Is It Safe to Fly While Pregnant?

The idea of getting on an airplane while pregnant can bring up a lot of worries. You may be worried that flying — or going through security machines — exposes your fetus to radiation. Or you may worry that flying increases your risk of blood clots. 

While these concerns are valid, research shows that flying is generally safe for most people until a certain point in pregnancy. However, there are some exceptions for higher-risk pregnancies. 

Read on to learn when it’s safe to fly, what the actual risks are, and how to lower any potential risks. 

Is it safe to fly while pregnant?

Yes, flying in an airplane is considered safe for most people before the 37th week of pregnancy, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Flying isn’t considered a risk to your baby’s development. 

Occasional flying doesn’t raise the risk for pregnancy complications like miscarriage or preterm birth for most people. But for those at increased risk of certain pregnancy complications, flying may increase these risks (more on these risks later).

One of the most common concerns for flying while pregnant is whether radiation exposure during the flight affects the developing fetus. 

It’s true that flying exposes people to more cosmic radiation, which is produced by the sun. But the amount of radiation you’re exposed to on a plane is still considered extremely low. Even on the longest intercontinental flights, passengers are exposed to no more than 15% of the recommended radiation limit during a pregnancy.

It’s worth noting that frequent flyers, as well as people who work on planes, like pilots and flight attendants, are exposed to cosmic radiation more often. This exposure may be a risk to pregnancy, depending on how often they fly. 

There’s no specific rule for how frequently pregnant people can safely travel by plane. So, talk with your OB-GYN to see if you need to cut back on your flying while pregnant.

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Can you fly during the third trimester?

In the third trimester, there’s always a risk of preterm labor, which can lead to a preterm birth. Preterm birth occurs before the 37th week of pregnancy is completed. The average risk of preterm birth is about 10%, though rates can be higher depending on certain factors, including:

• Demographics like age and race

• Carrying twins or multiples

• Having high blood pressure

• Having a prior preterm birth

• Pregnancy risk factors or complications 

Studies show that an occasional flight during pregnancy doesn’t necessarily increase the risk of preterm birth. But the problem with flying in your third trimester is that if you do go into preterm labor, you’ll need medical care right away to try to stop the labor and avoid other complications. If you’re in the air, you won’t be able to get that care. 

People at higher risk of preterm labor should be even more careful when choosing to fly in the third trimester. Talk to your OB-GYN to discuss your risk.

Unexpected consequences of preterm labor while traveling

One factor to think about when deciding whether to fly is what might happen if you do go into labor away from home. If you have to give birth wherever you land, there may be unexpected challenges like:

• Not having your healthcare team who has followed you through your pregnancy 

• Being without your full support system of family and friends 

• Needing to stay where you landed if your newborn needs medical care, until your baby is healthy enough to fly home 

If you’re traveling internationally, there are also logistical issues. For example, if you give birth in a foreign country, you’ll need to get a passport for your newborn to fly home. There may also be extra paperwork involved to have your child recognized as a U.S. citizen.

What are the risks of flying while pregnant?

Though flying is generally considered safe, it does come with some very low but potential risks for everyone. These risks are slightly higher when you’re pregnant.

Blood clots

Everyone has an increased risk of developing a blood clot in their legs, called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), on long flights. Sitting with little movement for long periods of time (such as 4 or more hours) can cause blood to pool in your legs, which can lead to a clot. 

Pregnancy also increases the risk of developing a DVT. That’s because pregnancy causes a number of changes in your blood, including an increase in blood clotting factors. 

Combining the normal risks of a DVT on a long flight with the increased risks of pregnancy can  increase your overall risk.

But the risk is still very low. For pregnant people, the average risk is about 1 in 1,000. Talk to your OB-GYN or prenatal team about your specific risk of blood clots on a longer flight. 

There are things everyone can do to reduce their risk on long flights, including: 

• Wearing compression socks to help improve blood flow

• Walking up and down the aisle every 2 to 3 hours (going to the bathroom counts)

• Stretching your calves while seated by moving your toes up and down

• Staying hydrated

Emergencies

Another fear you may have is that something could happen mid-air and you won’t be able to get medical help quickly. While emergencies can happen at any time, some are more likely during pregnancy. Pregnancy-related emergencies can include: 

• Bleeding

• Miscarriage

• Preterm labor

• Unexpected events related to a medical condition

Miscarriages are more common in the first trimester. Some people are at higher risk for a miscarriage than others. A miscarriage can be painful and cause bleeding, and it’s a good idea to get medical attention as soon as possible if you experience one. But if you’re in the air, you’ll have to wait until you land to get help. 

