Is it Safe to Travel by Plane Whilst Pregnant?

Travelling by plane is safe throughout a large proportion of your pregnancy. The ideal time to fly is between 14 to 27 weeks which is also known as the second trimester. This is because in most cases, morning sickness is likely to have passed, you will find yourself much more energetic and healthy and most importantly you risk of miscarriage is low. It is however advised that you do not travel after 36 weeks in your pregnancy so if you have a holiday planned for this time you will need to re-schedule. Regardless of when in your pregnancy you wish to fly you should always talk to your doctor or midwife about your plans before hand. For special high risk cases your doctor may advise you to avoid travel throughout your pregnancy just to be safe but otherwise flying during pregnancy is perfectly fine.

You should ensure that your doctor or midwife refers you to an appropriate medical professional at your holiday destination so that you can quickly seek medical advice or help during your holiday if you need it. You should also remember to take a copy of your prenatal chart with you so that all your relevant information is to hand if you are flying during pregnancy, if you are only travelling in your first trimester this is not necessary.

Can the Metal Detectors Harm my Baby?
Metal detectors emit a very low frequency electromagnetic field in order to detect metal items. These metal detectors emit the same kind of electromagnetic field as any of the electrical appliances found in everyday households and uses such low levels that it is not considered harmful in any way even for pregnant women. Both the walk through and hand held metal detectors are perfectly safe to use.

Can I be Exposed to the Radiation from the Luggage Scanning Machine?
The machine that scans hand held luggage for dangerous content uses x-ray technology to see inside the bags without opening them. However, in order to make the machine safe to use on a daily basis by the terminal staff the machine does not give off any radiation. In order to be exposed to significant levels of radiation you would need to actually put your hand through the flaps where the bag goes in. Just place your bag on the conveyor belt as normal and then wait for it at the other side, if it makes you feel uneasy there is no reason why you have to wait around the machine itself, but unless you put a limb inside the machine, you are perfectly safe.

Can the Cabin Pressure Harm my Baby?
Airplanes maintain a standard level of pressure within the cabin that is acceptable for healthy individuals to travel in. If you and your baby are healthy you will have no problems in this environment and flying during pregnancy will be safe. The cabin pressure is a bit lower than on land which means your body has to work a bit harder to get a decent supply of oxygen so if you suffer from anemia, a history of blood clots or other circulatory related diseases you should check with your doctor beforehand and consider avoiding plane travel. If travel is mandatory you may be prescribed with oxygen for your journey if flying during pregnancy.