Rules of Flying While Pregnant

Windchill · August 31st, 2004, 23:09

With the pregnancies here lately, might be able to get some good advice. Amy said she's heard some conflicting things about flying while pregnant -- so for those who are in the know . . .

. . . at what points/stages (if any) during a pregnancy should a woman not fly:

a)commercial airline, flight-level flying

b)general aviation, putzing around 6,000 feet high

??

No, we're not expecting yet, just wondering in advance.

JEP · August 31st, 2004, 23:12

I had a CFII that was not allowed to fly after three months. Not sure if that was a general rule or for some other medical reason. I think she just got tired of the steep turns [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/spin2.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/spin2.gif[/img]

TheWife · August 31st, 2004, 23:22

If I remember right the airlines don't allow you on after month 7, but not sure. HOWEVER, with a story I heard recently I will probably not ever travel after my first trimester. A lady got a blood clot behind her placenta, forcing delivery of the baby in Las Vegas, she lives in WI. She was only 24 weeks, the baby wasn't even 2 pounds and they can't move it until at least December. So she had to leave her other 3 children in WI and "move" to LV and get a PT job, so she could be there with her baby. I can't imagine having to go through that, and so for me, the risk of something happening while you are that far from home, is not worth it.

Windchill · August 31st, 2004, 23:25

[ QUOTE ]
A lady got a blood clot behind her placenta, forcing delivery of the baby in Las Vegas, she lives in WI. She was only 24 weeks, the baby wasn't even 2 pounds and they can't move it until at least December. So she had to leave her other 3 children in WI and "move" to LV and get a PT job, so she could be there with her baby

[/ QUOTE ]

That's horrible [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

USMCmech · August 31st, 2004, 23:39

I asked my wife, who is a medical student and 15 weeks along.

If there are no complications, there is no medical reason not to do anything the mother is physically able/comfortable doing. Including flying in any type of airplane. All the way up to her due date.

I'm told most airlines want a doctors note after 7 or 8 months.

In a GA aircraft, you are going to have to land every 90 minutes so she can pee anyway. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

If however her doctor say diffrent then go with what he says.

I just talked to a friend from church who is an Air Force TI, and she spent this past weekend running a platoon of boots all over Lackland, her due date is Tuesday Sep 7th. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

TheWife · August 31st, 2004, 23:44

[ QUOTE ]
In a GA aircraft, you are going to have to land every 90 minutes so she can pee anyway

[/ QUOTE ] LOL!!!

I thought it was a rule? I didn't know they'd let you on w/ a Dr's note. I mean, if you go into labor they have to land. Does your wife know if the change in altitude or pressure is likely to cause contractions or anything that late?

mtsu_av8er · September 1st, 2004, 00:06

[ QUOTE ]
I mean, if you go into labor they have to land.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, well...that's life. They'd have to land if you had a heart attack, too... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

TheWife · September 1st, 2004, 00:09

Yeah but isn't labor a lot more likely?

USMCmech · September 1st, 2004, 00:11

[ QUOTE ]
Does your wife know if the change in altitude or pressure is likely to cause contractions or anything that late?

[/ QUOTE ]

She wasn't sure. I personally would stay at lower altitudes below 10,000, and inside an airliners cabin is about 8,000 ft. The lower O2 you get any higher can't help.

raysalmon · September 1st, 2004, 03:53

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
In a GA aircraft, you are going to have to land every 90 minutes so she can pee anyway

[/ QUOTE ] LOL!!!

I thought it was a rule? I didn't know they'd let you on w/ a Dr's note. I mean, if you go into labor they have to land. Does your wife know if the change in altitude or pressure is likely to cause contractions or anything that late?

[/ QUOTE ]

All depends on company policy. At Mesa we take pregnant women up until 7 DAYS prior to delivery WITHOUT a note. If it's within 7 days, then we need the note.

Ray

MQAAord · September 1st, 2004, 08:20

As far as travelling as a passenger while pregnant, an airline will allow it up to seven days prior to your due date.

As a required crew member at AA/Eagle you may not fly (as a pilot or F/A) during your last 12 weeks. I don't remember of-hand what the rule was for the timeframe after delivery, I'd have to dig out my books & look it up. I only ran into a handful of women who actually worked up to the last 12 weeks. By then you're so tired, starting to get big, and will usually have jumped at the chance to bail early by then.

