Air Travel until 37 Weeks of Pregnancy Safe : Report

Travelling by air is completely safe for pregnant women until 37 weeks, researchers say.

The new report released by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) found that fear of premature labor and obstetric emergency were the main reasons for pregnant women being recommended to avoid flying from 36 weeks of pregnancy. Motion sickness (kinetosis or travel sickness) and blood clots (deep vein thrombosis -DVT) were found to be some of the other complications that normally affect pregnant women during air travel.

"While the risk of developing DVT in flight varies depending on the individual's risk factors, it is a concern of most pregnant women and there is reasonable evidence to support the use of graduated elastic compression stockings to reduce this risk further," Professor Ian Greer from the University of Liverpool, who led the study, said in a news release.

However, Professor Greer and colleagues found that the fall in oxygen pressure due to changes in the cabin altitude does not pose any significant risks to pregnant women who are healthy and do not have any pregnancy related complications. After completely exploring the hidden risks of flying during pregnancy, researchers suggest healthy women should avoid flying three weeks before their due date and women pregnant with more than one child to avoid flying from 32 weeks onward.

"For uncomplicated pregnancies there is no reason to give advice against commercial air travel. There is no issue with travel in early pregnancy, as the main consideration is risk of labour," Greer said. "However if the woman has a history of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy it would be sensible to suggest ultrasound prior to travel to confirm the location and viability of the pregnancy."

According to health experts from CDC and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the second trimester is the safest time for pregnant women to travel. Citing the impact of an environmental change in the flight - risks of hypertension and the onset of premature labor, they recommend expecting women to fully avoid overseas travelling during the third trimester. In the  U.S., a pregnant woman can fly to domestic places until reaching 36 weeks of pregnancy and to international locations between 32 and 35 weeks. Apart from that, most of the airline policies require the pregnant traveler to provide documents stating her due date, contact details of doctor and information about blood group.