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There are so many articles about flying when you are pregnant and whether you should or should not and this isn’t designed to be one of those articles. You can find some guidance on the question of if you should be flying when pregnant and at what point of your pregnancy you should stop here on the Baby Centre website or here on the NHS website.
However once you’ve decided that you will be flying when pregnant, then here are some tips about what to think about before and if you do.
1. How long do you want to fly for?
I flew to Barbados when I was 5 months pregnant with my eldest daughter and so glad we did. We haven’t been back since and it was a last blast before all 3 came along. I chose a direct flight from Manchester though and chose Barbados over other Caribbean islands due to the shorter flight time. I can’t tell you I was comfortable for the whole trip but I can tell you I am really happy we did decide to make the flight and fly when I was pregnant.
Look how happy and relaxed I look!
2. How long will you be in the airport for, will the airport be comfortable enough?
We flew to see a friend of mine in Ireland when I was around 34 weeks pregnant. The airport we flew into was tiny and on the way home there was a 5 hour delay due to high winds. The airport didn’t really have any facilities, had very uncomfortable chairs and very limited food options. It was awful. The delay in a bigger airport would still have been frustrating but it would have been bearable. Definitely something to consider if you are flying when pregnant.
3. What are you going to wear when you’re flying when pregnant?
Comfy clothes are a necessity. They can still be stylish but make sure they are comfortable. I love maternity jeans but for flying it was always a dress, leggings and cardigans (layers basically) so I could wear as much or as little as I needed. You are carrying your own hot water bottle as you know!
4. Take Snacks and Drinks
Regardless of whether you are travelling on an airline with food, take snacks and water with you. Cravings and the necessity to eat can hit you at any time during your pregnancy and you don’t want to suddenly need food a hour after you’ve refused the airline meal because you feel sick (yes that happened!).
5. Consider paying for Extra Leg Room seats – More important for Flying when Pregnant
Most airlines won’t let you sit near an exit door, as you might not be able to move quickly enough (!). When I was pregnant with the twins I was health and safety assessed at work to see if I was able to navigate the stairs and safe enough to be in the building (but I digress!). Most airlines have extra leg room seats that aren’t at the doors and it might be worth for comfort reasons trying to negotiate, or pay extra for these.
6. Walk About
Get up and walk about as often as you can.
7. Pick a location it’ll be hard(er) to visit with the kids
Not really a tip about flying when pregnant but I am so glad we had a last blast to the Caribbean. I think we are now at the point we can go back with them and enjoy it. Florida this year but maybe onto Caribbean next year!
8. Check your Insurance
A regular reader and contributor reminded me that it is important to check your insurance before you fly when pregnant. Even if your Doctor is happy for you to fly your insurance company may not be. Don’t let that put you off flying when pregnant though. It should be cheap enough to cancel the policy that isn’t happy (if you have an annual policy) or hunt around for a sensible one that does. Just make sure you check.
9. Enjoy your Holiday
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I flew when I was about 6 months pregnant with my second and 7 months with pregnant wtih my third. Both were very quick flights over to Ireland – comfort was definitely key though!
This is great Karen. I really wish I’d thought about half this stuff when I took my one and only flight while pregnant, especially the extra drinks thing.
Really useful, though i travel like a nomad. I was looking for informatio like this. Thanks karen
A well written & well researched articles, Karen.
I’m past my pregnancy years, but would have loved info like this back in those days.
A very interesting and thoughtful article, Karen! Well done.
Great tips Karen, I never flew when I was pregnant, I am not sure it was a decision part from the fact that I was so sick at the beginning I just never considered being far from home or an early night, x
This is such a helpful post. I was ten weeks pregnant with Little Miss H when I flew to New York. I wasn’t showing but I felt very ill. I was walking around a lot and the flight crew asked me if I was okay. So I told them. They were brilliant and gave me a huge bottle of water, extra pillows and blankets, they told me which toilet was usually used the least and that if I needed anything I just had to buzz. And they constantly came to check if I was okay. It was so good to tell them. And if I was flying in early pregnancy again then I would definitely mention it to the flight crew. Hugs Lucy xxxx
This is good! I also recommend not sitting near the washroom if you are sensitive to odors! I was in the very last row recently; and I’m pregnant. By flight’s end, with the smells increasing, I was wildly eager to get off the plane!
Nice tips – I did my last flight at about 30 weeks and while the flight itself was fine (about 4h), waddling along the endless airport corridors was not as fun. I very quickly switched to an aisle seat for those frequent toilet breaks too! And I remember getting a lot of special treatment 🙂
I WISH I’d been brave enough to fly when I was pregnant. The journey to motherhood was not a smooth one for me though and I wouldn’t have put the babies under any risk at all — even if the risk was more in my head than in real life!! You look so happy in your holiday pic 🙂 xx
A really helpful post, thank you. We’re going on holiday in June and we’re also TTC so this could end up being me, God willing! Very handy tips 🙂 #sundaystars
A useful post. I never flew when I was pregnant. I think I would have done, we just didn’t have any trips planned. #sundaystars
Great suggestions here. I’ll be sure to pass these on to any mums to be that are planning on flying whilst pregnant. #sundaystars xxx
When I was PG with baby no3 I flew at one of the last weeks you could (with a doctors note). It was only to Spain so not far but there was no way I was cancelling what could be my last holiday in a while!
I completely agree with walking about – I did suffer from water retention and walking helped.