Tips on Pregnant Flying: Air Travel for Mom-to-Be - 2

Prevent Dehydration While Flying

Pregnant women are also more prone to dehydration, Rahl says, because their plasma volume increases dramatically. Turns out that making a person from scratch requires an awful lot of blood.

“Blood volume increases significantly while pregnant, so women will need to drink more to compensate for dehydration,” Rahl says. “If women are in a middle seat in coach, it would probably be less comfortable than if they were not pregnant. They may have to urinate more frequently. This could be a problem with all the delays and not being able to leave your seat!”

To avoid dehydration—which can also trigger pre-term labor—be sure to drink plenty of fluids, preferably water. Of course, passengers are no longer permitted to bring bottles of water or other drinks through security, so make sure you stop once inside the gate area and buy something to wet your whistle.

(Editor’s note: For international flights into the United States, check with the gate agent first to make sure it’s OK to bring liquids purchased after having gone through security onto the flight. It was fine on a recent flight from London, but water bottles and other liquids were confiscated at the gates in Beijing and Buenos Aires.)

Avoiding caffeinated beverages can also help prevent dehydration. Stick to water or juice and you should be just fine.

Speaking of dehydration, Rahl advises that women stick to shorter flights when they are with child. The longer the flight, the more opportunity for something to go wrong.

Stick to Short Flights

Ahn agrees that overseas flights should be limited, and she advises her patients not to travel abroad after hitting the 32-week mark. If you absolutely must make one last pre-baby trip to Paris, she says, make sure to bring a copy of your medical records with you.

“If you have complications (while you are abroad), it is much harder to get adequate care,” she cautions.

And what happens if you do go into labor while you’re 32,000 feet up? During a short domestic hop, the pilots may be able to make an emergency landing. But when you’re flying over the Atlantic Ocean, Rahl says, you’re out of luck.

“If there is a complication you are not able to quickly land the plane and access emergency medical care,” she says. 

Safe First Trimester Travel and Beyond

Now that I’ve scared your maternity pants off, take a deep breath. Both Rahl and Ahn agree that pregnancy isn’t a handicap, and you don’t have to cancel that romantic beach babymoon you’ve got planned.

Flying during your first trimester is perfectly safe, says Ahn, despite the rumor that it can trigger miscarriage. You are most vulnerable to miscarriage during those first 12 weeks, but 99 percent of incidents are due to genetic defects in the fetus.

You may, however, be extremely uncomfortable. Most women who experience morning sickness (totally a misnomer, by the way, you can barf at any time of day, trust me) do so during their first six to 16 weeks.

“The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology says the second trimester is the best time to fly,” Rahl says. “You are not nauseated and you are less tired.”

Less tired, that is, if you are a first-time mom. Take it from me, that 3-year-old will suck every last molecule of energy right out of your body. Not that I don’t love my kid. I really, really do.

I just love her a lot more when we’re not in an airport.