After receiving an emergency passport, a Connecticut woman who gave birth in September on a flight from Connecticut to the Dominican Republic has returned to the United States earlier this month.
According to TikTok videos that her sister Kendalee Rhoden posted, Kendria Rhoden from Hartford delivered Skylen to her on an American Airlines flight. These videos have been viewed millions of times.
According to TikTok videos, Kendria Rhoden was able to fly home with her child in October.
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“American Airlines Flight 2443, from New York (JFK), to Punta Cana(PUJ) was declared an emergency before landing because of a medical emergency aboard,” an American Airlines representative sent an email to Fox News Digital.
“First responders met the flight at landing and took the customer to a local hospital for further treatment. “We thank our team members, medical professionals onboard for their professionalism.
Rhoden and her sister shared TikTok videos of Skylen’s red emergency passport and both videos have drawn questions from curious social media users who want to know what it’s like to give birth while traveling internationally.
Fox News Digital reached Rhoden to get her opinion. It is not clear at this time how far along her pregnancy she was.
Here’s what pregnant women should know before making long-distance travel plans and what needs to be done if, by chance, they give birth in the sky, in international waters or in a foreign country.
What should you know about emergency passports, and other documents?
For international travel, passports are an essential document.
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According to Dr. Jessica Madden (medical director at Aeroflow Breastpumps), a Cleveland-based breastpump manufacturer, new mothers who give birth while on an international flight or boat must report their birth to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where they arrived.
Embassies and consulates will issue a Consular Record of Birth Abroad (CRBA) form, which will need to be filled out to prove a newborn’s citizenship status.
Madden stated, “As long you are a U.S. Citizen, your baby will also become a U.S. Citizen, regardless of where he or she was born.” Certain countries may offer dual citizenship, if the plane was over their country at the time of your birth. Other countries won’t.
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CBRAs take approximately 15 business days to process, according to the U.S. Embassy & Consulate government website.
International travel and reentry to the country require passports.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs handles emergency passport processing, including life-or-death emergency appointments that require international travel within three days and urgent travel appointments that require international travel within 14 days.
“Newborns born in the United States must have an emergency passport issued by the U.S. unless they were born on a cruise, which both departs from and returns to America. [in a] Madden stated that closed loop was his preferred method.
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Madden states that CBRAs and emergency passports for newborns are often processed simultaneously.
She noted that newborns must be present during these document appointments, which is a requirement that could delay the process if a baby isn’t quickly discharged from a hospital.
Airline and doctor representatives advise pregnant women to avoid travel in the last stages of their pregnancy.
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Madden stated that there is a possibility that your stay could be extended for several weeks.
Madden stated that expecting mothers who have to travel internationally in their third trimester must check the obstetrical care terms with their insurer to ensure they are covered.
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I recommend that you have a copy your pregnancy medical records readily accessible. Madden stated that this is vital information you should have in case you give birth abroad. Madden said, “It is important to plan ahead for where you will go for medical attention if you go into labour or have an unanticipated pregnancy complication.”
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Madden advises that women with pregnancy complications associated with higher preterm birth rates should not travel internationally for the third trimester.
How can I travel while pregnant?
Some women who are pregnant choose to take a vacation called a babymoon before giving birth.
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According to Sandra McLemore (a television host and travel industry expert with 22 years’ experience), airlines and cruise lines have a “no travel deadline for pregnant passengers.” She currently contributes to Travel Marketing and Media in California, which is a travel business company.
McLemore explained to Fox News Digital that “in the airline sector, it can vary between domestic carriers and international airlines.”
“If you were traveling to Europe to have your babymoon, then you would need to check every airline. She said that it would be horrible to get across the pond and then be denied boarding to your next destination.
McLemore says that cruise lines are well-known for adapting their rules to suit the itinerary.
She stated that “the risks are higher when ships have a significant amount of sea days away form land.” “Typically, you will see earlier pregnancy deadlines when traveling transatlantically or transpacific routes.
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McLemore advised pregnant women to follow the advice of an obstetrician prior to making travel plans.
Cruise lines and airlines have specific guidelines and travel restrictions for pregnant passengers.
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McLemore said that doctors may allow short trips, or even advise against it (domestically as well as internationally), particularly if mothers are at a later stage in their pregnancy.
She said, “A healthy baby and a healthy mother are the main focus at the end of each day.”
If travel while pregnant can’t be avoided for whatever reason, McLemore said expecting mothers should consult a travel insurance company – provided that they have one.
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McLemore stated that “most travel insurance policies do NOT cover pregnancy complications.” This means that if you need medical treatment or repatriation you could end up spending hundreds of thousands of money.
What should pregnant women know about travel?
All medical experts agree that pregnant woman should consult their obstetrician first before making plans to travel long distances.
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According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynologists (ACOG), which is a Washington, D.C.-based professional association of obsetricians, “best time to travel during pregnancy” is between 14 and 28 week.
The group says that mid-pregnancy is the ideal time to travel for expectant moms because morning sickness and energy levels are generally better.
In a travel guide, the group said that “You can still get around easily.” “After 28 week, it might be more difficult to move about or sit for a while.”
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The ACOG urges pregnant women to consult their obstetrician before travel and to be wary of travel if they’re experiencing pregnancy complications.
Why is air and sea travel so important?
Dr. Kellie lease Stecher, an obstetrician from Minnesota Women’s Care in Maplewood (Minnesota), said that each pregnancy is unique so recommendations for travel can differ.
“If an individual is still in their first trimester of pregnancy, but [they’re] If you have bleeding issues, it is best to stay at home. Stecher said that patients can travel internationally for up to 32 weeks.
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Stecher pointed out that some airlines require letters from a doctor before they allow pregnant women to board.
The space on a plane is smaller and the medical staff (if any) are less available to assist with the birth of a baby.
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“The concern about planes or cruises, is the inability to easily get off and go to a hospital,” she explained, “If you’re in the air and have an emergency, there are limited tools at your disposal.”
Stecher doesn’t recommend international travel for expecting mothers who are nearing term.
If travel can’t be avoided, she suggests mothers-to-be contact the country they’re visiting to “see what they do legally.”
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The information you have can be used to create a backup plan or an emergency birth plan.
Are there any risks to traveling while you are pregnant?
Dr. Wendy Goodall McDonald, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Women’s Health Consulting, a healthcare center in Chicago, said she advises “low-risk” patients to avoid international travel in their third trimester and “high-risk” patients to stop traveling earlier than that.
Goodall McDonald stated that “if there’s a complication in pregnancy, not only are they subject to whatever system is available where they are, but also if the baby was born prematurely, they now have a preterm infant who must stay in that system until they are old enough for discharge, which could take months.” Fox News Digital interviewed Goodall McDonald.
Although traveling during early gestation is considered safe, there are still risks.
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She said that while complications can occur earlier than in the third trimester statistically, they are less common in the second or earlier trimesters.
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Traveling for extended periods – four hours or more – with restricted movement while pregnant also puts women at risk of developing a blood clot, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can be life-threatening, according to Goodall McDonald.
To lower the risk of blood clots, expectant mothers should get up and move about every two to four hours, she advised.
Women planning to travel by air or water should be aware of all the options available.
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Goodall McDonald stated that although cruise ships often have staff with them, there are limitations on where additional care can be provided. If an emergency occurs, air travel can be faster than a bus or car. However, pregnant women should make sure they are aware of any hospitals or other health facilities along their route.
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Goodall McDonald said that it was possible to have family visits and transfers for domestic travel depending on where the woman is.
