https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 16 May 2026 02:45:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-22644 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:30:41 +0000 erinpye 22644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew at 14 weeks. I went through the regular security stuff and was fine. However, I would NOT recommend going through the backscatter scanner. The levels of radiation that those let off has not been thoroughly nor credibly tested (even though they claim it's equivalent to the amount you get in flight, there is no way to verify that), nor is it the amount of radiation let off the same each time it scans, not to mention most oncologists agree the scanners are a huge carcinogen--especially for skin cancer since the radiation is concentrated on the skin, that anyone who has had cancer should never go through them, and they are not safe for anyone. I feel bad for the TSA agents that will be getting sick from being around them so much in the next 5-10 years. Plus, the effects of radiation on your body are cumulative, so why add to it? I wouldn't subject myself, let alone my LO, to that risk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-22486 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:23:02 +0000 tequiero21 22486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>thing about radiation is that it builds up. so you should minimize it as much as possible. i'm not going to not go on my trip just because of the flight, but i'll try to minimize it where i can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-22397 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:54:52 +0000 looch 22397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, if you're worried about radiation exposure at all, then you shouldn't fly...as you're exposed during the flight, albeit in minute amounts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-22393 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:46:43 +0000 tequiero21 22393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>btw, my hubby's a doctor - he said any amount of radiation is not good. why risk it? so i never go through the radiation machines. i just get a simple pat down - no big deal. a women does it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-22390 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:36:30 +0000 mediagirl 22390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think everyone covered the drink a lot of water and walk around suggestions. I'd like to hear your experience when you get back!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-22363 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:21:10 +0000 lemondrop 22363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew at 4 weeks (before I knew) and again at 30 weeks. </p> <p>I'm not worried about the scanners or anything since I do it so seldom. My doctor's advice was to ask them for a pre-boarding allowance and sit in the back near the bathroom if possible and to get up every hour just to move around. </p> <p>We flew Southwest, so once we got to our gate I just told them that I'm pregnant and slow to move around and need to sit near a bathroom. We took the second row in front at the aisle (pre-boarding can't sit in exit rows). Sitting up front really helped with short layovers so we had bathrooms right there and were first off the plane and didn't have to run to the next gate. These days I only break into a run if something big and scary is after me. </p> <p>I think that I used the bathrooms more in those 4 flights than I have in my past 29 years of flying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-22257 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:53:04 +0000 yoursilverlining 22257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How is your morning sickness?<br /> I flew at 6 weeks, and I still feel so bad for the other passengers because I barfed the entire flight :( It was horrible - and the flight was pretty smooth - there was just something about the movement, especially at takeoff and landing that really set me off. I do have miserable morning sickness though (which seems to be getting better now that I'm past 12 weeks, yay!!).</p> <p>I will be flying again in a few weeks and I'm very nervous. I do have Zofran this time, but will also make sure I have an airsick bag :(</p> <p>I'm not concerned about the scanners, but if you are you could always request a pat down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-22204 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:03:36 +0000 Ree723 22204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just flew in to Chicago from Australia at 10 weeks pregnant - it was a 29 hour journey in total. I flew economy and overall, didn't find it any more challenging than making that journey when not pregnant.</p> <p>I flew economy and had an aisle seat, which was nice as I got up every couple of hours to use the bathroom. I also tried to drink a lot of water, but was still fairly parched by the time I got to LA after the Trans-Pacific leg of the journey. I packed a bunch of snacks with me but hardly touched any of them. I didn't bother with compression socks and had no issues with swelling, but I never experience any swelling on long flights so maybe I'm just lucky that way.</p> <p>The worst part for me was the 6 hr layover in LA. Aside from the fact that LAX is the most godawful airport on this planet, waiting in security lines for nearly an hour was not good as I was feeling rather dizzy and lightheaded (presumably from low blood sugar as I was quite hungry at that point). Other than that though, no issues with the journey.