Pregnancy not only comes with it's fair share of aches and pains, but it comes with a slew of questions, concerns, and age old wive's tales. Today, Parents Ask expert Dr. Jason Rothbart, an OB/GYN based in Los Angeles, shares the truth about one major pregnancy concern: Flying.

Q: What is the truth about Flying during pregnancy-- Is it okay? Is there a cut off on time/due date? What about circulation? I'm 35 weeks pregnant (with my second baby), are there risks that I should know about?

A: Flying during pregnancy is one of the top five most common pregnancy questions. Rounding out the list is caffeine, deli meats, alcohol and sushi. The issue about flying, however, is much simpler than most people would believe. The reason there are any restrictions on flying at all have nothing to do with the actual airplane or air travel. There is no risk to an expectant mother or a fetus from recycled air on a plane, being in close quarters, radiation or oxygen levels.



The actual risks of flying during pregnancy are two-fold. First, with any flight over an hour is it important to get up and walk around every 1-2 hours to keep the blood flowing through the lower extremeties, as sitting in one place for too long increases the risks of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism). This risk is not limited to air travel, however. The same precautions need to be taken for a long train ride or even car ride. Stopping and walking around every 1-2 hours is imperative to keep the circulation moving. The second risk of flying is simply that it puts patients at risk of delivering their baby mid-flight or in a different city/state/country where there may not be obstetric care available, or at least not the patient's own obstetrician available. And this restriction on flying is only in the last five to six weeks of pregnancy, or after around the 35 week mark.



With this is mind, therefore, there is no medical reason to restrict flying during pregnancy before 35 weeks, assuming proper circulation precautions are being taken. As always, this should always be discussed with the patient's physician, as there may be individualized conditions that may render air travel, or any travel for that matter, unsafe.