Even after a premature baby has been
discharged from the NICU, she may not be ready to go on an airplane just yet.
Although today all commercial planes have pressurized cabins, believe it or
not, the oxygen concentration in the air is not as high as in a typical room at
sea level. For healthy people, that means that we simply need to breathe more
deeply or more rapidly to get the same amount of oxygen. We do this without
even thinking about it and our bodies easily make the adjustments needed.
But preemies may be different. A lot
may depend on what your baby’s oxygen saturation levels were while she was in
the NICU. For a baby whose oxygen saturation was measuring close to 100
percent, a plane ride may not be a problem. But for a baby whose oxygen
saturation levels were even a little lower–90-95 percent, for example—the drop
in oxygen concentration may be a cause for concern.
Flying on an airplane also increases
the chances that your baby may catch a cold or other respiratory tract
infection. Planes carry many people in an enclosed compartment. And they
actually recycle all or part of the air circulating in the cabin. This has led
to a greater transmission of infections among all passengers. Of course all
babies are vulnerable to these illnesses, but preemies are at an increased
risk—especially during their first winter.
If you were thinking about taking
your preemie on an airplane, make sure you talk to your baby’s health care
provider. Many neonatologists actually advise parents not to take babies on
airplanes for several months after leaving the NICU. Your baby’s health care
provider knows her breathing and medical history and is the best person to help
you make the decision whether traveling by plane is a good idea.
Tags: air travel, preemie, travel
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