affects red blood cells) and you have recently had a sickle crisis.

You have recently had significant vaginal bleeding.

You have a serious condition affecting your lungs or heart that makes it very difficult for you to breathe. 

It is important that you discuss any health issues or pregnancy complications with your doctor before you fly. If have an increased chance of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, ask for an ultrasound scan for reassurance before you fly. 

Be aware that the unexpected can happen while travelling which could delay your return home. Some airlines may not allow you to fly if you have fractured a bone, have a middle ear or a sinus infection or have recently had surgery to your abdomen that involved your bowel, such as having your appendix removed. 

You will have to go through the normal security checks before flying. This is not considered to be a risk to you or your baby. 

If you are over 28 weeks pregnant, your airline may ask you to get a letter from your midwife or doctor stating when your baby is due and confirming that you are in good health, are having a straightforward pregnancy and are not at any increased risk of complications. 

Any document needed to confirm your due date and that you are fit to fly. Some airlines have their own forms/documents that will need to be completed at any stage of pregnancy. Contact your airline if you are unsure.  

You must wear a seatbelt. You should ensure the strap of your seatbelt is reasonably tightly fastened across the top of your thighs and then under your bump. Ask the cabin crew if you need a seatbelt extension. 

Any pregnant woman has a small chance of going into labour early or for her waters to break early. If this happens to you on a flight, there is no guarantee that other passengers or crewmembers will be trained and experienced to help you give birth safely. As a result, the pilot may have to divert the flight to get help for you. 

Hope you found this information helpful.