Travel at 34 weeks

Anonymous
I would drive to avoid sick people traveling
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My baby came early at 34 weeks, so I wouldn't.


Mine too, but even without that experience, I remember having to travel for business before that for a quick 1 hour flight, and the plane got held on the tarmac for 4 hours (I forget why) and no one was allowed out of their seats, there was no food or water offered, and they shut off the plane to save fuel -- in the summer. Absolute torture.
Anonymous
No
Anonymous
No, because I have birth to my first at 32 weeks, and it's only due to progesterone injections and being careful that my second stayed until 38 weeks.
Anonymous
I had preeclampsia come on very suddenly at 35 weeks so I wouldn’t travel this late in your shoes.

If it’s for some kind of life or death reason I’d probably drive.
Anonymous
Does anyone have experience if you are in the 35 plus range? Does this really change? I’ve carried two kids to term previously.
Anonymous
I find it strange you are traveling so far, I thought the general recommendation was not to travel farther than 1-2 hours from your hospital for the entire third trimester. In fact I thought most airplane companies would not allow a woman on the plane who was past 28-32 weeks since they don’t want to be liable for her or baby’s death if she goes on the plane.

If this is for Christmas/the holidays, your family should be visiting you and not the other way around.

That said, to each their own. I’d say it depends on where you are visiting, if it’s a rural area then fly. If you’re driving along a highway with lots of hospitals along the way (ex: driving to Boston up 95) then drive.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I find it strange you are traveling so far, I thought the general recommendation was not to travel farther than 1-2 hours from your hospital for the entire third trimester. In fact I thought most airplane companies would not allow a woman on the plane who was past 28-32 weeks since they don’t want to be liable for her or baby’s death if she goes on the plane.

If this is for Christmas/the holidays, your family should be visiting you and not the other way around.

That said, to each their own. I’d say it depends on where you are visiting, if it’s a rural area then fly. If you’re driving along a highway with lots of hospitals along the way (ex: driving to Boston up 95) then drive.


This is not right. Most US airlines let you travel until 36 or 37 weeks. I flew with my third (a one hour flight to visit my in laws in a major city) the last day I was “legal” to do so. It wasn’t the most comfortable flight, but baby and I were fine.


Anonymous
I think people have really wacky risk management skills in these type of situations. Lets say you are travelling to Buffalo NY. It's a 7 hour drive from DC. If you fly out of lets say National you will be within a half hour of multiple hospitals with high level NICUs. Not to mention able to walk around and stretch, pee whenever you want and eat/snack. Then you'll be in the air for about 80 minutes before landing in another large population center at an airport that almost certainly has medical staff somewhere and lots of accelerated ways for emergency vehicles to get in and out.

If you drive to Buffalo you will spend probably 8 hours traveling (even if drive time is 7, especially as a very pregnant woman who likely will need to stop to use the bathroom a few times. You will be driving for multiple hours on unfamiliar highways with no knowledge of nearby medical facilities. You could easily get stuck in a traffic jam where, unlike if you are stuck on a tarmac in an airport, emergency vehicles could have a really difficult time reaching you.

Very few labors come on and are resolved in 90 minutes, and the risks that would come with that would be just as significant if you were in a car in bumeff upstate NY.

I might prefer to drive but all of this drama about flying being a lot more dangerous is cray cray. For a very short flight like this I would consider flying the safer option.

I would not travel anywhere at that point in pregnancy where my destination didn't have a hospital I felt comfortable giving birth at though. I would want to know what hospital I preferred there and where it was.
Anonymous
My water broke at 34 weeks (on the morning of my baby shower) so I would stay in town.
Anonymous
I would never do this. You will be so uncomfortable and there is always a risk you can deliver early. Definite no for me but I’m sure women on here thinks it’s no big deal so there’s that…
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My baby came early at 34 weeks, so I wouldn't.


+1 Me too.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I think people have really wacky risk management skills in these type of situations. Lets say you are travelling to Buffalo NY. It's a 7 hour drive from DC. If you fly out of lets say National you will be within a half hour of multiple hospitals with high level NICUs. Not to mention able to walk around and stretch, pee whenever you want and eat/snack. Then you'll be in the air for about 80 minutes before landing in another large population center at an airport that almost certainly has medical staff somewhere and lots of accelerated ways for emergency vehicles to get in and out.

If you drive to Buffalo you will spend probably 8 hours traveling (even if drive time is 7, especially as a very pregnant woman who likely will need to stop to use the bathroom a few times. You will be driving for multiple hours on unfamiliar highways with no knowledge of nearby medical facilities. You could easily get stuck in a traffic jam where, unlike if you are stuck on a tarmac in an airport, emergency vehicles could have a really difficult time reaching you.

Very few labors come on and are resolved in 90 minutes, and the risks that would come with that would be just as significant if you were in a car in bumeff upstate NY.

I might prefer to drive but all of this drama about flying being a lot more dangerous is cray cray. For a very short flight like this I would consider flying the safer option.

I would not travel anywhere at that point in pregnancy where my destination didn't have a hospital I felt comfortable giving birth at though. I would want to know what hospital I preferred there and where it was.


Some people don’t want to risk having a baby out of state Pp. It’s not rocket science. Just because you can doesn’t make it right.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think people have really wacky risk management skills in these type of situations. Lets say you are travelling to Buffalo NY. It's a 7 hour drive from DC. If you fly out of lets say National you will be within a half hour of multiple hospitals with high level NICUs. Not to mention able to walk around and stretch, pee whenever you want and eat/snack. Then you'll be in the air for about 80 minutes before landing in another large population center at an airport that almost certainly has medical staff somewhere and lots of accelerated ways for emergency vehicles to get in and out.

If you drive to Buffalo you will spend probably 8 hours traveling (even if drive time is 7, especially as a very pregnant woman who likely will need to stop to use the bathroom a few times. You will be driving for multiple hours on unfamiliar highways with no knowledge of nearby medical facilities. You could easily get stuck in a traffic jam where, unlike if you are stuck on a tarmac in an airport, emergency vehicles could have a really difficult time reaching you.

Very few labors come on and are resolved in 90 minutes, and the risks that would come with that would be just as significant if you were in a car in bumeff upstate NY.

I might prefer to drive but all of this drama about flying being a lot more dangerous is cray cray. For a very short flight like this I would consider flying the safer option.

I would not travel anywhere at that point in pregnancy where my destination didn't have a hospital I felt comfortable giving birth at though. I would want to know what hospital I preferred there and where it was.


Some people don’t want to risk having a baby out of state Pp. It’s not rocket science. Just because you can doesn’t make it right.


What is the issue about being out of state?
Anonymous
This was 50 years ago, but my aunt (in New York City) was pregnant (about 37 weeks) and only allowed to go to my parent’s wedding if they made a last minute decision and if she flew. The doctor said it was too easy for emergencies to happen on the road and the flight time was so short it was less concerning. I’d ask your doctor but I’ve heard the story many times about how my mom cried when she found out her sister could come to the wedding and then a big fog descended and her sister couldn’t fly home after the wedding as planned and stayed an extra night.
post reply Forum Index » Expectant and Postpartum Moms
Message Quick Reply
Go to: