Pregnant women are hearing a new warning from a leading obstetrician‑gynecologist: don’t fly after 28‑35 weeks for international travel, and avoid air travel once you’ve crossed 36 weeks of pregnancy. The advice comes after a TikTok‑famous mom flew to France at 38 weeks, hiding her bump at the airport and later sharing that her baby was ready to arrive.
Why the caution?
Dr. Brooke Vandermolen, a London‑based OB‑GYN who runs the TikTok account @theobgynmum, said that flying too late in pregnancy can trigger serious complications. “Babies can arrive unexpectedly, and the plane’s environment makes things riskier,” she told followers. The potential problems she mentioned include:
- Excessive bleeding or hemorrhage after giving birth on a plane.
- Early labor that can happen far from medical help.
- Shoulder dystocia, where a baby’s shoulder gets stuck during delivery.
- Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions if the baby is born prematurely or with complications.
- Emergency CPR if a baby’s breathing is compromised.
“It’s a real medical emergency if a labor starts mid‑flight,” Dr. Vandermolen added. “You can’t always do the right thing on an airplane.”
What flight schedules and airlines say
Both Johns Hopkins Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) confirm the warning. ACOG recommends that women avoid air travel after 36 weeks of pregnancy for any trip, domestic or international. Johns Hopkins’ guidelines are a bit stricter for overseas travel: after 28 weeks, it’s safer to stay home until the baby’s due date.
Airlines differ on what they require. Some may ask for a doctor’s letter or proof of the due date, while others might deny boarding without it. Dr. Vandermolen cautions that airlines can’t guarantee the same level of care abroad, and insurance coverage for a mid‑flight delivery can be spotty.
How common are complications?
The risk of pregnancy‑related complications is highest in the first and third trimesters. “As you get further along, everything becomes more unpredictable,” she explained. ACOG notes that early labor is most likely in the third trimester, especially if the mother has underlying pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes or pre‑eclampsia.
Re‑thinking the “trip”
Dr. Vandermolen’s message echoes the rules many health experts give: if you’re pregnant, think carefully before booking a flight, especially after the first trimester. “Your baby’s safety is not worth putting at risk,” she said. She also urged other pregnant women to consider the medical quality they’ll find abroad. In an international flight, you may have to find a hospital that accepts your insurance, or face high out‑of‑pocket costs if labor starts somewhere you’re not familiar with.
What pregnant women can do instead
- Check the guidelines that your airline and the ACOG recommend.
- Ask your doctor for a letter of due date before traveling.
- Plan for a precautionary visit to a hospital near your destination the week before you travel, just in case.
- Stay hydrated and move around the cabin if you’re able.
- If you’re comfortable and the flight is short, consult your OB‑GYN on whether local medical services will do for your travel needs.
Traveling while pregnant is still possible, but the rules get tighter as the due date approaches. The modern flight environment, limited medical facilities on planes, and increased likelihood of early labor all raise the stakes. Pregnant women aiming to avoid risk—and the emergency medical situations that can follow—should follow the advice of health professionals and consider postponing travel for the remainder of the third trimester.
By staying informed and planning ahead, moms-to-be can keep their pregnancy and their babies safer, whether they’re flying across the ocean or staying on solid ground.
Source: New York Post
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