Hellobee Boards

If you are anything like me, make sure you have that airsick bag with you the entire flight. I barfed the entirety of a 2 hour flightin the first trimester hope your experience is better!

Throughout my entire pregnancy, flying always = throwing up. Take off and landing were the worst.

I flew two weeks ago (11 weeks) for the first time, and I will be flying tomorrow (13 weeks). The thing I noticed the most is just how exhausted the actual travel part made me. It was probably worse because all my flights were delayed due to weather and the airport was packed with no seats available. I finally just started sticking out my tummy and resting my hand on it and some nice guy noticed and asked if I wanted to sit down. Heaven! I took crackers and asked for ginger ale when I got on the plane and did fine with morning sickness, although mine had started to get a little bit better. I would say to check your bag so you don't have to lug it around the airport, take snacks, and don't worry too much. All in all, it was just fine.

My only big concern was whether I wanted to opt out of the full body scanners. I hadn't really done enough research to know what I should do, but I remembered there being a long thread on here about it. I opted out at the very small airport and had to get the pat down. At the bigger airport on my way back, I did my pooch out the tummy and rest my hand on it trick, and the lady "selected" me to go through the metal detector. I think they kind of look for preggos since they know a lot will opt out anyway.

@Mrs. Blue: My doctor told me to not worry about the scanner so I went through it in both airports.

I flew (short trips) at 8 and 11 weeks and was totally fine. As long as I had snacks and juice my nausea was manageable.

I did 4 flights during 10-12 weeks. I was really worried about my nausea and I got a prescription from my Dr. for Zofran though she really didn't seem to want me to take it. I filled it and had it in my carry-on just in case, but luckily never used it. I just felt more relieved to have it if I did.
I did take Dramamine at some point I think on one of the longer flights. I had asked my BFF (who is a pharmacist) and she confirmed that Dramamine is a category B drug and I felt comfortable taking it. I would ask your Dr. what he/she thinks too. But it also made me feel better just to have it on me as an option.

@MrsBlue - I've read conflicting opinions on both sides and my OB's nurse actually told me just to get the pat down instead of walking through the scanner. Luckily, only one of the flights had the full body scanner. The full body pat down took a long time (like 10 min. including waiting). I definitely would reconsider for our babymoon trip, but wouldn't hesitate doing it again in the first trimester. My BFF went on a trip early in her first tri and she told me not to worry about the scanner. Well, she had a blighted ovum and I often wonder if her trip/the scanner had anything to do with it (though I don't verbalize this).

I flew at 9 weeks and i was extremely nauseous on the flight, even though i had no morning sickness prior to flying. I got a seat close to the bathroom in case i needed to throw up, and made sure to get an aisle seat so that i could stretch my legs and walk around.

I second the compression sock recommendation. They help with DVT. Also, bring your own water or mention to the flight attendants that you're pregnant and if you could have bottled water. The flight attendant noticed i kept asking for water, and she looked horrified when i told her it's because i was pregnant. She said, "Let me bring you the good water. You don't want to be drinking this if you're pregnant." Ummm...that made me wonder what the heck was wrong with the water!

I flew in the first trimester. I opted out of any full-body scanners, but went through the low-tech metal detectors.

I would advise to bring some gallon zip lock bags. These contain MS better than the airsickness bags.
Also buy water in the terminal - it may be awhile before drink service starts on the plane and it may be infrequent.

I flew from St. Louis to London at 8 weeks. I wore some seabands and actually got LESS motion sick than normal. It was totally fine.

I did a 6.5 hour flight at 8, almost 9 weeks. It was horrible. I don't want to share horror stories though--you need to hear positive ones!

@nodakiddo: If you can't pick your seats, 1) check in 24 hours before the flights and try to pick them then, and 2) get to the airport really early (2+ hours early for domestic) and tell them at check in that you are pregnant, etc, and maybe they will give you the bulk head seat where you have a little more space. BUT, then they probably wouldn't give you the exit rows, since they might not want you to be in charge of opening the emergency doors.

I can't help with any of the other questions!

I flew to New Zealand and back at 10/14 weeks Lots of water was key. I also wore the compression socks. But I was lucky to avoid m/s and nausea, so I'm probably not the best to ask.

My go-to for stuff like that was Children's Gravol. It always took the edge off my nausea/scent sensitivity without knocking me completely out.

I flew back and forth to Italy in the second tri and had absolutely no problems.

I flew at 5 and 6 weeks! It was fine, but I started developing nausea right about the time of my return trip.

Suggestions:
1) take preggie pop drops & ginger candy
2) take sea bands
3) locate your airsick back the minute you sit down
4) sit on the aisle, preferably close to the bathroom
5) get a prescription for Zofran
6) stay hydrated
7) bring salty & healthy snacks + water (you can get soda or ginger ale when they bring it by if you need bubbles)
8) move your legs/get up and walk around a lot (for blood clot reasons, not nausea)

Flew at 14/15 wks as m/s was just coming to an end. They were relatively short flights 1.5 and 2 hours... drank lots of ginger ale and slept!