When is air-travel not advisable for pregnant woman?


Firstly, all pregnant women should consult with their doctors on their travel plans at whichever stage of pregnancy they are at. Get the caregiver's opinion on specific dos and don't(s) she may have. Most doctors will not recommend travel after the 36th week of pregnancy and if the pregnancy is a high-risk one, no-travel may probably be advised throughout the pregnancy. Traveling while pregnant is most conducive in the second trimester i.e. between 18 and 24 weeks (sans the medical or obstetric complications). Before the 18th week, the risk of miscarriage is higher while after week 24 the risk of preterm labor increases which makes traveling in the early and later part of pregnancy somewhat risky.




To top that, airlines have their own restrictions which you will have to check before making travel arrangements. Most airlines allow travel up to the 36th week and 34th week for international flights. Health practitioners will discourage travel if the mother has been diagnosed with high-risk pregnancy i.e. poorly controlled diabetes, placental abnormalities or is at risk for preterm labor. If there is any medical reason, your trip should be rescheduled or canceled altogether - consult with your doctor during the planning stage to avoid inconveniences.