Pregnancy and Air Travel

Women whose expected date of delivery is within a week are advised against traveling by air. Associated problems with pregnancy like anemia, bleeding episodes or a past history of premature delivery should take precautions during air travel.

Pregnant women who do travel by air should stretch their legs and walk about the plane to encourage blood circulation. These exercises will help avoid blood clots that may form from sitting too long in a restricted position. An aisle seat is the perfect seating arrangement for expectant mothers; they can independently move about without causing nuisance to fellow passengers. Also, to reduce fetal risk and injury due to unexpected turbulence, it is recommended to wear the seat belt low around the waist.

Other possible distressing conditions that mothers- to- be can encounter during a flight maybe:

• Motion sickness
• Dehydration
• Intestinal gas expansion