When am I going to be well enough to travel after giving
birth? If you’re itching to visit
far-flung friends and relatives with your new baby, or if being housebound as a
new mom is making you want to get out of town, like now, there’s no
hard-and-fast rule about when you’re allowed to fly. How soon you travel after
giving birth is really up to how you’re feeling. Some new moms feel almost like
their old selves within a few days (it’s okay to hate them), while others are
still having aches and pains for a while afterward. If you get a C-section,
you’ll likely be in the longer-recovery category.
You should check with your OB to make sure it’s okay to
travel if you’ve had any complications, but it’s even more important that you
get the go-ahead from baby’s pediatrician. That’s because baby’s immune system
is still developing, and there’s a high risk of him catching something harmful
in those early months.
Keep in mind, if you do hop a flight soon after delivery,
that there’s a high risk for blood clots that’s associated with pregnancy — and
it persists for six to eight weeks postpartum. So take extra care to drink lots
of water and to get up and walk around often during a long flight. Wearing
special support hose to promote circulation can also help.