Baby’s first flight, sort of. Can you fly while pregnant?
If you’re carrying a baby in your belly, chances are that there will be some point during your pregnancy that you either:
- Requested to fly for business
- Requested to fly for family or personal reasons
- Are considering a vacation, regardless of whether you’re a frequent flyer or not
There are a ton of misconceptions and questions about flying while pregnant. Mainly, people are concerned with whether or not it’s safe for both the mother and baby. When it comes down it to, the safety of flying depends on the specific pregnancy and any complications that may be involved. Of course, you should always consult your doctor before boarding a plane (especially during the final trimester), but for the most part, flying is usually safe for pregnant women!
Here are three things you may not know about flying while pregnant:
1. Most women are perfectly safe to fly throughout their pregnancy
Many people have the misconception that flying while pregnant is not safe, but the truth is that it’s not normally harmful for the developing baby or the mother. Unless you’re having complications with the pregnancy, you should be safe to fly up until the very end (around 36 weeks). After the 36 week mark, safety regarding a plane flight is more a matter of not wanting the expectant mother to go into labor in the air rather than the safety of the flight itself.
As always, it is important to clear the flight with your doctor, midwife, childbirth educator, or other health and wellness professional, but most likely, you won’t need to worry about flying.
2. The second trimester may actually be the best time to fly
One of the concerns many people have about flying while pregnant is morning sickness. The last thing anyone who has experienced morning sickness wants is to experience it on a plane alongside hundreds of strangers. The good news is that once you’re in your second trimester, most women are past the point of experiencing the symptoms of morning sickness… so fly on!
The second trimester is generally the best time to fly because:
- Expectant mothers are over the morning sickness that they dealt with during the first trimester
- Energy levels are heightened during the second trimester
- The third trimester (where you are more easily fatigued) is still weeks away
3. Airport scanners are perfectly safe
Many people are worried about airport scanners even if they aren’t pregnant, but the truth is that airport detectors radiate such low doses of waves that there is no need to worry about the health of you or your baby.
With both new and older model airport scanners, the amount of exposure is much too low to be harmful. So feel free to glide through those scanners, and enjoy airport security without having to worry about traveling with formula.
Don’t let flying and traveling become a source of stress and concern during your pregnancy. Check with your doctor to ensure that you have no complications that affect the safety of flying, but otherwise, try not to worry. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy your baby moon or other high-altitude adventure.
In the meantime, turn to Mom’s On Top for trusted tips, knowledge, and insights regarding everything that you need to know for a safe, confident, and unique childbirth and labor experience.