</p> <p>Oh yeah, I also just went through the normal security scanner machines - I didn't worry about the radiation and didn't even ask about it. </p> <p>Overall, you'll probably be more tired than normal from the journey but for me, with the exception of the tiredness, the journey was no different from normal. Hoping it's that way for my return journey as well when I'm 12 weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-22149 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:09:27 +0000 tequiero21 22149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>biggest recommendation (probably too late though) for a long, international flight is to take first class. rode first class for the first time on my way back from vegas (at 20 weeks) and - TOTALLY LOVED IT! went to greece a few months back on economy and we were so miserable. great leg room, tv, better food, more drinks, easier access to bathrooms. worth it!</p> <p>other than that, don't forget to walk around. ask for lots of water, so that forces you to walk around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-22090 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 03:47:36 +0000 SugarplumsMom 22090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bump! It's just a few more days before we leave and I'd love to hear more stories =) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-13381 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:03:46 +0000 MegWag 13381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew internationally at 15 and 16 weeks. We sat on the first row of regular class seats, so we had plenty of leg room and it was easy to get up and walk around. I made sure to stretch my legs frequently and wore flight socks (supa-sexay!). I tried to be extra on-point with drinking water, but I found that the dehydration still really had a big effect on me, so be sure to chug that water.<br /> I didn't worry about the security checks at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-13305 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:54:08 +0000 skibobrown 13305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew a ton during my first trimester including multiple cross country flights and a trip to Hawaii. I was pretty miserable with morning sickness, so it pretty much sucked. What made it slightly better was that my doctor prescribed me some anti-nausea medication to take. The other things that were unpleasant about flying were that I constantly had to get up to pee (and I had previously booked window seats not knowing that I would be pregnant). Also, I would get really dizzy and tired during my 1st trimester, so standing in long security lines was no fun. </p> <p>All that being said, I made it through just fine. It's considered totally safe to fly during your first trimester. Technically there is the *tiniest* increased chance of miscarriage due to higher radiation levels at the altitudes where airplanes fly, but it's really only something that you would potentially worry about if you were a full time flight attendant and spending time every day on airplanes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-13290 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:25:35 +0000 loveisstrange 13290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew international at 8 weeks and I am going to be doing it again at 24 weeks and 28 weeks. The first time, I made sure to have dramamine and sea bands handy and brought snacks with me. I'll do the same the next time, although I will also be getting compression socks and a flight letter from my doctor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-13228 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:43:04 +0000 HabesBabe 13228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew at 4 weeks and will be flying back at 5 weeks (went to visit my dad across the country and ended up telling him the good news).</p> <p>I felt normal, but maybe it's because I'm so early into my pregnancy. I had a window seat and slept most of the time. I did buy a giant bottled water after security so I wouldn't have to flag the flight attendant down every 10 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-13179 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:15:37 +0000 winniebee 13179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took a flight at 9 weeks and 11 weeks and went through the scanner each time - my doctor said going through is equivalent to the same radiation you get during 1 minute on an airplane. </p> <p>I definitely got swollen and had to pee a lot, so just be prepared to get up every hour or so. Have fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-13165 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 06:56:11 +0000 looch 13165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew internationally at 7 weeks, 24 weeks and 28 weeks. I went through the regular scanner each time.</p> <p>The only tip I have that may help is with compression stockings to help control swelling in your feet and ankles. Ask your doctor if he/she can prescribe them for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-13159 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:38:56 +0000 Andrea 13159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew international in my 2nd tri around 25 weeks for our baby moon. I checked with my doc beforehand and everything ended up fine. Just get up from your seat every once to walk around and stretch. Can you opt out of the scan and ask for a pat down if you are concerned about radiation? Have a safe trip! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-while-pregnant#post-13157 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:32:19 +0000 SugarplumsMom 13157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I plan to take an international flight during my first trimester. I've read everywhere that it's safe, although travel should be easier during the 2nd trimester and that some airlines prohibit it near the end of pregnancy.</p> <p>I've spent a good majority of the morning reading about airport scans and the average amount of radiation exposure while flying. I get that it's supposed to be safe - but it's my first time pregnant and still feel uneasy.</p> <p>I'd love to hear about your stories. Are you planning to travel while pregnant? How far along will you be? Have you flewn in the past during pregnancy? I'd love to hear any tips you have to offer! </p>