Travelling abroad when pregnant

Alanna!

I'm currently 17 weeks pregnant and have booked to go to America on holiday in 3 weeks time. I checked my health insurance cover and they say that routine maternity stuff isn’t covered abroad but emergencies/complications are. Then I checked with my travel insurance people and they said the same which kind of suggests that I’m not totally covered. I assume that it is highly unlikely that women just suddenly wake up with a problem and I actually have a doctors appointment the day before I go and all has been fine so far. It is just because I’m going to America which is so expensive that I want to be sure. I know pregnant women must travel all the time so I'm just looking for some advice.

NextSteps

Presumably 'routine maternity stuff' means checkups and so on?

nikpmup

Funny thing - I'm only six weeks, but when I went to my GP to have the pregnancy confirmed, one of the first things she asked me was whether I had any flights booked. (I didn't) She told me that I shouldn't fly AT ALL, even short haul, and certainly not long haul. That's the first time I've heard this - has anyone else been told not to fly at all?

Gee_G

nikpmup wrote: »

Funny thing - I'm only six weeks, but when I went to my GP to have the pregnancy confirmed, one of the first things she asked me was whether I had any flights booked. (I didn't) She told me that I shouldn't fly AT ALL, even short haul, and certainly not long haul. That's the first time I've heard this - has anyone else been told not to fly at all?

Did she say why? I've never heard that. I flew when I was pregnant. My doctor was nearly recommending it to get away for a bit of sun

nikpmup

No, she didn't say why. She specialises in obstetrics and women's health, and is generally a very good GP, I trust her implicitly; and I've no trips planned so it makes no difference to me really but I'm curious to know why - perhaps some new research she's come across? I'm not back to her for a while but if I think of it I'll ask her.

Das Kitty

I'm looking forward to my second trimester break away to Berlin.

dublinlady

I've flown to the uk 3 times so far and have my last trip planned at 34 weeks - my consultant says its fine. I flew in lanzarote - took 4 hrs 20 mins at 27 weeks and my only issue was my 11 month old!!!!

LilMrsDahamsta

My GP would be very cautious with regard to any sort of risk-taking in pregnancy. When I asked about going on holiday when I was pregnant with no.1, he told me specifically to only fly after the first trimester (14 weeks) and only up to 30 weeks. He also said 3 hours was the very longest flight he would consider, and not to go away for more than a week in case of any complications developing.

nikpmup

Perhaps that's it - I'm 37 and this is my first baby so perhaps she's being very cautious.

banbhaaifric

Went to Mexico last year when 21 weeks pregnant, and I had just turned 41. I was with the consultant a couple of days before we left and she had no issues with me traveling...

I've never heard of anyone being told not to fly, and in fact many books/doctors recommend a 2nd trimester holiday when you're over the nausea etc and aren't too big and uncomfortable yet. I'd recommend it too, especially if its your first. I have a lovely memory of being in Malta pregnant with my first, and feeling so peaceful and happy, and looking forward to the less peaceful but equally happy times ahead!!

banbhaaifric

And Allana!, we found that between various different places that included insurance (visa if you pay using your card, vhi, included with bank a/c) we had pretty good cover, including repatriation in an air ambulance, so we didnt need anything extra. Your doctor can probably advise what to look for regarding emergency maternity treatment.

MMAGirl

i asked my consultant and she said not to fly at all.
she said that people flying during pregnancy were as ignorant and dangerous as people who smoke and drink during it. but that people will convince themselves to take the risk.
so, not being one to risk even a 1% change off harming my baby i was grounded.
not worth the risk, however small.

dublinlady

MMAGirl wrote: »

i asked my consultant and she said not to fly at all.
she said that people flying during pregnancy were as ignorant and dangerous as people who smoke and drink during it. but that people will convince themselves to take the risk.
so, not being one to risk even a 1% change off harming my baby i was grounded.
not worth the risk, however small.

