Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about how pregnant women can travel without putting their health at risk. Travel is safe for healthy pregnant women if they take precautions. Dr. Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, an obstetrician at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says if you plan to travel by plane, you should check with your doctor and the airline. Most airlines allow pregnant women to travel through their eighth month and into the ninth month with permission from a health care provider.
When you’re traveling by plane, try to walk the aisle occasionally and, if possible, get a bulkhead seat so you can stretch your legs while seated. The main risk with travel is blood clots in the legs, so it’s important to keep blood flowing. For long flights, consider wearing support hose.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/obgyn to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in gynecology and obstetrics.
Next: Cruising and traveling abroad.
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September 2008
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