[Submitted Question]

We are expecting our first child in just four weeks. There is a very important family event scheduled about two weeks after my due date. I would hate to miss it but we would have to go by plane. When would it be okay to take baby on an airplane trip (approximately three hours)?

[WombToBloom]

Talk to your pediatrician about it now. It may be just fine but it makes sense to get some expert advice in order to plan ahead.

One thing I’d want to know before making travel plans is what your OB plans to do if you blow by your due date without going into labor. How long will he or she allow you to go before you are induced, if at all? What does he or she think your chances are for an unplanned c-section (what is baby’s position right now?)? While the trip is two weeks after your due date, your baby may not be two weeks old by then. You may still be recovering from major abdominal surgery.

If you are intent on going, it is likely to be okay. Babies can fly as early as one to two weeks old usually (assuming good health). The main concern is exposure to illness. Most doctors usually tell parents to wait until after 6 months if they can. Even a common cold can be very hard on a newborn.

Aircraft air is not 100% recirculated. It is 50/50 recirculated and fresh. So it is probably cleaner than we think. But any public transportation can expose babies to illnesses. The longer you're on the plane, the more likely it is you and the baby will be exposed to some illness. Take hand sanitizer and use it – your tray table and the overhead bin door probably have a greater chance of getting you sick than the person coughing eight rows back.

[johniori]

yea its right that Admin advised to you you should consult to the doctor