Is It Safe To Fly While Pregnant?

A new baby is going to change your life and take up a lot of your

time. So much so that some relationships become a bit strained in the first year and many couples will want to take a holiday before baby comes along. This prompts the question whether it is safe to fly while you are pregnant.

Most airlines allow pregnant women to fly up until the baby is in its 34th or 35th week - 35 for most domestic airlines and 34 for international destinations. However, check with your airline in case they have a different deadline.

There are a few precautions you should take.

- the risk of becoming dehydrated is greater for a pregnant woman, so take a bottle of water with you onto the plane. If you need to ask for more from the stewardess, don't be shy. It is important that you have sufficient fluids.

- wear support hose. OK, it's not glamorous, but nor are blood clots! Take frequent exercise by walking up the aisle, this will prevent your blood from pooling in your legs.

- if possible, fly during the second trimester. This is the period between 18 and 24 weeks and this is considered to be the safest time to fly.

Some pregnant woman are strongly advised not to fly.

- you should probably not fly if you have a weak cervix. If you think this includes you, check first with your medical adviser.

- you should not fly if you have a complicated pregnancy, for example high blood pressure.

- avoid flying if you have placenta previa.

The flight may take only two or three hours, but an emergency could occur and you and your baby could be at risk. Take medical advice before you make any bookings and take note of any warnings. There are many holiday resorts reachable by car or train in this country and, should you need medical attention, it is far better to be near home.