How safe is flying when you’re pregnant?
In the absence of obstetric or other medical recommendations from your doctor against flying, flights are safe for pregnant women [1].
General recommendations for pregnant women planning to take a flight are simple:
drink water;
do leg exercises;
if necessary, wear compression stockings (stockings should be worn in the morning before flying, even before getting out of bed) [1].
Flights should be avoided by pregnant women who have:
respiratory disease;
diseases of the cardiovascular system;
risk of premature birth;
abnormalities of the placenta.
A tendency to thromboembolism in some cases can be a contraindication of overflight [2].
In any case, you should consult your doctor before the flight.
Additionally, you should contact the airline you’re going to fly on because each airline has its own rules for pregnant women, such as how late into the pregnancy they allow them to fly.
