Flying 35 Wks Pregnant

remember that 37 weeks is a full term baby... and you could have this baby fast since it's your second. as long as you realize that delivering on the plane or at disney is a possibility and you plan for it... it's likely that it won't happen and everything will be fun.

but what if you do have a baby born 5 weeks early in florida and needs to be in the nicu for several weeks, just because you wanted to go? i dunno... i wouldn't go. but that's me.

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Hi S.!
I am actually flying to Florida in 2 weeks to go to Disney World for my 4 year old's birthday! I will be 32 weeks on the way down and 33 on the way home. I don't think you are being selfish at all. We are also staying on Disney's property to make it easier on me. I am planning on going to the parks with my family for a little while, but am happy that the hotel is close incase I need to go and rest. I think if you are prepared with the local hospital information, drinking plenty of water, and are taking it easy, you will be fine! And your child will LOVE being at Disney with your family! It will probably be a couple of years before you get to go back...so enjoy it! :)

1 mom found this helpful

I don't think selfishness has anything to do with it. But I do think you are taking a risk. Ask any NICU nurse, and they have had plenty of babies in their unit born to moms visiting from out-of-town. Also, the NICU's are full of babies who have older siblings who were full-term. Make sure you drink plenty of liquids while there. Dehydration is a common reason for early labor. So I agree, if you decide to go, you will need to find out the name of a hospital that is nearby and directions to it. Being prepared means you will be less likely to need it. Good luck to you and your family.

Are you 35 wks or 24 wks your post states both? I don't think you are being selfish to want to go with your family. Are you however going to be ok with the fact that if you go into labor in Orlando you will be there for awhile? If you are the type that has a "perfect birthing plan" in your mind then I would stay home. If you are like me and can go with the flow than I would go.

I am a flight attendant and can tell you in the 11 years of flying I have never had anyone go into labor on the plane so I doubt that would happen. I would go and have a great trip.

I wouldn't go S.. You do not want to risk the health of you or the baby that late in your pregnancy.

You just may want to check with the airline. Many do not allow women to fly after 34 weeks. They will want proof of your expected delivery date. Better to check ahead than to show up at the airport and be denied entry to your flight! You could lose your flight plus your dinsey package. Don't want that too happen. If the airline tells you they won't let you go, you can still cancel and possibly not lose anything! Good Luck!

Your doctor is being over-protective. There's nothing wrong with travel that late in pregnancy. Go, enjoy, try to go and watch your kids have fantastic time:)
Just find out where the nearest birth center is just in case you go into early labor.

I don't think you are being selfish. I think you are trying to make the rest of your family happy and keep life as normal for your first child as you can as you expect #2. However, I think you need to be 100% prepared to give birth in Florida. I would recommend knowing the nearest hospital, etc. and going down there prepared to have a baby. If you are not fully comfortable with this idea, I would not go. Is your doc also concerned about the effects of flying on the baby at 35 weeks? If he is, I think it's a no-brainer to not get on an airplane. Good luck!!

I, personally, would not go so far away from home at 35 weeks pregnant. I delivered my 3rd child at 36 weeks after going full term with my first two... all three were healthy pregnancies.

The only thing they actually worry about is you going into labor while on the plane. I wouldn't worry a thing - go and have fun before you are hunkered down with the new babe!

GO- fly and enjoy yourself...especially before the new arrival! Maybe check out some of the local hospitals by Disney for an emergency back up plan just in case. That will help ease your mind.

Everything will be just fine! :)

Congrats!

A.

My advice would be to make sure your doctor checks you thoroughly prior to flying to make sure you are not dilating and that nothing has changed. I was 34 wks 3 days when my 2nd daughter was born 2 hours away from home. I too had an uneventful first pregnancy. In fact my 1st daughter was born just 2 days prior to her due date. We traveled to Columbus to go to the State Fair. I stayed in a hotel the night before and woke up in labor. They couldn't get the labor stopped and we ended up spending 17 days in Columbus. You need to be prepared that the second labor may go much faster than you anticipate and that you may be in Florida for awhile. As long as you are okay with the potential for a Florida baby and a longer stay than you originally intended, go and good luck. I also thought I was safe. Looking back my doctor missed a couple things because the first pregnancy was so uneventful and the 2nd was also very normal. Make sure they really check you prior to flying.

"Has anyone else flown that far along in their pregnany."

Yes, I did, with my 2nd pregnancy @ 37.5 weeks along. I flew direct from Cols to ABQ, NM (I think it was about 3 hours direct). To make a long story short, I had a totally unexpected job interview that needed to happen before I gave birth and with my doctor's blessing (and a prescription of terbutaline pills to stop contractions if that were to happen), I was able to go. I was 1 cm dilated as well but like you, a very uneventful and healthy pregnancy. It was a bit risky, but I figured the worst that could happen was I'd give birth in NM vs OH, because the terbutaline would have gotten me through the plane trip. It all worked out very well. I look back and think how daring I was and laugh at it now. :) Good luck!

I don't think any mom is being selfish for wanting a mini vaca. before a new one arrives. Your Dr. is right though flying is not a good idea. I was always told because of the altitude and the fact that you could go into labor while in flight. I would have a good plan. poss. contact the airlines and find out the what if scenarios. Whatever you decide Good luck and Congrats.

I was 35 weeks along with my #4 son when we went to FL a couple years ago and my dr. told me that he had a bigger issue with me driving down than flying down. He even wrote me a permission slip just in case the airlines wanted to see it. I walked all of Disney with my other children and husband. I was a little more tired because of the exercise, but no worse for the wear of a pregnant mother of 3.

I don't think you are being selfish about wanting to go. Wait and see how you feel the first of November before you make your final decision.