That's ridiculous. Really ridiculous.
I'd get yourself a second opinion - and an attitude adjustment if your suggestion ppl who fly are happy to risk their baby by even 1%.
My consultant in holles st has told me there is no risk to me nor baby. I'm not convincing myself of anything - dealing with the facts. Lets not be rude unnecessarily.

freudiangirl

MMAGirl wrote: »

i asked my consultant and she said not to fly at all.
she said that people flying during pregnancy were as ignorant and dangerous as people who smoke and drink during it. but that people will convince themselves to take the risk.
so, not being one to risk even a 1% change off harming my baby i was grounded.
not worth the risk, however small.

Are you considered a high risk pregnancy?

I travelled when pregnant on #1 at 25 weeks...

banbhaaifric

Well said dublinlady. In all of the reading I've done around pregnancy, and all of the doctors/consultant visits I've been on, I've never heard once that there is any danger whatsoever in flying while pregnant. If there is evidence out there then lets see it. There are many who have to fly occasionally for work who would be interested if there have been some scientific studies. But in the meantime lets try not to make this a competition for who's the "most responsible" (or most smug) at being pregnant.

Gee_G

MMAGirl wrote: »

i asked my consultant and she said not to fly at all.
she said that people flying during pregnancy were as ignorant and dangerous as people who smoke and drink during it. but that people will convince themselves to take the risk.
so, not being one to risk even a 1% change off harming my baby i was grounded.
not worth the risk, however small.

Did she say why?

lazygal

MMAGirl wrote: »

i asked my consultant and she said not to fly at all.
she said that people flying during pregnancy were as ignorant and dangerous as people who smoke and drink during it. but that people will convince themselves to take the risk.
so, not being one to risk even a 1% change off harming my baby i was grounded.
not worth the risk, however small.

I don't doubt you were told this but the consultant might be exaggerating the risk. Nearly every single thing could pose a 1% risk. I flew last time and I'm heading off again this time. There's no comparison between frequent smoking and drinking and occasional flying in terms of statistically significant risk.

holding

OP I flew at 28 weeks on a 4 hour flight there and a 4 hour flight back. I got full insurance with Laya Travel Insurance, which covered me for every kind of pregnancy emergency, for 26e for 7 days. While on the plane or on holiday, I had no problems at all, so didn't use the insurance. To get the insurance, I needed my GP to give me a letter dating from not more than 5 days before flying, which said that I was not at any particular health risk and was having a healthy pregnancy.

MMAGirl

The point the consunltant made was that there is clearly a risk. How big it is is irrelevant. Flying puts an unnecessary risk on your baby. I'm not going to put any avoidable risk on a baby.

So it comes down to if the mother is willing to take a risk with their baby. That's where it's like smoking or drinking. A person who takes the risk will always find someone who says there is no risk and ignore any evidence of risk. The right thing to do is remove the risk and not fly.

Lingua Franca

Risk of what, exactly? And what evidence is there of this risk? Pregnant women travel all the time.

As long as you are not already at risk of miscarriage, or so close to your due date that you're at risk of going into labour on a plane then there's no real risk. Certainly not on short haul flights.

Das Kitty

MMAGirl wrote: »

The point the consunltant made was that there is clearly a risk. How big it is is irrelevant. Flying puts an unnecessary risk on your baby. I'm not going to put any avoidable risk on a baby.

So it comes down to if the mother is willing to take a risk with their baby. That's where it's like smoking or drinking. A person who takes the risk will always find someone who says there is no risk and ignore any evidence of risk. The right thing to do is remove the risk and not fly.

I assume you've given up driving and travel by car then? And you don't go to the supermarket so you can avoid bump height trollies wielded by others? There is risk everywhere. Negligible risk. Avoiding it all is impossible.

MMAGirl

Lingua Franca wrote: »

Risk of what, exactly? And what evidence is there of this risk? Pregnant women travel all the time.

As long as you are not already at risk of miscarriage, or so close to your due date that you're at risk of going into labour on a plane then there's no real risk. Certainly not on short haul flights.

