Answers to the Ten Most Common Questions about Flying During Pregnancy

Almost all pregnant women have some nagging fears about traveling by plane. It is all too easy to obsess over frightening questions about miscarriages, labor, and dangerous equipment. The following ten concerns are the most common, and the answers can help to put your mind at ease before your journey.

1) Does walking through a metal detector put my baby at risk?

There is absolutely no reason to be concerned about passing through a metal detector in airport security while you are pregnant. Metal detectors use low-frequency electromagnetic fields to make sure that passengers are not carrying any offensive weapons, and these devices have no way of damaging you or your unborn child.

2) What about body scanners?

Body scanners can find concealed objects inside or underneath a passenger’s clothes. The millimeter wave machine uses electromagnetic waves to do this, and experts are comfortable claiming that it is not dangerous to use during pregnancy. The other type of body scanner is called a backscatter machine, and since it uses low-level X-rays there are concerns about whether it safe for pregnant women to be scanned in this way. If you are anxious about either type of machine, you can opt to be patted down by airport security personnel instead. While some people find this experience uncomfortable or awkward, it comes with a guarantee that your baby will be safe.

3) Should I be concerned about the luggage scanner?

X-ray machines are used to scan everyone’s baggage for potentially dangerous items. While it is true that x-rays are dangerous to unborn babies, your baby will not be exposed to any x-rays because you will be outside the scanning machine.

4) Does the cabin pressure pose any risk during a flight?

On commercial flights, the cabin pressure is constantly kept at a level that has been repeatedly proven safe for pregnant women and their children. However, if you want to be sure that that there is nothing about your particular pregnancy that might put you at risk, ask your doctor for reassurance. Further, you should avoid flights on small, unpressurized planes while you are pregnant.

5) Will I develop blood clots in my legs (i.e. deep vein thrombosis)?

It is true that being pregnant makes you slightly more likely to develop unwanted blood clots in your extremities (usually called DVT). Flying also makes you more likely to develop clots. Since flying while pregnant combines these two risk factors, you should take extra precautions in order to prevent DVT while traveling by plane. Make sure that you acquire custom-fitted compression socks, walk around frequently, and repeat leg and ankle exercises as often as you can. If you have had any problems with unwanted clotting before, you may be cautioned against flying for the duration of your pregnancy.

6) Does cosmic radiation pose a threat to my baby?

Every time you fly, you are exposed to a low level of cosmic radiation, and studies have not yet yielded any conclusive evidence that it can cause any problems with fetal development. However, the International Commission on Radiological Protection released a statement advising that you limit exposure during pregnancy to less than 200mrem, which simply means limiting overall flight time to less than 200 hours.

7) Are there other medical conditions that make it especially dangerous to fly while pregnant?

If your pregnancy has involved suffering from health problems such as moderate to severe asthma or high blood pressure, it may be a good idea to avoid flying during your entire pregnancy. This decision is made on a case-by-case basis, so make an appointment with your doctor so that you can discuss whether your particular medical conditions make flying a bad idea.

8) Will my morning sickness get worse?

Since traveling by plane can cause motion sickness, you may find that you feel more nauseated during your journey. This is of course not dangerous for you or your baby, but it can make flying uncomfortable. Try to pick a seat that is near the plane’s center of gravity (i.e. over the wings), and make sure to eat easily digestible foods.

9) Am I more likely to have a miscarriage?

It is advised that you avoid flying during the first trimester of pregnancy, as this is the time at which the chance of miscarrying is the highest. Once you are in the second trimester of your pregnancy, however, there is no scientific reason to think that flying will increase your likelihood of suffering a miscarriage.

10) What will happen if I go into labor during the flight?

Firstly, very few airlines will even allow you to travel if you are more than 30 weeks pregnant. If you are less than 30 weeks pregnant, it is extremely unlikely that you will go into labor during your flight. In addition, the pilot of your flight will divert your flight to the nearest airport in the event of your going into labor, so you will be taken to hospital as quickly as possible. This means that even if you do go into labor on a plane, you are unlikely to give birth on one. However, if you are in the third trimester of your pregnancy then it makes sense to carry your prenatal chart on your journey so that all of the relevant medical information is easily accessible.