Travel during pregnancy is very common and frequent reason for OB consult.
If travel is safe in your particular case should always be asked by your OB and you will need a fitness certificate with certain eligibility hours depending on your airline.
You don’t need any medical certificate till 28 weeks. After 28 weeks you need a travel fitness certificate. You aren’t allowed to fly after the 32nd week of a multiple pregnancy or the 36th week of a single pregnancy. However these rules also can vary among different airlines. Medical certificate eligibility also varies among airlines, so check your airlines policy before generating a request of travel certificate.
Airport scanners are full body millimeter-wave scanners, which uses radio waves which is same radiation that your phone, television and radio use to function. Radio waves are low-energy non-ionizing radiation. Exposures to these radiation do not pose a risk to pregnant women and their babies because it doesn’t reach very far inside the body.
any type of travel lasting 4 hours or more—whether by car, train, bus, or plan doubles the risk of clot . Being pregnant is an added risk factor.
– Book an aisle seat to make it easier to get up and walk around a few times during your flight. Frequent drinking may make you pee more often—don’t hold it too long.
– Do regular foot exercises every half hourly. Bend and stretch 30 times, rotate clockwise and anti-clockwise 8 times each. Repeat same on other foot.
– If travel is more than 4 hours then your doctor might prescribe you anti thrombotic injection to be taken before flight.
Oxygen pressure decreases in high altitude but body adjust to it.
Occasional flying does not put pregnancy at risk due to cosmic radiation. However frequent fliers might be exposed to a higher level of cosmic radiation.
– Avoid gas-producing carbonated fizzy drinks before or during your flight. Gas expands at high altitude and can cause discomfort. Drink water instead.
– Take a cup of water every half hourly. Low humidity in the cabin can lead to dehydration.
– Avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea.
– Take regular small meals to boost your energy.
– Wear comfortable shoes.
– Wear clothing that is not too tight. Better be in few layers of light clothing that can easily be added or removed.
Wear your seat belt at all times. Turbulence can happen without warning during air travel. The belt should sit low on your hip bones, below your belly.
– Abdominal pain
– Labour pains
– Headache or Vision problems
– Leg swelling or pain
– Vaginal bleeding
– Water breaking
Carry all your record of antenatal tests and scans.