I'll refer you to my previous post. Consultant says there is research done that says flying is a risk. She says fly all I want but be aware that flying because I can get someone else to say Its ok or find some research on the Internet that it's ok does not mean Its safe.
If something happens your baby then Its all on you unless you are happy to convince yourself that it's someone elses fault you took the risk. I can't do that so I won't fly. If there is any risk and I fly then I and only I have made the decision to fly and couldnt live with myself. Because I rejected the risk that is there when flying. Consultant was in holles street too by the way.
Ask your consultant can they guarantee everything will be ok when flying, and get it in writing. You won't get it because the consultant is doing the same. Not taking the risk.

People smoke and drink when pregnant too and will say there is no risk. And most will be fine. But only they are to blame when something goes wrong.
We can all convince ourselves that something is safe easily, if we really want to. Even smoking and drinking. But we know it's not.

Flying , smoking, drinking, is something I can remove as a risk, so I do.

Lingua Franca

I understand that your consultant says there is a risk but you've been asked a few times now, risk of what?

And you will get different responses from different doctors and consultants, see here:

holding wrote: »

To get the insurance, I needed my GP to give me a letter dating from not more than 5 days before flying, which said that I was not at any particular health risk and was having a healthy pregnancy.

I'm not currently pregnant but I have a few children and I flew during all of my pregnancies with the blessing of my doctors. You can indeed get a letter to confirm that it's safe to fly. Perhaps not from your consultant but certainly from others.

How Strange

Clearly a risk? What does that actually mean? There's clearly a risk in everything we do in life regardless of whether we're pregnant or not.

How big the risk is IS very relevant. Otherwise we'd never get out of bed for 9 months and even staying in bed would carry a risk.

That hypothesis sounds like your consultants personal opinion and not a scientific fact. It's regrettable when professional people who hold influential positions give their personal opinion like they're stating facts. However to equate flying to drinking and smoking is irresponsible unless she has some scientific reports to hand that no one else is aware of.

By the way I think to say to a pregnant woman that if she does x and something then happens to her baby then it's on her conscience is passive aggressive to an extreme. That sounds very unprofessional to me. Perhaps you find that kind of scaremongering reassuring but it's have me running out the door to find a less alarmist consultant.

I think, as with everything, a little common sense goes a long way.

MMAGirl

Anyone can fly while pregnant if they like. I just won't risk it.
If you want to know what risks then look them up. You'll find as many studies saying there are risks as studies sayin there are no risks. Half of them all are probably rubbish.
Best way for me to filter them out is to just not fly.
I do know a very good friend who is an air hostess and she says that the amount of incidents in the air with pregnant women is unreal. Medical incidents. Even she says she would not step on a plane when pregnant.
Maybe I'm just paranoid, but there you go. Look up the research yourself,

MMAGirl

Lingua Franca wrote: »

Risk of what, exactly? And what evidence is there of this risk? Pregnant women travel all the time.

As long as you are not already at risk of miscarriage, or so close to your due date that you're at risk of going into labour on a plane then there's no real risk. Certainly not on short haul flights.

All pregnant women are at risk of miscarriage. You should know that.
And short haul flights are no different to long haul. Just shorter

Gee_G

MMAGirl wrote: »

All pregnant women are at risk of miscarriage. You should know that.
And short haul flights are no different to long haul. Just shorter

Yes unfortunately there is a risk of miscarriage,but unfortunately it could happen just as easily with your two feet on solid ground.
I think what the above poster meant was that you would not be sitting on the plane for as long on a short haul flight, I think she's well award its only a shorter version of a long haul flight!
If you take the necessary precautions when on a flight, compression socks, lots of water, little walks around, I Think you will be absolutely fine.

Lingua Franca

Indeed, I just wanted you to specify whether your consultant said that flying put you at higher risk of miscarriage, deep vein thrombosis or spontaenous human combustion. I can get access to these studies because I have a friend who works in a medical library and I needed to know what to ask for.

And the difference between short haul and long haul flights is that the risk for deep vein thrombosis is much, much higher on long haul flights.

MMAGirl

Lingua Franca wrote: »

Indeed, I just wanted you to specify whether your consultant said that flying put you at higher risk of miscarriage, deep vein thrombosis or spontaenous human combustion. I can get access to these studies because I have a friend who works in a medical library and I needed to know what to ask for.

