United Airlines policy for travel for pregnant women

Pregnancy is not a reason to limit yourself, and the future mother’s desire to travel in anticipation of some event may well be satisfied, even if it requires spending several hours on the plane.
When planning a United Airlines flight during pregnancy, it is necessary, first of all, to consult an obstetrician-gynecologist. If the pregnancy proceeds normally, the doctor will most likely agree with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and those of the American company, and authorize the flight.

The safest time to travel is during the second trimester of pregnancy. In the event of an uncomplicated pregnancy after a period of 28 weeks, it is necessary to obtain a medical report confirming its normal course and the expected date of delivery. With a single pregnancy, travel with United Airlines is allowed until the end of the 36th week, and with a multiple pregnancy – until the end of the 32nd week of gestation. In the event of a complicated pregnancy, a medical examination is required before the flight.

However, if the day of your flight, you will already be in the 37th week of your pregnancy, in this case, presenting a medical certificate will be a necessity, and must be issued by your obstetrician either 72 hours or preferably 24 hours before departure.

During pregnancy, the risk of serious complications from malaria or viral hepatitis E increases significantly, so one should refrain from traveling to areas endemic for these diseases.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Great Britain consider placenta previa, preeclampsia and severe anemia to be absolute contraindications to flying. There are also a number of relative contraindications, a medical specialist can tell you about them.

However, it should be borne in mind that there are no uniform rules for the transport of pregnant women. Therefore, before deciding on a trip, study the rules with which you plan your trip.

Is it safe to travel by plane while pregnant?

Faced with a pregnancy, thousands of doubts arise, some related to frequent activities such as travel. Can a pregnant woman travel by plane? If it is a normal pregnancy, without complications, the answer is yes, but with restrictions. Flying is not inconvenient for the pregnant woman, it will not cause any harm to her or the fetus. The limitations are imposed according to the months of pregnancy, to avoid attending a birth on board, since the staff is not trained to do so.

As long as the doctor allows it, normally any pregnant woman can travel by air until week 36.
Under no circumstances is it authorized to travel on this route beyond these deadlines. Thus, before buying the ticket, it is recommended to check the conditions of each airline. Sometimes, after a while, they ask for permission from a doctor.

During the first trimester of pregnancy, the plane is not contraindicated, but it is more advisable to travel during the second trimester, when nausea and the risk of miscarriage have already diminished.
Especially if the pregnancy is advanced, doctors recommend that the pregnant woman periodically walk the corridors of the plane to promote blood circulation, since flying slightly increases the risk of thrombosis (clots) and varicose veins in the legs. For this reason, and to soften the swelling of the feet, a good option is to wear compression stockings throughout the flight, as well as loose and comfortable clothing. It is also important for women to drink water frequently to stay hydrated and to adjust the seat belt under the abdomen.

Of course, in case of possible eventualities, it is necessary to check that the travel insurance covers not only the cancellation, but also any other unforeseen event that may arise at the destination, such as medical expenses, in case of need health care.