Doctors do recommend that pregnant women with some types of health conditions — like high blood pressure (hypertension) or blood clots; or a history of miscarriage, premature labor, ectopic pregnancy, or other prenatal problems — not travel by air.
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Examples include a history of miscarriage or vaginal bleeding, severe anemia, and high blood pressure or diabetes that's not well controlled. If you had preeclampsia during a previous pregnancy — a condition that causes high blood pressure and extra protein in urine — flying may not be advised.
Flying while pregnantIf you have any pregnancy complications, check with your midwife or GP that there's no medical reason to stop you flying, such as high blood pressure or a risk of deep vein thrombosis. Most airlines won't let you fly if you're within about a month of your due date.
During a healthy pregnancy, occasional air travel is almost always safe. Most airlines allow you to fly domestically until about 36 weeks of pregnancy. Your ob-gyn can provide proof of your due date if you need it. If you are planning an international flight, the cut-off for traveling may be earlier.
A change in air pressure or a decrease in humidity won't cause your baby any harm. There is also no evidence to suggest that flying causes miscarriages, early labour or waters to break . If you have any health issues or pregnancy complications, discuss it with your GP or midwife before you decide to fly.
Some airlines require written documentation from your practice nurse, midwife or obstetrician. This is to confirm you are in good health, that your pregnancy is uncomplicated and your due date. Flying during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy may be considered risky as miscarriage is more common during this early stage.
You can often arrange for priority boarding on airplanes and even some cruise ships if you are pregnant and require additional time or assistance to get to your seats or accommodations. For air travel, making such arrangements in advance is usually unnecessary: Simply speak to a representative from your airline.
If you're pregnant and traveling before your 36th week, you can travel on a United flight without medical documentation. If you've reached your 36th week or after, you'll need an obstetrician's certificate — the original and two copies — stating that you're fit for air travel.