Pregnant women are advised to seek the advice of their doctor before taking an airplane, although no medical approval is required. Likewise, it is advisable to avoid traveling during the last month of pregnancy, as well as during the 7 days following childbirth.
In any case, Flyadeal accepts pregnant women on board its planes until the 28th week of pregnancy without providing any medical certificate, and until the 32nd week with the presence of a medical certificate, issued by a gynecologist, seven days maximum before departure. For all reservations, please inform their customer service in advance (customer service page)
Getaway for the holidays? Business trip ? If your pregnancy is progressing normally, nothing prevents you from flying, as long as you take some precautions. But when risks exist, your doctor may advise you not to embark.
When the pregnancy is progressing normally, there is no contraindication to travel.
In the first trimester, fatigue and the minor ailments of pregnancy make traveling uncomfortable.
The 4th and 5th months are the most favorable for traveling: the worries at the beginning have faded and the fetus is well settled.
But in late pregnancy, childbirth can happen at any time! This is why airlines set a deadline for you to board.
In the event of a difficult or pathological pregnancy, distant trips are generally not recommended: they are not very compatible with the necessary rest and monitoring.
The problem arises in particular in cases of multiple pregnancy, hypertension, diabetes, an abnormality in the placenta, vaginal bleeding, dilation of the cervix or late pregnancy.
If there have been incidents during a previous pregnancy (miscarriage, premature childbirth, hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary embolism, anomaly of the placenta, etc.), caution should also be taken to avoid air travel.
Pregnant woman in Flyadeal plane? Applicable regulations
There are no international regulations regarding pregnant women. Each airline has its own arrangements: inform yourself when booking.
In general, boarding is refused beyond the 7th month of pregnancy, but this theoretical limit varies significantly between companies. And remember to take into account the date of return.
Ask your doctor for a medical certificate which may be requested by the pilot-in-command of the aircraft or the immigration authorities.
Read your travel contract carefully, to check that pregnancy is not an exclusion from your coverage in the event of repatriation or cancellation.
Travel precautions: Some useful information to remember
- Avoid the heat, it is better to book, if possible, a flight early in the morning or late at night;
- Request priority boarding;
- You must specify this when purchasing tickets. This precaution will prevent you from jostling and fatigue, on departure and arrival;
- Choose an aisle seat;
- It will be easier to access the toilets and to stretch your legs during the flight;
- Limit stress: it is particularly recommended to leave the airport well in advance;
- Beware of the risk of phlebitis: this is a blood clot that blocks a vein and can migrate to the heart, causing pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal complication. Both pregnancy and air travel significantly increase this risk, so you need to be extra careful;
- Do not wear clothes that are too tight, which may interfere with circulation, as the altitude can cause the legs to swell;
- Drink plenty of water, as the air in the airplane promotes dehydration (which decreases the flow of blood and therefore increases the risk of a clot);
- Walk the hall from time to time;
- When you are seated, do not cross your legs and perform regular flexion movements with the ankles;
- If necessary, your doctor may prescribe compression stockings, or even drug treatment;
- Position the seat belt correctly: Pregnancy does not contraindicate the wearing of the seat belt, but it must be placed flush with the thighs and not on the stomach;
- Rest: When you arrive at your destination, you must compensate for travel fatigue, especially after a long-haul flight and in the event of jet lag. Don't panic, you will not be under house arrest for 9 months! But to travel safely, wait for the green light from your doctor and follow his advice.