Contractions have started.
They're getting more intense.
There's no time, the baby is coming.
You better hope there's a doctor around.
Because you're more than
9,100 m (30,000 ft) up in the air.
Going through labor is one of the toughest
experiences in life.
And while many children are delivered
in a hospital or at home,
others have joined a very select club.
The skyborns.
Only around 50 people
have been born mid-flight.
That's one baby
for every 26 million passengers.
Needless to say,
childbirth in a plane will be a challenge
for the mom, the baby and the whole crew.
A general rule of thumb
is to not fly within four weeks
of the due date.
Some airlines won't allow traveling
after 36 weeks of pregnancy.
Others may ask for a note
with a doctor's approval for flying.
If you must fly,
get a seat with room to stretch your legs
and take walks to help with circulation.
Drink lots of fluids.
The low humidity in the plane
can result in dehydration,
which would be dangerous
when you're in labor.
At high altitudes,
any gases in your stomach will expand
which can cause discomfort.
So better pass on the beans this time.
If you start feeling contractions mid-flight,
tell a flight attendant immediately.
They could help you by asking for
medical professionals on the flight,
calling the destination airport
or providing first-aid.
If you're not already there,
they may also move you to business or
first class where there is more room.
If your flight is full,
then the galley may be cleared out for you.
Don’t assume that the pilot will make
an emergency landing.
It can be inconvenient,
costly
and sometimes just not possible.
Landing in an
underdeveloped part of the world
might make it difficult
to get to a hospital in time.
Language barriers could also make
the process more complicated.
If you're safe
and the birth is progressing fine,
it makes more sense to stay on course.
But there usually
aren't the supplies onboard
if you need a c-section.
In this case,
the pilot will ask airports to stand by
for an emergency landing.
Emergency medical crews will be waiting
to assist you the moment you land
and take you to the closest hospital.
Recline a first-class seat
to make it into a bed
and wrap it in plastic.
The flight crew is extensively trained
for medical emergencies
and should be able to assist you.
The temperature on the plane
is going to be much colder
than needed for the baby,
so make sure there are blankets
at the ready.
And if you're lucky,
there will be one or more doctors
on the plane.
In April 2021,
a woman gave birth on a flight to Honolulu
with the help of one doctor
and three neonatal intensive care nurses.
They used shoelaces
to tie and cut the umbilical cord
and warmed the baby with bottles
that were microwaved.
They even measured the heart rate
using an Apple Watch
and configured an oxygen mask
to fit the baby's face.
You made it.
Your baby is safe and you're both stable.
Now let's figure out some legal issues.
Any baby born
in U.S. waters or airspace
is granted U.S. citizenship.
In most countries,
the baby will adopt
the citizenship of the mother.
Others use the father's citizenship
as the default.
And if the baby is born over an ocean,
it might get citizenship of the country
where the plane is registered.
You survived childbirth on an airplane
thanks to your quick thinking
and the cooperation
of the whole flight crew
and other passengers.
It's a good thing you didn't eat too much
while in labor.
This is one of the worst things to do
while giving birth.
See the whole list right here.