How late in a multiple pregnancy can you safely travel/fly?

sad_about_IF · 05-20-2009, 04:40 AM

I have a question about travelling when pregnant. Has anyone been told by their doctor when it will be too late or unsafe for them to travel (specifically, to fly)? I know that airlines have a cut-off after which you can't fly (usually 36 weeks), but the pregnancy books give different info. One book (written by an OB) says she doesn't let her patients who are pregnant with twins travel after 20 weeks, but other books are more vague. If you have no complications, does anyone know how late you can safely travel? I have a family thing across the country I'd like to go to in late July, but I will be 28-29 weeks and am unsure if I should risk it. My doc says it is probably ok, but everyone else I have spoken to says I shouldn't go. Of course if we leave it to the last minute to decide, the plane tickets will be very expensive. I know about cancellation insurance, but am really agonizing over what to do. What do you think?

IsisWannaBe · 05-20-2009, 05:46 AM

I went to see my OB in the first trimester and she told me not to travel at all for the entire pregnancy! I think every case is different. What I can tell you is that I really started feeling different about 24 weeks and now at 28 weeks I feel terrible every day and a trip may be too much for me at this point - if not physically because it is so much harder to get around then maybe emotionally because everything seems to upset me.

Good Luck with your decision!

Suzan33 · 05-20-2009, 07:15 AM

When I was pregnant with the triplets our last vacation was around 16 weeks. The dr. was leary even then but it was only a 45 minute flight and he gave us the name of a great High risk dr in Santa Barbara so he was Ok, not great with the idea, but ok.

Suzan
g/g/b born 8-21-2005

sad_about_IF · 05-20-2009, 09:52 AM

Thanks Isis & Suzan - I really appreciate your opinions. The place we would be going is about 3000 miles away (= long flight) and remote (= no NICU or specialist OB/perinatologist within a few hundred miles). We're not necessarily worrying about premature delivery as much as me feeling horrible/uncomfortable/upset/stressed with the travelling and then being out in the middle of nowhere in the summer heat when I'm heavily pregnant. I'm leaning towards NOT going at this point, but just wondered what other people's doctors might have recommended re: travel. I guess that a lot of the advice is very individual b/c every pregnancy is different. Thanks again!

B · 05-20-2009, 10:03 AM

My OB was going to let me travel at 28w, albeit only Vegas to Reno for the day, and the Monday prior to my trip I ended up in L & D and bed rest for premature contractions. I am almost 31w and I am still on bedrest...

If you're going to be uncomfortable and perhaps stressed, I'd go with your gut and pass on the trip. I wish you the best whatever you decide to do and congrats on the twins!

sunshine_girl · 05-20-2009, 02:39 PM

I was told not to travel farther than 30 minutes at 30 weeks. I stopped traveling for work at 24 weeks.

I can tell you at 27 weeks I can barely make it through the work day. My idea of a vacation is parking it on the couch each night.

sad_about_IF · 05-21-2009, 06:06 AM

Just an update - I spoke with some other moms of twins yesterday and they ALL said the same thing as you. By the time they were 28 weeks there was no way they were going to be travelling long distance anywhere. So at the end of it all, DH and I have decided not to go. Thanks again to everyone for your advice!

05-20-2009, 04:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
sad_about_IF 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 169	How late in a multiple pregnancy can you safely travel/fly? I have a question about travelling when pregnant. Has anyone been told by their doctor when it will be too late or unsafe for them to travel (specifically, to fly)? I know that airlines have a cut-off after which you can't fly (usually 36 weeks), but the pregnancy books give different info. One book (written by an OB) says she doesn't let her patients who are pregnant with twins travel after 20 weeks, but other books are more vague. If you have no complications, does anyone know how late you can safely travel? I have a family thing across the country I'd like to go to in late July, but I will be 28-29 weeks and am unsure if I should risk it. My doc says it is probably ok, but everyone else I have spoken to says I shouldn't go. Of course if we leave it to the last minute to decide, the plane tickets will be very expensive. I know about cancellation insurance, but am really agonizing over what to do. What do you think?

05-20-2009, 05:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
IsisWannaBe 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 191	I went to see my OB in the first trimester and she told me not to travel at all for the entire pregnancy! I think every case is different. What I can tell you is that I really started feeling different about 24 weeks and now at 28 weeks I feel terrible every day and a trip may be too much for me at this point - if not physically because it is so much harder to get around then maybe emotionally because everything seems to upset me. Good Luck with your decision! __________________ Meg Me 34, Dh 30 Married & TTC since 10/2006 5/2007 robotic myomectomy for fibroids, stage 2 endometriosis 8/2007-1/2008 Clomid & IUIs-BFNs 5/2008 IVF # 1 - BFP Low Betas M/C 9.5 weeks 9/2008 IVF # 2-BFN 11/2008 IVF # 3-BFP!!!!!!!! G/B TWINS

05-20-2009, 07:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
Suzan33 700-799 post 9 of hearts Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 740	When I was pregnant with the triplets our last vacation was around 16 weeks. The dr. was leary even then but it was only a 45 minute flight and he gave us the name of a great High risk dr in Santa Barbara so he was Ok, not great with the idea, but ok. Suzan g/g/b born 8-21-2005 __________________ Suzan g/g/b born 8-21-2005 my 24 week miracles [SIZE="1"]ttc 3 years

05-20-2009, 10:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
B 5000-9999 post king of hearts Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 6,042	My OB was going to let me travel at 28w, albeit only Vegas to Reno for the day, and the Monday prior to my trip I ended up in L & D and bed rest for premature contractions. I am almost 31w and I am still on bedrest... If you're going to be uncomfortable and perhaps stressed, I'd go with your gut and pass on the trip. I wish you the best whatever you decide to do and congrats on the twins! __________________ Brandi 1/06 My FET Miracle IVF/FET #6 Twin girls due 7/24/09, born 5/27/09 @ 31w5d - FINALLY HOME on 6/30/09

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05-20-2009, 09:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
sad_about_IF 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 169	Thanks Isis & Suzan - I really appreciate your opinions. The place we would be going is about 3000 miles away (= long flight) and remote (= no NICU or specialist OB/perinatologist within a few hundred miles). We're not necessarily worrying about premature delivery as much as me feeling horrible/uncomfortable/upset/stressed with the travelling and then being out in the middle of nowhere in the summer heat when I'm heavily pregnant. I'm leaning towards NOT going at this point, but just wondered what other people's doctors might have recommended re: travel. I guess that a lot of the advice is very individual b/c every pregnancy is different. Thanks again!

05-20-2009, 02:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
sunshine_girl 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 155	I was told not to travel farther than 30 minutes at 30 weeks. I stopped traveling for work at 24 weeks. I can tell you at 27 weeks I can barely make it through the work day. My idea of a vacation is parking it on the couch each night.

05-21-2009, 06:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
sad_about_IF 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 169	Just an update - I spoke with some other moms of twins yesterday and they ALL said the same thing as you. By the time they were 28 weeks there was no way they were going to be travelling long distance anywhere. So at the end of it all, DH and I have decided not to go. Thanks again to everyone for your advice!