And the difference between short haul and long haul flights is that the risk for deep vein thrombosis is much, much higher on long haul flights.

My point though is that as you say it may be higher in a longer flight, but it is still there on a shorter flight.
Why take the risk.
Just google flying when pregnant and you get all sorts of stuff to ask your friend about. Most will be rubbish but it's a start.
But you are right, don't take mine or anyone else's on the internets word. finding out the details yourself is best.
I'm not willing to take the chance myself on flying.

lazygal

MMAGirl wrote: »

My point though is that as you say it may be higher in a longer flight, but it is still there on a shorter flight.
Why take the risk.
Just google flying when pregnant and you get all sorts of stuff to ask your friend about. Most will be rubbish but it's a start.
But you are right, don't take mine or anyone else's on the internets word. finding out the details yourself is best.
I'm not willing to take the chance myself on flying.

Are you relying on Google or medical advice? If you rely on Google anything can cause anything.

How Strange

MMAGirl we all adapt our lifestyles when we find out we're pregnant and decide that some things are too risky to do during pregnancy.

No one can question your personal decisions but your consultant seems very dogmatic in her opinions on what pregnant women should and shouldn't do.

It's a long 9 months and everyone and their mother will have an opinion on your pregnancy and won't be shy to offer it so you need to have a filter to ignore the opinions and hearsay you don't agree with.

Btw google isn't a reliable resource for anything medical as a lot of it is also hearsay.

I would however be interested in finding out what reports and studies your consultant has at her disposal to have such a fixed view. I think she owes it to the pregnant community at large to share it with us so we can correct our apparent gross irresponsible behaviour. Otherwise how would we know any better?

Lingua Franca

My friend doesn't know anything about flying in pregnancy, she has access to the same peer reviewed studies that your consultant has. I've already asked her to dig out and forward any studies proving or disproving increased risks of miscarriage but it will take her a few days to get back to me.

Googling "does flying when pregnant increase the chances of miscarriage" brings up many reputable medical sources stated that there is no evidence of increased risk of miscarriage.

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/927.aspx?CategoryID=54
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/air-travel-during-pregnancy/AN00398
http://www.babycenter.com.au/x2599/is-it-safe-to-fly-during-pregnancy

Googling "flying while pregnant" brings up a lot of the same links and more all saying the same thing. I've not yet found any link saying that flying is contraindicated during a normal healthy pregnancy.

When I was pregnant with my first child I was told that dyeing your hair could cause birth defects and that eating cooked ham could cause miscarriage.

If we're bringing up anecdotes: My partner is an air traffic controller at a very busy airport and he personally has never had to deal with or witnessed a medical emergency involving a pregnant woman. Heart attacks, asthma attacks and diabetic comas and the like are daily occurances for him since if anyone takes sick on a plane then ATC must be alerted and they have to have an ambulance waiting when the flight arrives. He's a ground controller so that's under his remit. And speaking of diabetes, my type 1 diabetic (ie, not pregnancy related) co worker got the go ahead to travel to Turkey in her second trimester. Due to my job I had to fly a lot while pregnant and did so with the blessing of my medical team.

Everything is risky in some way or another and it's up the individual to weigh up the risks to see if it's worth it. Since the risks of flying are considered negligible in a healthy pregnancy and flying in the second trimester isn't contraindicated I would consider it worth it.

In the case of the OP it reads like you couldn't claim for a check up under your travel insurance but that you could claim for a pregancy related emergency, is that right? You'll be having a check up before you go and can have one when you come back so you should be fine. If you think you might want a check up while you're away you could always try to find out how much it would cost (and if you do please share with us, American health care charges are fascinatingly scandalous!).

holding

Biggest risk I found when flying at 28 weeks was trying to get the flight socks on - you would want to be a yoga instructor to pull on those tight socks with a bump in the way!

January

Mod Note: We cannot give you medical advice here, please speak to your GP or your consultant in hospital. Don't take the advice of women over the internet for something like this, yes many women fly and are fine but you will always have the rare one where a woman gave birth on a plane while they were 30,000 odd feet in the air with no previous complications.