Travel at 8wks? WWYD?

[dharmachick]

What are your thoughts on air travel during the first trimester? I've heard that it should be perfectly safe, but it still makes me nervous.

Here's my situation:
We haven't told anyone about our BFP, and don't plan to until after our first u/s at 6wks.  After that, we'll probably only tell our immediate family during the first trimester.  My parents are living in another state until mid-April, and I had planned on visiting them for Easter, when I would be at about 8wks. We are thinking that it would be great to extend our visit to be there for a week (it would also be a warm and sunny change from all this snow!), and bring them the happy news in person.  My sister will also be visiting, so it would be a great time to tell her, too.

I asked my RE about this, and she said that it should be fine.  It is about a 3 hour flight, so I'll just need to remember to get up and stretch my legs.

For some reason, this still makes me anxious. Like I am potentially doing something wrong.  Am I just overthinking this?

[IFinTN]

It really should be fine but if it's going to cause you anxiety rather than being a fun, relaxing trip then I would personally skip it. But that's just me. Good luck with your decision.

[viola]

You're probably over thinking. I traveled around that time, I think I was 7 weeks. It was a 3 hour flight too and the only thing I did was make sure to get an aisle seat (bathroom trips) and on one of the flights, because it was PACKED and there were over 30 young children (I counted at the gate, seriously) I asked if I could have early boarding so I could make sure to get a seat close to the bathroom in case I got sick. I also skipped the full body scanner and opted for the pat down. Traveling was NBD. Make sure you pack yourself lots of small snacks and maybe a juice to sip on to keep your blood sugar stable.

The only thing I regret about it - I had to take care of my three year old niece and MS hit me HARD. I just wanted to sleep and puke the whole time. I hope that's not the case for you though re: the morning sickness.

[bluefairy5]

If your RE thinks it would be just fine, I'd trust the expert. (In addition to the experts here, natch.) As you say, as long as you remember to get up and walk the aisles a bit, that's the only typical risk, as it were. (Also, Purell instead of the gross airplane bathroom sink water for handwashing, but if you're like me that's a given whether in the family way or not, LOL.) Flying and traveling won't cause a risk to the pregnancy itself. Man, get the hell outta this weather while you can!

[daydreamernyc]

The only thing that would have kept me from travel in the first was MS. If you are comfortable with it, go for it

[juneroses]

I am traveling at 8 weeks next week for a work conference - 1.5 hour flight. I'm scared, too, even though my RE & ob say it is ok. I hear you - it just feels like a bad idea. I have had awful morning sickness the past 4 days, all day, so I went out and got some preggi pop chews. It might just be the placebo effect, but I'm feeling a lot better today. I'm going to bring a stash with me & hope for the best. Good luck!

[ProfessorChaos]

I declined some travel at about that stage, even though everyone assured me it wasn't a risk. It just FEELS like a risk, so I decided not to do any nonessential plane travel during the pregnancy. I think you have to weigh the enjoyment you would get out of the trip with any anxiety you might feel.

Good luck with your decision!

[lolasky]

I've had to air travel (round trips) at 6w, 10w, and 12w. The worst was one of the 12w legs where I had to throw up in the little plane bag (my morning sickness has continued throughout pregnancy). The most nerve-wracking was the 6 week, when I flew through a moderate electromagnetic storm. (I do look up the space weather on NOAA now... Supposedly the worst are higher-level solar storms). I did get asked to be patted down each time then though I've read those machines are nothing compared to the travel itself.

In an ideal world, I could have skipped travel that trimester. But two were work-related before I was telling work, and one was a close friend's wedding.

I'm traveling again at 32 weeks. Scary for a different reason.

Good luck with your decision!

[gsancho]

I traveled at 5w, 6w, and 10w - usually a 1.5-2hr flight. There should be no problem traveling, BUT if you have bad MS the trip will suck. By the last trip I had, I was so sick and dealing with headaches, it sucked. That was a work trip, but I wouldn't plan leisurely trips late 1st/early 2nd tri in case you feel like crap.

[julie216]

I would trust my RE...if he/she thinks its fine, I would go for it. 3 hours isn't that long a flight and you can
get up and stretch your legs... who wouldn't like a change from all this horrific snow!

[astop87]

I'm with you on the unsure feelings about traveling. I'm going to Vegas (from dc) at the end of April. I'll be around 12 weeks along. I paid for the trip back in the fall and now I'm regretting it. It's a bachelorette party to make matters worse. I'm hoping m/s is better by then. I wish I'd thought about this a bit more before agreeing to go. GL with your trip. It's still early so I'd think you'd be totally fine. My sister travelled around the 10w mark with a 1 year old. She had no complaints.