That doesn’t mean you can’t fly in your first trimester. But if you’re at higher risk for miscarriage, your OB-GYN may advise you not to travel during this time. 

Certain medical conditions may also require extra monitoring, which can be more difficult and riskier on a flight. For example, if you have gestational diabetes, which is diabetes that arises during pregnancy, you’ll need to monitor your blood sugar levels and maybe give yourself medicine while on the flight. This can be harder to manage on a plane. 

If you have a choice, the best time to fly while pregnant may be during your second trimester. This is when the risk of pregnancy-related complications is lowest. It’s also when you tend to have the most energy, you’re likely over morning sickness, and you tend to have the fewest pregnancy symptoms. 

Is turbulence a risk if you’re pregnant?

With recent news reports of severe turbulence harming passengers, it’s natural to worry about what that means if you’re pregnant. While severe turbulence is happening more often, the risk of hitting severe turbulence is still extremely low.

In severe turbulence, injuries tend to happen in people who aren’t wearing their seatbelt, as they can be thrown from their seat. If you’re pregnant, falls and trauma to your abdomen can cause a placental abruption, an emergency situation where the placenta separates from the lining of your uterus. 

Here’s what you can do to protect yourself from being injured during turbulence:

• Wear your seatbelt at all times when seated, even when the seatbelt sign is off.

• Position your seatbelt low on your hip bones, and not pressing against your pregnant belly.

• Keep trips to the bathroom or for stretching your legs as brief as possible so you can return to your seat and put your seatbelt back on.

• When walking through the cabin, hold firmly to the backs of seats in case of turbulence. 

When can you not fly while pregnant?

Certain pregnancy-related complications and other conditions may make flying unsafe. In some cases, flying may increase these risks. In others, the concern is the higher chance of an in-flight emergency. If you have any medical conditions, speak to your OB-GYN about whether flying is safe for you.

You may be advised not to fly if you have:

• Preeclampsia: Flying also may reduce uterine blood flow, which can make the effects of preeclampsia worse. Preeclampsia needs to be carefully monitored and may lead to other pregnancy complications like preterm birth.

• History of preterm labor: If you’ve had preterm labor in a previous pregnancy or current pregnancy. 

• Carrying multiples: Being pregnant with multiples raises your risk for preterm labor. 

• Gestational diabetes or diabetes: Diabetes increases your risk of preterm labor, cesarean delivery (C-section), and other complications. 

• Increased risk for rupture of the uterus: This condition, where the uterine wall tears open, is more likely if you’ve had a prior C-section or uterine fibroid surgery.

• In vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy: People who used IVF to become pregnant have an increased risk of preterm birth.

Airlines also have a range of rules for flying while in your third trimester. Some airlines require medical clearance from a healthcare professional if your due date is within 4 weeks of your flight. Others don’t allow you to fly at all after a certain week of your pregnancy, especially for international flights. 

Check with the carrier before purchasing a ticket to see what their rules are.

How can you prepare for a flight during pregnancy?

To prepare for a flight while pregnant, talk with your OB-GYN before your trip. Make sure everything is going well with your pregnancy and they don’t have any concerns. Ask if there are any vaccinations you should get before traveling.

Since pregnant people are at greater risk of getting sick or having a medical complication, you may want to purchase travel medical insurance if you’re flying internationally. This can cover emergency medical costs and it’s usually easier to get medical costs paid for than it is with your standard health insurance. 

There are also things you can do to make your flight more comfortable:

• Book an aisle seat to make it easier to stretch your legs or take bathroom breaks. 

• If you can, splurge on a seat with more leg room so you’re less cramped.

• If you’re in your first trimester, choose a seat by the wing, which tends to have the least turbulence. 

• If you’re prone to nausea, ask your OB-GYN about anti-nausea medications before you fly. 

• Bring a water bottle so it’s easier to stay hydrated.

• Avoid carbonated beverages, as the gas can expand in your stomach at higher altitudes.

• Pack some snacks since airlines provide limited snacks.

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Written by:

Alice Oglethorpe

Alice Oglethorpe has been a health journalist for more than 20 years. She worked on staff at Good Housekeeping, Fitness, and Shape magazines before becoming a freelance writer in 2011.

Edited by:

Laurie Tarkan

Laurie Tarkan is a senior health editor for general health and well-being at GoodRx. She has an extensive background in health journalism, and wrote regularly for The New York Times for a decade.

Reviewed by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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