Increasingly, couples are flying to Mexico to give birth here. And not because childbirth is cheaper here or the experts are better — It is also possible to purchase quality medical care for money in your own country. Giving birth to a child in Mexico — This means giving him automatic Mexican citizenship, freedom of movement around the world and opening up good prospects for the future. And at the same time for yourself.
Air travel for pregnant women has its own nuances. When transporting pregnant women, all airlines act in accordance with IATA (International Air Transport Association) recommendations. But at the same time, each airline itself determines what responsibility it will bear. Likewise, each airline determines at what stage of pregnancy its responsibility begins.
Mexico's attitude towards the entry of pregnant women
Mexico does not restrict the entry or exit of pregnant women. An immigration officer at a Mexican airport cannot deny you entry simply because you are planning to give birth in Mexico.
General criteria for transportation
As a rule, transportation of pregnant women with a pregnancy period of up to 28 weeks (up to 32 weeks for different airlines) is no different from transportation of ordinary passengers. However, some airlines, upon noticing a pregnancy or when a pregnant woman is traveling unaccompanied, may require a certificate from the attending physician or sign a consent (declaration) to the airline's waiver of liability for possible negative consequences of the flight for the mother or fetus.
One way or another, you should have a certificate from your attending physician. The certificate must contain the following information:
- gestational age
- expected date of birth
- singleton or multiple pregnancy
- nature of the course (normal, complex)
- absence of pregnancy pathologies, risk of miscarriage or premature birth that do not allow the prospect of transportation by air
The certificate can be in free form and must be certified by the signature of the attending physician and the seal of the medical institution. It must be received no later than 7 days before the flight (for some airlines no later than 3 days).
It is important for the airline to see in the certificate that transportation does not pose any risks to the health of the expectant mother and child. If such risks still exist, the airline will definitely require you to sign an agreement to the carrier’s waiver of liability or will refuse the flight altogether.
To avoid possible misunderstandings when checking in for a flight, it is advisable to inform the airline about your pregnancy in advance, in particular, at the time or immediately after purchasing a ticket.
The certificate will also need to be translated into English or Spanish. This will make it easier to pass security checks not only at the airport of departure, but also upon arrival in Mexico. Usually, pregnant women at airports are allowed to skip the line everywhere.
Along with the certificate, it is advisable to have a medical card. It is not the airline that needs it, but the Mexican medical facility where the birth will take place.
Special transportation standards
If the pregnancy reaches 32-36 weeks, you cannot do without a certificate from the attending physician and signing a consent to the air carrier’s waiver of liability.
The policy of most airlines at such stages of pregnancy is to maximally relieve themselves of responsibility for transporting a pregnant woman. Therefore, if the certificate indicates possible complications, most often the airline will refuse transportation even if the passenger agrees with the airline’s waiver of liability.
Refusal to transport
Most airlines do not allow carriage of pregnant women more than 36 weeks pregnant (and more than 32 weeks in case of multiple pregnancies) and 4 weeks before the expected onset of childbirth.
However, at any stage of pregnancy it is possible to reach an agreement with the airlines. Sometimes the airline's published rules prohibit the transportation of pregnant women in late stages of pregnancy, however, if they agree to a disclaimer of liability for possible negative consequences of the flight for the mother or fetus, the airline may make concessions.
Considering that a direct flight from Moscow to Cancun takes more than 12 hours, and with a transfer — even longer, the expectant mother must herself assess the risks of such a long flight. It is recommended to fly to Mexico before the 32nd week of pregnancy in order to avoid problems with airlines and have time to adapt and prepare for childbirth.