I have to admit that I was rather worried when I realized that I would be flying while pregnant. Dissuaded? No… Far from that but worried, definitely yes! A lot of women fly when pregnant and at different times during their pregnancy. All I needed was a nod from my OBGYN and I would be ready to go.
After all… I did manage to travel across from Philippines to India after finding out I was pregnant. The journey was tiring, and it taught me a few lessons that I used when I was flying the second time around. This time I was in my second trimester.
The last flights that I took were in my last trimester which was by far the hardest despite trying my very best to keep things comfortable. Do I advise against it? Not really. Just be aware that things do get difficult. I thought that I would share some of the tips that I stumbled across the way.
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1. Get Your Doctors Permission Before Flying When Pregnant
I’ve had a lot of well meaning (or so they believed) advice thrown my way from a lot of people when it came to flying when pregnant. Some of them bachelors who had no clue what the f*** (excuse my language) they were saying.
At the end of the day it is wise to remember that all these naysayers do not have a PhD in Obstetrics and Gynecology. So listen to your doctor. If she/he says that you can fly that means that you can. If she says no then don’t take the risk.
Every woman is different, and some people do have issues. Take me for example. I was on bed rest for some part of my first trimester and was allowed to fly only once I crossed into the second trimester. My doctor then told me I could fly till 33 weeks unless something went wrong in the interim. So, make sure that you follow up with yours and use the advice that is tailored to you.
2. Check The Airline Rules About Flying When Pregnant
Every airline has different rules about flying when pregnant. Some will even quite the number of weeks that you are allowed to fly at. Some may require a doctor’s certificate if you are late in the third trimester. I wasn’t sure what mine entailed but since I was just thirteen weeks pregnant, I wasn’t too worried. I did fly again at 20 weeks and 28 weeks. My experience was still similar.
Just to be a bit more reassured I did carry a fit to fly certificate from my doctor. Then again, I was flying with AirAsia so anything could happen. Just paid to be safe.
3. Dealing With Nausea And Vomiting When Flying Pregnant
One of the things that really freaked me out was dealing with the nausea and vomiting on the flight. This was largely because the prior week to the flight was spent with me heaving my guts out. Luckily, I did get better and I did not have to throw up, but the nausea still persisted. A few quick tips that helped me were:.
Carry Food
You will know exactly what food you can eat and what you can. Airports don’t always have a great variety. So make sure that you carry food that you know you can eat rather than the airline food which may make you sick.
Carry A Disposable Bag
Carry your own disposable bag just in case you need to throw up. My seat did not come with the mandatory paper bag for people who were motion sick. I had to request the AirAsia air hostess three times before she plucked one from another seat and handed it to be disdainfully.
One of the biggest issues that I had was during the food distribution time. The smell of the food was strong, and it made the nausea difficult. I ordered a cup of coffee and kept smelling it along the way which helped immensely. You may find some other methods and if you do just let me know too. For me this was the worst part of the flight.
Try And Get An Aisle Seat
Asking for an aisle seat close to one of the bathrooms also helps so you can use the restroom quickly if required.
4. Long Flights, Pregnancy And Deep Vein Thrombosis
Compression socks come in the cutest colours these days.
Pregnant women are at a higher risk for deep vein thrombosis during flights. This is particularly true in the last trimester of pregnancy.
Remember to do your leg exercises when you travel to ensure that the blood circulation is moving. Get up and walk up and down the aisle every so often. It is difficult and sometimes it can be a pain, but I always use the restroom as an excuse to get myself up and moving.
Getting an aisle seat also helps since you don’t have to feel awkward about disturbing your neighbors. You can also try using compression socks but consult your doctor before doing so. As I have mentioned before, every pregnancy is different and your doctor is the best person to guide you on these things.
I also chose to take a long stopover in Kuala Lumpur so that I could walk around, get a bite to eat, use the rest rooms and catch a nap.
5. Try And Get Access To A Lounge During Your Stopover
I usually don’t take to lounges very much. Airports fascinate me and there is usually a good place to catch some rest. Especially in an airport like the one in Kuala Lumpur. I did however have free lounge access, so I decided to rest in one.
Turned out to be a wise decision. I got a bite to eat, a quiet place to snooze, clean bathrooms to freshen up without any hassle and I even took a shower. Definitely the best decision I made when it came to flying when pregnant.
6. Try Not To Rush
Longer connections mean that there is less reason to rush. Now if you deal with fatigue or nausea or any of the other myriad of symptoms that come with pregnancy you will be grateful for that extra leeway.
I found myself leaving the lounge a little extra early to head to my gate and boy was I grateful since the gate turned out to be at another end of the airport. It was quite a walk and luckily, I did not have to rush. The further along you are in your pregnancy (especially when it comes to flying long haul when pregnant), rushing because more and more difficult. So keep that in mind too.
7. Ask For Help When You Need It
If you are travelling with company this definitely goes without saying but if you are lying alone like I did, it does get daunting. Ask someone to lift your luggage at check-in or off the ramp when you collect it. People are genuinely nice, and someone will help.
That being said, flying when pregnant doesn’t mean that everyone is courteous. I’ve been shoved around at airports (India) even though I was obviously pregnant. Some people just don’t care. At other times, I’ve had people suggest I jump the queue because I was doing the pee dance in the restrooms. So, the experiences are rather varied.
8. Do Not Take The Seats Near The Emergency Exit
Even when you get a seat that relines, you will find that a pregnancy support belt will definitely provide extra comfort.
We did not realize that we were seated at the emergency exit when we entered because Air Asia normally reserves this for people who prebook their seats. Shawn was thrilled because well… Extra leg room.
I wasn’t too excited especially when midway through the flight I realized that the seats don’t recline. As a pregnant person who was just beginning to realize the discomforts of a distended abdomen, not being able to recline made the flight extremely uncomfortable.
Luckily, it was just a short two-hour trip, or it would have been worse. Well no one said flying when pregnant was always easy, but you can try to make it as comfortable as possible.
Using a maternity belt to support the back and belly is also a great idea and I wish someone had told me about it earlier. In retrospect, I feel as if I would have been more comfortable and the backache wouldn’t have been quite as bad.
9. Keep Your Carryon As Light As Possible
Carrying a heavy bag while you are uncomfortable is the last thing you want to do. Besides it isn’t even good for you. Try and keep the carryon bag as light as possible while flying when pregnant. If someone is traveling with you, don’t hesitate to ask for a hand.
Solo travelers can keep an eye out for the trolleys to push which takes the load off you. While it may not seem like much, every bit of energy you save on long haul flights matters. This is especially true as you get into the last trimester of your pregnancy. I never realized how comfortable travelling light was till I took flights while pregnant.
10. Wear Comfortable Clothes
Another important part about flying when pregnant is choosing comfortable clothes. I prefer loose cotton clothes, but I carry a jacket and a scarf because airports tend to get cold. One thing I wish people had told me earlier was to use low waist panties. You won’t believe the big difference it makes.
Try and wear shoes that have a grip and that can be put on without too much bending. I chose to wear crocs. I know… They aren’t the cutest thing on earth but they were comfortable and I did not have to bend to slip them on.
At the end of the day, what you can do and what you can’t do should not be dictated by random people. It is only you who know what your limitations are. Yup! That was my golden rule throughout. Flying when pregnant is not necessarily easy all the time. In fact, it can get tiring. Give yourself a break and try to make the journey as comfortable as you possibly can.
Have any tips that we missed for women flying when pregnant? Let us know in the comments below.
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