As a GA pilot I don't believe there are any restrictions, it would be up to the individual to decide when 'enough is enough'. Also when you're ready to fly again after delivery. I had my medical (3rd class) done at 5 weeks post-partum last year, the doc had no issues with anything. He just asked if there were any complications and how was I feeling. My medical had expired while I was pregnant, and I knew I wasn't going to be operating any aircraft any time soon, it would have been silly to have renewed it.

Basically just be smart, if you feel like it's time for you to go on leave. Go. Don't push it. GA or airline, airplanes will be there for you to fly when you've recovered. When I was 7 months with our first, we were going to go to FL, my doc actually encouraged me to go. He said to take advantage of the opportunity to get away before baby arrives. I had a totally complication-free pregnancy, and there was no reason not to go. I ended up not going because of loads, but it was nice to know that I could!

highspeed · September 1st, 2004, 17:33

At VS the pax can fly up to the 32nd week i believe. After that they need to be cleared by either our company doctor, or by MedLink.

Windchill · September 1st, 2004, 21:43

[ QUOTE ]
I just talked to a friend from church who is an Air Force TI, and she spent this past weekend running a platoon of boots all over Lackland,

[/ QUOTE ]

That brings back some memories.

[ QUOTE ]
At Mesa we take pregnant women up until 7 DAYS prior to delivery WITHOUT a note. If it's within 7 days, then we need the note.

[/ QUOTE ]

How can you tell if a woman's six or seven days out versus eight or nine . . . or is it basically something in place legally should something arise on the flight and they didn't provide a letter?

August 31st, 2004, 23:09	#1
Windchill Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-Atlantic, KMRB Posts: 1,925	Rules of Flying While Pregnant With the pregnancies here lately, might be able to get some good advice. Amy said she's heard some conflicting things about flying while pregnant -- so for those who are in the know . . . . . . at what points/stages (if any) during a pregnancy should a woman not fly: a)commercial airline, flight-level flying b)general aviation, putzing around 6,000 feet high ?? No, we're not expecting yet, just wondering in advance.

August 31st, 2004, 23:12	#2
JEP Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Eden Prairie, MN (KFCM) (KMSP) Posts: 10,556 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Rules of Flying While Pregnant I had a CFII that was not allowed to fly after three months. Not sure if that was a general rule or for some other medical reason. I think she just got tired of the steep turns [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/spin2.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/spin2.gif[/img]

August 31st, 2004, 23:22	#3
TheWife Old Skool Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Utah Posts: 4,180	Re: Rules of Flying While Pregnant If I remember right the airlines don't allow you on after month 7, but not sure. HOWEVER, with a story I heard recently I will probably not ever travel after my first trimester. A lady got a blood clot behind her placenta, forcing delivery of the baby in Las Vegas, she lives in WI. She was only 24 weeks, the baby wasn't even 2 pounds and they can't move it until at least December. So she had to leave her other 3 children in WI and "move" to LV and get a PT job, so she could be there with her baby. I can't imagine having to go through that, and so for me, the risk of something happening while you are that far from home, is not worth it.

August 31st, 2004, 23:25	#4
Windchill Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-Atlantic, KMRB Posts: 1,925	Re: Rules of Flying While Pregnant [ QUOTE ] A lady got a blood clot behind her placenta, forcing delivery of the baby in Las Vegas, she lives in WI. She was only 24 weeks, the baby wasn't even 2 pounds and they can't move it until at least December. So she had to leave her other 3 children in WI and "move" to LV and get a PT job, so she could be there with her baby [/ QUOTE ] That's horrible [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

August 31st, 2004, 23:39	#5
USMCmech Old Skool Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,557	Re: Rules of Flying While Pregnant I asked my wife, who is a medical student and 15 weeks along. If there are no complications, there is no medical reason not to do anything the mother is physically able/comfortable doing. Including flying in any type of airplane. All the way up to her due date. I'm told most airlines want a doctors note after 7 or 8 months. In a GA aircraft, you are going to have to land every 90 minutes so she can pee anyway. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] If however her doctor say diffrent then go with what he says. I just talked to a friend from church who is an Air Force TI, and she spent this past weekend running a platoon of boots all over Lackland, her due date is Tuesday Sep 7th. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

August 31st, 2004, 23:44	#6
TheWife Old Skool Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Utah Posts: 4,180	Re: Rules of Flying While Pregnant [ QUOTE ] In a GA aircraft, you are going to have to land every 90 minutes so she can pee anyway [/ QUOTE ] LOL!!! I thought it was a rule? I didn't know they'd let you on w/ a Dr's note. I mean, if you go into labor they have to land. Does your wife know if the change in altitude or pressure is likely to cause contractions or anything that late?

