log in | register Track your baby's growth

Your Avatar

Sign up to get FREE personalized newsletters about your baby each week.

Enter your due date or baby’s birth date:

Find baby registries & websites

Find a couple's baby registry. Enter parents' name here.

Create your own baby registry here.

you asked...

Q&A: How late is too late to fly while pregnant?

When is it too late to fly when you are pregnant?

Re: When is it too late to fly when you are pregnant?

The Bump Expert

Most airlines won't let passengers on board after 36 weeks. As a doctor, I agree that anything up to 36 weeks is fine. I simply tell my patients to be sure and drink lots of water, and get up every hour or two and make a couple of laps around the plane to get your blood flowing (this helps reduce the risk of blood clots).

However, if you have any sort of pregnancy complications, have had any he contractions, are at risk for pre-term labor, or have a history of delivering early, your doctor may recommend that you not fly in the later weeks of pregnancy. If you are pregnant with multiples, you may want to hold off too -- if a patient is having triplets, I recommend that they not fly after 20-24 weeks.

Dr. Ashley Roman | May 14 , 2009 1:14 PM

Q&A: How late is too late to fly while pregnant?

you should be able to fly up to 40 weeks, if necessary or in case of emergency, if have a note from your doctor and your prenatal records.

shelagh_dooley@hotmail.com | September 29 , 2009 2:54 PM

Q&A: How late is too late to fly while pregnant?

I just spoke to my Dr about this since my husband is going out of town for the next 7 weeks, I wanted to fly to visit him during that time. I am currently 31 1/2 weeks & she told me that 32 weeks was the cut off to fly. I haven't had any complications and everything has gone really well throughout my pregnancy. I guess it just depends on what your Dr is comfortable with.

KatandDerek | August 03 , 2010 4:47 PM

Q&A: How late is too late to fly while pregnant?

My doctor told me that 36 weeks is when he prefers us to stop flying because he doesn't want me to go into labor in the air or have to have the baby somewhere else... He did say that he would only suggest doing short flights... like 2 hour... i plan on going on a trip from week 35-36 : ) (2.5 hour plane ride) and my doctor is "very much so" okay with this. He just said stay hydrated (again, to make sure i don't go into labor) and move around as much as possible

bndenton07 | September 13 , 2010 4:25 PM

Q&A: How late is too late to fly while pregnant?

This is an old question, but I just flew from PA - WA for Thanksgiving, a 2.5 hour flight, and a 3.5 hour flight, at 34 weeks. My Dr was okay with going up to 36 weeks, but something to consider is comfort! If you're flying with someone you know and you sit together, not so bad, but I got a coach window seat next to a huge man who pulled out all of his electronic gadgets and was well wired into the seat. My knees and my back were killing me and it took a full day and a half to recover on either side. The trip was well worth it! But, just be prepared with items like a neck pillow, bottle of water, noise canceling head phones, maybe an aisle seat if flying alone?

kristi1613 | November 30 , 2010 6:31 AM

Q&A: How late is too late to fly while pregnant?

Sure it is safe to fly up to 36 weeks but if your water breaks at 34 weeks on it's baby time. I had a 34 week ultra sound and was given the OK to fly. On the the night before we were to return home my water broke and I was induced 5.5 week early no where near home. No car seat, no clothes... nothing. Not to mention how were we going to get our baby home? Flying? Drive? Our 5 day Thanksgiving holiday turned into a 2 week stay in Arizona and a long car ride home to Northern California. Just something to consider before you think about travel 34 weeks or later. Fortunately all worked out great but we are pretty easy going go-with-the-flow type people. Besides what could we do? Not ideal but we have a a beautiful healthy little girl and are blessed and excited to have our first Christmas as a family.

sastaton | December 16 , 2010 12:53 PM

Q&A: How late is too late to fly while pregnant?

When I was pregnant in the third trimester my husband received a job in another country and we were supposed to move there. I've started to search for some International moving companies in order to plan our relocation when my best friend who is also my doctor came to my home and told me that I was not allowed to travel as I was 36 weeks. I had to postpone my travel and I was very sad as my husband left and he only came back after I gave birth.

SoneySanderson | February 25 , 2012 3:27 AM

Q&A: How late is too late to fly while pregnant?

I for one was afraid to travel by plane after I turned five months of pregnancy. My doctor agreed with me, even if he made it very clear it`s not that big of a problem if I traveled during my fifth month of pregnancy as well. I take my own cautions. My sister-in-law, when she came visiting with her husband, she was seven months pregnant. She could barely fit in the plane chair. Luckily, it was a two-hour flight. That`s why I gave up a beautiful Gettysburg PA hotel one week vacation on a fast deal, because I was too advanced in my pregnancy. Well, It`s all for my baby, so it`s all worth it.

conquerer | April 27 , 2012 11:38 AM

Q&A: How late is too late to fly while pregnant?

I was pregnant in 30 months when I planned a trip with my husband, we had to stay at a hotel in ithaca and meet there with our friends. My doctor forbid me to fly because I had some complications so we decided to rent a car. We traveled by car 400 miles and I felt great, no discomfort or pain, since then we decided to travel by car because in this way we can see a lot more things.

miracraig | May 07 , 2012 8:07 AM