OB-GYN begs pregnant women not to make this dangerous mistake: ‘I’m honestly worried women think it’s safe’

No, baby!

There are plenty of things women are told not to do while pregnant — but a few of those old-school “rules” have been debunked. Want to take a bath? Exercise? Go for it.

Other rules, though, exist for a reason — and one OB-GYN is warning women not to follow a TikToker’s lead with a harmful mistake that could put them at risk for for issues like excessive bleeding or NICU admission.

Got the travel bug? You should avoid flying if you’re late into pregnancy, according to Dr. Brooke Vandermolen (@theobgynmum).

After a mom-to-be on TikTok admitted that she flew to France at 38 weeks pregnant — going so far as to hide her bump at the airport — Vandermolen begged women not to learn by her example.

“Please, please do not lie about how pregnant you are to get on a flight,” the London-based OB-GYN said.

“Babies can sometimes arrive very quickly and sometimes complications can happen just as fast,” she added..

Some of these complications could include a hemorrhage or excessive bleeding, CPR for the baby, early labor, NICU admission, or shoulder dystocia, when one or both of the baby’s shoulders get stuck during childbirth.

Women who fly later in pregnancy are at risk of experiencing medical issues.

Generally, women shouldn’t travel by air after 36 weeks for domestic travel, and after 28 to 35 weeks for international travel, according to Johns Hopkins.

Similarly, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends against flying past 36 weeks, as emergencies can happen in the third trimester.

The highest chances of issues occurring during pregnancy are typically in the first and third trimesters.

“As you get further along, pregnancy gets more unpredictable,” said Vandermolen.

The doc also noted that the quality of medical can vary while abroad — and they may run into trouble with insurance and medical expenses should they go into labor mid-flight.

Whether or not pregnant women can fly also depends on individual airline policies. While ACOG recommends getting “proof of due date” from a doctor before traveling, Vandermolen fears the risks outweigh the benefits of a vacation.

“I’m honestly worried that other pregnant women might see this and think it’s safe,” said Vandermolen. “Your baby’s safety is not worth putting at risk.”

How far along you are in your pregnancy can change the risks of traveling, especially if you have pregnancy complications.