September 1st, 2004, 00:06	#7
mtsu_av8er Old Skool Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Utopia Posts: 12,403	Re: Rules of Flying While Pregnant [ QUOTE ] I mean, if you go into labor they have to land. [/ QUOTE ] Oh, well...that's life. They'd have to land if you had a heart attack, too... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

September 1st, 2004, 00:09	#8
TheWife Old Skool Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Utah Posts: 4,180	Re: Rules of Flying While Pregnant Yeah but isn't labor a lot more likely?

September 1st, 2004, 00:11	#9
USMCmech Old Skool Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,557	Re: Rules of Flying While Pregnant [ QUOTE ] Does your wife know if the change in altitude or pressure is likely to cause contractions or anything that late? [/ QUOTE ] She wasn't sure. I personally would stay at lower altitudes below 10,000, and inside an airliners cabin is about 8,000 ft. The lower O2 you get any higher can't help.

September 1st, 2004, 03:53	#10
raysalmon Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: CO Posts: 260	Re: Rules of Flying While Pregnant [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] In a GA aircraft, you are going to have to land every 90 minutes so she can pee anyway [/ QUOTE ] LOL!!! I thought it was a rule? I didn't know they'd let you on w/ a Dr's note. I mean, if you go into labor they have to land. Does your wife know if the change in altitude or pressure is likely to cause contractions or anything that late? [/ QUOTE ] All depends on company policy. At Mesa we take pregnant women up until 7 DAYS prior to delivery WITHOUT a note. If it's within 7 days, then we need the note. Ray

September 1st, 2004, 08:20	#11
MQAAord Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Looney Bin Posts: 8,813	Re: Rules of Flying While Pregnant As far as travelling as a passenger while pregnant, an airline will allow it up to seven days prior to your due date. As a required crew member at AA/Eagle you may not fly (as a pilot or F/A) during your last 12 weeks. I don't remember of-hand what the rule was for the timeframe after delivery, I'd have to dig out my books & look it up. I only ran into a handful of women who actually worked up to the last 12 weeks. By then you're so tired, starting to get big, and will usually have jumped at the chance to bail early by then. As a GA pilot I don't believe there are any restrictions, it would be up to the individual to decide when 'enough is enough'. Also when you're ready to fly again after delivery. I had my medical (3rd class) done at 5 weeks post-partum last year, the doc had no issues with anything. He just asked if there were any complications and how was I feeling. My medical had expired while I was pregnant, and I knew I wasn't going to be operating any aircraft any time soon, it would have been silly to have renewed it. Basically just be smart, if you feel like it's time for you to go on leave. Go. Don't push it. GA or airline, airplanes will be there for you to fly when you've recovered. When I was 7 months with our first, we were going to go to FL, my doc actually encouraged me to go. He said to take advantage of the opportunity to get away before baby arrives. I had a totally complication-free pregnancy, and there was no reason not to go. I ended up not going because of loads, but it was nice to know that I could!

September 1st, 2004, 17:33	#12
highspeed Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 119	Re: Rules of Flying While Pregnant At VS the pax can fly up to the 32nd week i believe. After that they need to be cleared by either our company doctor, or by MedLink.

September 1st, 2004, 21:43	#13
Windchill Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-Atlantic, KMRB Posts: 1,925	Re: Rules of Flying While Pregnant [ QUOTE ] I just talked to a friend from church who is an Air Force TI, and she spent this past weekend running a platoon of boots all over Lackland, [/ QUOTE ] That brings back some memories. [ QUOTE ] At Mesa we take pregnant women up until 7 DAYS prior to delivery WITHOUT a note. If it's within 7 days, then we need the note. [/ QUOTE ] How can you tell if a woman's six or seven days out versus eight or nine . . . or is it basically something in place legally should something arise on the flight and they didn't provide a letter?

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