Travel restrictions for pregnant Women

With the arrival of fall, many families are beginning to plan Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. For most women and many of our patients, holiday planning requires traveling to a not so close destination to see loved ones and friends. For our pregnant patients, this means the inevitable question of “Is it safe for me to travel while pregnant?”

As we move closer to the holidays, many pregnant women do wonder if it is safe to travel. For women having an uncomplicated pregnancy, we typically restrict travel beyond 32 weeks of pregnancy. We recommend no driving to a destination that is further than two hours away from the hospital and we recommend against flying at this time.

Some may call this overly cautious, but we obstetricians do not. The reason for the restriction is due to a a higher incidence of preterm labor and the bag of water breaking prematurely (premature preterm rupture of membranes) at and beyond this gestation. The actual flying and driving are not harmful to the pregnancy. Even if a woman is full term, the concern is that labor could occur and that it may be unsafe to attempt to make it back to their preferred hospital.

Also, some cruise lines have more stringent restrictions for pregnant travelers. The Disney Cruise Line, for example, states “ Women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of their embarkation date will be refused passage due to safety concerns. Neither a physician’s medical statement nor a waiver of liability will be accepted. In addition, Disney Cruise Line cannot be held responsible or liable for any complications relating to pregnancy at any stage.”

Before planning your vacation or holiday travel, review any restrictions prior before booking your travel. And if you’re planning a vacation when you are pregnant, have the last hoorah before 32 weeks of pregnancy.