Flying while pregnant?
Asked by
skfinkel (
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June 16th, 2012
You know how they always say that pregnant women shouldn’t get x-rays? And also how they say that flying is the equivalent of getting one x-ray? If these two things are true, does it follow that pregnant women should not fly—or should not fly at certain months of the pregnancy (like the early months)? Is there any science on this?
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5 Answers
Mayo Clinic says, ”Generally, commercial air travel during pregnancy is considered safe for women who have healthy pregnancies. Still, if you’re pregnant, it’s best to check with your health care provider before you fly.”
There’s quite a bit more in the article; I suggest reading it.
People fly pregnant all the time. Flight attendants and pilots usually fly part of their pregnancy. One xray equals a few days of nornal radiation packed into one day. You probably have been in areas of higher and lower radiation anyway during your pregnancy. Someone’s house you were in had a lot of radon or their granite topped kitchen with marble floors was in a small space and had more radiation than your countertop and wood floor at home. Or, you laid out at the pool off and on for a couple weeks this summer and got a tan. If I were you I would not do the xray at security and opt to be pat down.
You definitely should mention you want to fly to your doctor and make sure he thinks it will be safe for you. If he has any concerns of early labor he might advise against it.
I disagree with @AshlynM about the morning sickness. If you don’t have morning sickness from the hormonal changes there is no reason to think you will be sick on a flight.
Pregnant women can fly. Most airlines and doctor’s have rules against flying in later pregnancy, but that’s due to the risks of going into labor while on the flight or while away from home. Each airline and doctor varies a bit in their rules, so it’s best for the woman to research the airlines rules and check with her doctor before making any plans.
It’s fine unless you deliver the baby mid flight. Then it could be messy.
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