Women hiding their pregnancy on planes! That's the headline I saw on my newsreader last night. My first thought was "seriously?" The article details a few instances where pregnant women have given birth on long haul flights. While admitting it's not often, it certainly makes for a great story.
The real problem is that pregnant women will read this and be frightened about flying in the third trimester. Most airlines tell you that you can't fly in the final weeks of pregnancy or in labor.
Delta says that they don't really have any restrictions and pregnant women don't need a medical certificate to fly, but they advise that in the last month you check with your doctor or midwife.
The rules are different for United. They require that in the 9th month you have a letter from the last three days from your obstetrician (What about your midwife?) with your due date, that you're physically fit to fly and the dates and destinations of travel.
While Southwest Air says that they simply recommend that you don't fly after the 38th week.
So as you can see, the rules vary widely. I personally flew at 37 weeks with my fourth baby. I knew I always went late, and I was. I talked to my practitioner and I carried a copy of my prenatal records should I need care while I was in the other city, which was more likely than me needing help in the air. I even had the name of a back up physician in the city in which I was traveling too (benefit of my job). A friend of mine who is pregnant told me that her obstetrician told her, in a low risk pregnancy, she's not to travel in the third trimester, at all. What?
The problem that flight attendants have is trying to figure out who is pregnant and how far along they might be. Seriously, you think that there has been a big deal made over the weight issue? Start accusing women of being pregnant when they aren't or telling a pregnant woman she looks like she's going to give birth at any moment! That's dangerous.
So, what's your thought? Would you fly? If so, when and Why?
Related:
Only in America….
There have also been cases in the media lately where a woman has given birth on a plane and then dumped the baby, so has obviously tried to completely hide her pregnancy which is a little scary and very dangerous and irresponsible…but in terms of knowingly flying late in pregnancy there should be restrictions…I don’t think I’d like to be flying late in pregnancy and give birth on a plane where this is nowhere near the amount of assistance and medical gadgets if something goes wrong…all that’s doing is putting mum and baby’s health at risk….
It was a sad story all the way around. Though I can’t imagine having someone go into labor and have a baby without someone else knowing.
I am personally about to fly to the United States from Canada and I will be 32 weeks pregnant. I have no intention of hiding it what-so-ever, however I have been told that US Customs can “technically” refuse me entry into the US because I can be a potential “medical liability”. Can’t ANYONE be a potential medical liability at any give time?? I know pregancy can be a bit unpredictable, but COME ON!! But I have a written note from my OB and proof of medcal insurance should anything happen, so I’m not too worried. So far my pregnancy has been uneventful, and I don’t anticipate any troubles during my five days in the US. This is momma’s last chance at a trip without baby for a LONG time and I’m taking it! LOL!
I, personally, have to travel. I also have a friend that has traveled back to the US late in her last two pregnancies because she wants to give birth at “home” and not overseas.
I feel the same way, so while I’m not going home for the entire 9 months, I will be traveling some time towards the end of my second trimester and the beginning of my third.
I wouldn’t hide it and I can’t believe that a pregnant woman could be a medical liability! But who knows? (right
)
It’s not just in America. I recently took a flight from Geneva to Paris (45 min) and the flight attendant made a point of asking me if I should be flying. I was 27 weeks pregnant at the time and I’m not that big, seriously!
I went for a vacation to Jamaica in August and I was in week 30 and believe me I was huge already. I asked my OBGYN to write me a letter because I was advised by Iberia airlines to have one on me. Nobody asked me a thing at the check in, boarding or on the plane. I got to the USA to board the AA flight – again nobody asked me a thing. Same on the way back… In total we took 7 flights in 2 weeks – national/international/local. Mind you we flew business/first class and one always gets better treatment as one would in coach… So maybe that’s the trick. I had no problems. The baby kicked a bit during take off but I sat comfortably and did my yoga breathing. The only thing the doctor advised was to get up and walk as often as possible and so I did…
This is not an American thing. I was nearly denied boarding in Milan (heading to Brussels) when I was only 24 weeks – the airline policy required “fit to fly” documentation after 28 weeks so I didn’t have a letter with me. Fortunately I had a dated ultrasound photo which was sufficient to prove that I was only 24 weeks, but I was pretty annoyed that I was asked to provide more documentation than the policy officially required.
I’m 34 weeks pregnant and just last week I travelled from Dubai to the USA via Delta Airlines..
Trip was exhausting, but all went well.
I am 36 weeks pregnant. I informed my employer that I could not travel past 32 weeks. My question is why (unless for medical reasons) would you want to travel in the third trimester!
With my third pregnancy, I flew at 35 weeks for my sister’s wedding–I was not going to miss it! That meant I was 36+ weeks flying back home again, but I didn’t have any issues. I flew Southwest Airlines, and I just handed my midwife’s “permission to fly” paper over during check-in, and wasn’t really asked any questions. I did know where I could go for medical care and I had my prenatal visit info with me if I happened to go into labor early, but I am typically pretty late, so I didn’t expect that to be an issue. I am so thankful I took that trip, because my grandpa passed away suddenly a few weeks later, and I was able to see him and hug him one last time before that happened.
Did not give birth in a plane, but started having contractions at 24weeks and was flying alone with 2 year old son. Some nasty things have been said about Ryanair but the staff couldn’t have been nicer. They called an ambulance to meet me on arrival and took charge of my son. Was scary and a delicate pregnancy after but i have a healthy second son and it wouldn’t stop me flying when pregnant again!
Sometimes it’s a family emergency. A close relative was dying at the very end of my first pregnancy and we flew to say good byes and stayed for the funeral. At that point my OB felt it was better for me to spend 2 hours in a plane than 6-7 hours in a car. So I don’t think most women are going on vacations at this point, though some are trying to get home to have the baby.