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Flight Attendants’ Guide to Flying during
Pregnancy
Flying can be scary enough on it’s own
without learning you are pregnant too, but
for airplane workers it can be even more
distressing especially when you have a lot
of questions about flying during pregnancy
and your job.
If your job entails flying whether you are a
flight attendant, a pilot or anything else
that requires constant flying you should
read this article which has been
specifically designed to give you as much
information as possible to help you
understand flying and the effects on your
pregnancy.
Can I Still Do My Job?
You may be concerned about your ability to
do your job whilst pregnant. Your employer
should be notified immediately about your
pregnancy and they will probably want to do
a work risk assessment with you to find out
how safe it is for you to continue with your
work. During the first trimester you will
probably still continue working on the plane
if you are a flight attendant or a pilot,
although if you prefer you can make a
request to be grounded immediately. The main
concern during the first trimester is how
you are feeling during this time. This part
of your pregnancy can be the most turbulent
because you may suffer from morning
sickness, travel sickness and dizziness. If
you find yourself unable to cope at any time
with these symptoms during flight travel you
should talk to your manager immediately for
a ground transfer to be arranged.
When will I be unable to travel?
Airports and airlines will generally refuse
flight travel to any woman over 35 weeks
pregnant although some may refuse it earlier
than this. If you specifically work for an
airline it is likely that you will stop your
flight attendant duties much earlier than
this. Most airlines will arrange for you to
undertake a desk job for the duration of
your pregnancy.
Is it Safe to Fly during Pregnancy?
There are two things to consider when flying
during pregnancy. Firstly, pregnant women
are at a slightly higher risk of developing
DVT during flight travel. This is not
something to be concerned about however, all
you need to do is remember to keep walking
around as much as possible. You also need to
make sure you are properly hydrated so
remember to keep a good supply of water or
juice to hand with you on your journeys and
you will probably end up going to the
bathroom a lot to stretch your legs anyway.
Secondly, research has shown that unborn
children can be highly susceptible to
radiation interference during the
development process and as such it is noted
that constant flight could cause birth
defects. It is therefore recommended you do
not fly more than 200 hours during your
pregnancy to limit exposure and keep it well
below safety requirements. If your job
requires more flying trips than this you
should talk to your manager immediately so
that alternative arrangements can be made as
soon as possible. |