Good Luck,
L. - working mom of 4 boys.

Hi S. -

It isn't about being selfish. I totally understand and would think that 2 days in a car would be uncomfortable too.

Many moons ago I was a travel agent and if my memory serves me correctly - airlines have a cut off time for pregnant women to fly as they really aren't all that in to women going in to labor and/or delivering on their flights. Who knows - flight attendants probably can perform c-sections now. Certain emergency circumstances required a note from the OB but weren't encouraged either.

My last pregnancy my OB would not let me fly once I hit 30 weeks and I'm at 30 weeks in this pregnancy and have been grounded once again. All pregnancies are different, all OB's are different and I'm sure all airlines are different.

I also think feeling self assured that since this is baby #2 you know what to expect may set you up for some potential life lessons as every pregnancy is different and so is every delivery. No disrespect intended. Baby #2 might not give you much warning or time to prepare. Changes in cabin pressure may create an abnormal event as well. Being on your feet at Disney...etc. It seems that there are a lot of things to consider and if you are gung ho on going - that is what you are going to do, regardless of the advice you are given here.

May it all work out and you have a safe and healthy delivery and not have to name baby #2 Delta or Mickey! :) Be blessed!!

Obviously you've had alot of other responses and mine is coming to you from a labor and delivery nurse. If your doc truly didn't want you to go, I wouldn't!! For one your daughter is only 2, yes it's a fun time to take her to Disney, however she IS NOT going to remember it at all. Secondly, I know you think everything will probably be fine and yes it could be, but things could also go horribly wrong. I'm sure your doc has told you this, but in case he hasn't...just because your close to term doesn't mean if you deliver now everything will be fine.

There is a reason they say 37 weeks is term, not everything is fully developed until then and at 35 weeks you could have a baby come out and have problems. Is it worth taking that risk? That's a question for you and your husband to decide.

How long will you be in Orlando? When did you deliver with your first? I think that is key.

I flew to a wedding in Texas (from Cincinnati) at 36 weeks pregnant. I had sprained my ankle right before that, and it gave me much more trouble than the pregnancy (my first).

I don't think you're being selfish, as long as you are prepared for the possibility of having the baby somewhere other than home. Know where you would want to give birth, at the very least.

Here is what the Delta site says about pregnant travelers:
"We don't have restrictions for pregnant women, so you don't need a medical certificate to travel.

However, keep in mind that ticket change fees and penalties aren't waived for pregnancy. If you're traveling after your eighth month, it's a good idea to check with your doctor to be sure it will be ok."

Looks like you need doctor's permission to travel with an infant less than a week or two old - although I'm not sure I'd want to take a baby that small on a germy plane. So maybe be prepared to drive back if you have the baby in Orlando.

S.,
I would not take the risk of flying so far away from home being so pregnant. Your 2 year old will not remember much of Disney World at this age except from pictures and what is told to her over and over by the adults. Personally I would stay home and get your rest and enjoy the quiet and wait until your daughter is about 5 years old before you go spending that kind of money on such a long trip.
Also you may want to talk to the air line about being pregnant and flying, it use to be they did not allow folks to fly that were at a certain stage of pregnancy.That is if you decide to go any ways.

I have had 4 kids and had the opportunity to go to Disney World while 6 months pregnant but going there did not seem that appealing to me. My then 10 year old went with his step-dad and I stayed at home and got plenty of rest. With the swine flu going around and the stale air on the plane I would not be on a plane pregnant. The important thing right now is for you to stay healthy and also your baby. If you are working staying home and resting would be the ideal choice. Your 2 year old will never remember Disney World. WHat is important to your family as of this time?

I don't think you are being selfish. I had my brother's wedding to go to in Ohio (we lived in FL) when I was about 37 weeks pregnant. My doctor was fine with it. I arranged for a local doctor to see my while I was there, so that I wouldn't miss any appointments. It's also a good idea to find the nearest hospital, just in case.

If everything is going well, and your first baby wasn't premature, I think you should be fine:)

If you decide to go, you might want to ask your Dr. about taking a baby aspirin. I traveled for work when I was 30 weeks pregnant, and my Dr instructed me to take one baby aspirin a day the week prior and the week of my travel.

I flew (a quick flight) to Chicago at 34 weeks (with my first) with my doctor's blessing. As long as you are prepared for every scenario, (from a mom's perspective - not a medical professional's) I think it would be great for you to go. The adjustment from one to two kids is such a challenge that I'd say a vacation beforehand would desperately be needed :)
However, in my own experience, my second labor was SO COMPLETELY different than my first, just in terms of knowing when to go to the hospital! With my first, I had absolutely no Braxton Hicks contractions and my water broke, so I knew to go in right away. With my second, I had endless Braxton Hicks contractions and was dilated 4 centimeters for more than a week before I actually went into labor. I got to the hospital in plenty of time (they kept me in triage for 2 hours) but after I got to my room, I had my son 28 minutes later!

Best of luck & congrats! And if you go, have a wonderful time!

I don't blame you one bit for wanting to go. However, you asked your doctor's opinion for a reason & I think you should very seriously consider what he's saying. I had my daughter at only 34 weeks. Totally healthy pregnancy. No trouble. I walked some Saturday evening at the local fair (no rides or anything) and I started having contractions. I stoped walking & spend all day Sunday resting but Monday morning my water broke & she came 7 1/2 hours later. If you really really want to go I would say wheel-chair it as much as you can to limit your walking & make sure you have already picked a hospital down there so if you do have trouble you're ready. Also, take a copy of your records with you so if you have trouble while there you can just hand them over to the attending physician. Good luck!