Information

[Shanscraps]

 call your doctor, and ask him or her... I don't know....

[Northern Brat]

 Absolutely!  And I did!  I was sent to a larger hospital to have my first born because of concerns and I flew back with him to my community.  The doctor said that he would be perfectly fine!  I would rather do that instead of having him in car for several hours.  If you are worried, ask your doctor.

[jakey]

 I don't know, and I could be wrong... but i'm not even sure if an airline would let you?  Perhaps with a letter from your doctor maybe. I imagine they'd be a bit relectant somehow.

[Henu_Nea]

 I would be reluctant...I would be worried about cabin pressure and their little ears and other complications. I'm a big ol' worry wort! When I lived overseas, I flew with the girls all the time but I think the youngest we flew was 5 months. She did fine but I also nursed her through the whole take off and landing.

I think it's each parents' decision. Circumstances vary and if it came down to...I HAVE to be somewhere and I have to fly...Then I'd do it.

[ctaylor0312]

 Sure why not as long as the Dr. says it would be ok.  I would yes

[Renee]

 Yeah, I probably would.

Although I was just thinking, dh has a cousin and him and his wife adopted a child from Arizona. They were there for the birth and he flew home with them a week later. I'm sure people do it all of the time.

[CarlaB72]

 When I flew with my oldest daughter the peditrician said that she had to be at least 5 weeks and the airlines at that time said that she had to be 6 weeks old.  The trip up there was wonderful - she slept the whole time.  On the way back-I know that the whole plane hated me.  She cried the whole way and when we stepped off of the plane she stopped.

[mysunshine]

I recently learned that one of the reasons I was having so much trouble flying now vs the past is because in order to save fuel the airlines are flying at a lower altitude than before which puts more pressure on your ears and sinuses.

This most definitely is NOT true for your mid to large size passenger plane (737, 757, 767, 777, etc.).  It is more fuel efficient to fly higher, and they gradually climb up during a flight as the plane lightens up due to fuel burning away.  The on-board computers calculate the most efficient altitude.  A long flight optimizes at around 38000 ft.

But regardless, the airplane cabins are pressurized to create an environment that holds an appropriate amount of oxygen and water for our comfort.  Its around 8000-10000 feet equivalent. (I can't remember exactly, but the new 787 plane that will start flying next year will be lower than before, which is better.) It's definitely a lot lower than the flying altitude of 25,000-40,000 feet. The higher the pressurized altitude, the less like the ground atmosphere, which is more uncomfortable and requires more adjustment by our sinuses.  It doesn't really matter what altitude a big passenger jet flies at though - the internal cabin pressurization will be controlled to a set equivalent altitude.

How do I know this?  I'm an engineer at Boeing.     I do analysis and certification work for the 777 engines.  The pressurized air for the cabin comes from the engines.