Flying while pregnant

[Bess]

I just wondered if anyone can tell me when it is safe to fly when pregnant and how often?

I had heard that it was about 36 weeks for short haul flights (which is the ones I do). The thing that concerns me is that my boss is currently booking more and more trips interstate for me to do before I go on maternity leave (which I have said will be at about 38 weeks) it's like they want that last pound of flesh before I go on leave.

It's getting me down a bit because I said I would stay until 38 weeks as a favour to them and now they are pushing me harder than ever before. I can usually handle a fair bit of stress but don't see why I should when I am pregnant. Trouble is, they are dangling the carrot of the possibility of working from home (Don't know if this will happen), once bub is born so I feel like I am between a rock and a hard place.

I don't want to be doing all of this flying if it is harmful.

[visitor1]

Id be saying NO.... surely some one else can fly instead.. your having a baby... not just taking a looong holiday....!

[goldilocks]

Most airlines have a policy that pregnancy women can't fly from 34w+

[Jacqui]

Ok I checked for you on some sites
Virgin Blue - requires medical clearance for complicated pregnancies, multiples past 34w, and normal single past 36w/
Qantas - requires medical clearance post 36 week flights. No international flights past 36weeks.


The most important person in this equation is you. Its up to you, but I think personally flying past 32 weeks would be pretty uncomfortable.

Goodluck

[Bess]

Wow Jacqui. Thank you so much.

I can't believe you just did that for me! That was so lovely......getting all emotional now!

[Jacqui]

Wow Jacqui. Thank you so much.

I can't believe you just did that for me! That was so lovely......getting all emotional now!

Your very welcome.

Jac

[visitor1]

Check out a BB article too for more info/help!

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/pregna...ring-pregnancy

[~Jane~]

As a frequent business flyer I know it takes it out of you, it's not like flying for a holiday. I usually do day trips and that means going up and back in the same day. I did my last trip at about 20 weeks, I was getting too tired and just told them I can't do them anymore. My OB was on my side and only advised them if I could stay a few nights. If they are wearing you out definately say something, they shouldn't try to hold working from home as a bargaining chip, that's just wrong. But also being in a corporate role myself I know it goes on.

Your dr can always write a letter to ban you like mine was going to with me, he thought I was nuts doing the day trips and wouldn't doesn't let me now.

[MamaPan]

I have heard that you can fly up to 36 weeks, I also travel a lot for work and luckily my boss has said that i should minimise this (gosh so often i realise how lucky i am with my employer, also a big corporate - i currently work mainly from home and this will continue when i get back to work). so now i go when i need to and when i think i can handle it. I used to travel internationally around 60% of the time and there is no way i could do that, now it is domestic and even that is tiring at my early stage.
I think you need to set some ground rules. there are so many options to work virtually that travel should not be so necessary and they shld not push yu extra hard in the lead up to your mat leave. they also should not hold out 'carrots' to you, they need to decide what they can offer you and then commit to it.
It sounds like you know whats important, and that is you and the baby at this point. sit down and have a good chat to your boss - i am sure you will feel better for it and if you dont ask you dont get.

[lilprecious75]

I flew from Sydney to Brisbane when I was 34 weeks and returned to Sydney at 36 weeks. It wasn't bad at all but then I was flying for a holiday and had a two week break in between flights. What I did find difficult was the higher humidity in Brisbane (we went up for Christmas 2005) and was fairly miserable much of the time we were there. I would feel completely different about flying if it were going to be a regular thing during the pregnancy.

[RhiChiChi]

If you are uncomfortable or it is too much for you, I would, like Jane said, speak to your OBS and get something in writing to say that you can't fly after X weeks.
I just flew at 31 weeks and I wasn't that comfortable on the plane, lack of room, hard to get in and out of seat and had to got to the toilet all the time!

[AnyDream]

Bess, I suggest you contact your working women's advocacy centre in your state, and have a chat to them about it. They might be able to find some OH&S guidelines that support not flying after a certain time.

If your employer is going to play silly buggers at the point in your life at which you start needing some family flexibility, then maybe it's time to think about whether you really want to stay with them in the long term, or whether you'll be looking for greener pastures.

[fionas]

OK, for what it's worth, this is what I would do. Tie them down re the working from home first and get it in writing. Otherwise, it's always going to be a carrot and you're going to be reticent about addressing stuff that you think needs addressing (flying being the most current example, but I'm sure more will come up in the weeks ahead).

If they get squirmy, just ask them what is going to change between now and your maternity leave that will affect them making a decision on you working from home. That is, there shouldn't be too many variables - presumably the workload can be anticipated along with the type of work. So you can either do it from home or not. Perhaps approach your HR department for advice.

Then sort out the flying business according to what suit your needs best (not what suits the company - I know it's hard, we all want to do the right thing but you need to be selfish in this situation). I'm much more logical about this stuff now after having a miscarriage about 18 months ago which I partly put down to trying to do too much.

So, if you're happy with the cut-off points that the airlines give, use those as evidence. If the airlines' cut-off dates are actually later than you would prefer to be flying, get a doctors' (or obstetricians') note and use that instead.

This is incidental information but my workplace requires a doctors note if I want to work past 34 weeks.

[little sprocket]

I had to get something in writting from my OB regarding the flying situation at work for my first pregnancy. He wrote in the letter that he didnt want me flying past the the 35 week period. I gave the letter to them and they just stopped the flying from about 32 weeks just to be safe I think. Most works just have no idea how to "handle pregnant women". The company that I work for now have no idea what to do to the point where they let me do anything hehehehe. Im thier first pregnancy and I get away with a lot (time off stuff like that). Dont be scared to let your work know what the proceedures are though.