Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
28 August 2014 10:17
Pregnant women usually have to provide a letter of consent or a letter from a doctor or midwife if flying within a month of their due date
A passenger jet was forced to make an unscheduled landing when a pregnant woman went into labour shortly after take-off.
The Boeing 767-300, flying from Amsterdam to Atlanta, had to touch down in Ireland less than an hour into the journey on Sunday.
Crew on board the Delta Airlines transatlantic flight declared a medical emergency as the plane soared above Blackpool.
Pregnant women usually need to provide a letter of consent or a letter from a doctor or midwife if flying within a month of their due date.
Adequate pregnancy travel insurance can protect mothers-to-be both in the sky and at their destination. So, if they have the baby while they're away, they'll both be covered to travel home at any time.
Such policies also cover the costs of medical expenses and cancellation just in case complications like pre-eclampsia or emergency Caesarean arise. But pregnant women must always check with their carrier that they'll be allowed on board in the first place.
In this case, the woman gave birth at University Maternity Hospital Limerick after the plane, carrying 230 passengers and crew, was diverted to Shannon Airport in County Clare, where paramedics were waiting.
There were fears she would give birth on the plane because her contractions were getting closer and closer.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says there is no significant risk associated directly with air travel during pregnancy, even at advanced gestation, while there is no evidence that flying causes early labour or a woman's water to break.
19 July 2018
The flu vaccination does not appear to have been effective in protecting against so-called Aussie flu, figures show.
[more...]
18 July 2018
Bowel cancer screening tests could also provide an insight into whether patients are at risk of other illnesses, a new study has revealed.
17 July 2018
France is still celebrating today after its national football team brought home football's biggest prize after a thrilling final in Moscow.
14 July 2018
Too many passengers heading abroad this summer will be travelling without adequate protection for when an airline goes bust, a new study has shown.
13 July 2018
The mother of Bradley Lowery has welcomed the news that a drug used to help treat her son will soon be made available for other patients on the NHS.
12 July 2018
British GPs have prevented thousands of strokes after learning how to better identify and treat a common heart condition, research has shown.
11 July 2018
London City Airport is considering lodging an application to increase flight and passenger numbers, its boss has revealed.
10 July 2018
Captain Harry Kane is leading England's unexpected bid for glory, and is hoping to inspire the next generation of footballers by going all the way in Russia.
07 July 2018
Experts have warned that a lack of rigorous testing of skin cancer detection apps is putting the public at risk.
06 July 2018
Easyjet has added to worries that travellers are set for a summer of chaos, revealing that nearly 1,300 flights were cancelled last month.
05 July 2018
Soaring temperatures across the UK have led to a surge of asthma sufferers calling a dedicated asthma helpline, a charity has revealed.
04 July 2018
Strikes across Europe led Ryanair to cancel over 1,000 flights in June, the budget airline has revealed.