My Fear of Flying (potentially drug-free)!
I am not sure when my fear of flying set in. I grew up enjoying the thrill of a plane ride with butterflies visiting only during the take-off. Throughout college I regularly flew from DC to NY and even after 9/11, I frequently traveled this route with little concern of the “what if’s”. Perhaps it is age and wisdom that washed over my brain eliminating the vision I had created of pilots being incredibly smart and talented, more so even then a doctor – I mean they fly a huge metal thing in the air, thousands of feet above land, sometimes even above water! Why and when I became fearful of flying has yet to be aligned to a specific reason or time frame, but what is definite is that I highly dislike it!
I dislike the take-off and the abnormal noise that comes from the engine revving and wheels lifting. I loathe the bumpy sky that you feel along the way as you tilt back in your seat bracing for the plane to level out again. My hands sweat and my brain is unable to comprehend complete sentences – thank gosh for gossip magazines with lots of pictures that allow for a slight distraction. And once in level air I detest knowing how high the plane is above ground. The whole experience feels unnatural to me!
Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not one of those individuals who won’t fly due to my fear. In fact, this past summer I participated in my longest flight yet – 9 hours from Rome to DC. But what helped pass the time was complete exhaustion and some help from a friendly pill called Xanax. My fears still exist even when medicated, however the physical side affects (sweaty palms, heart racing, tight chest) are mostly alleviated allowing my mind to be the only variable that is stressed!
But now I am pregnant and have an upcoming flight!
My fear of flying is so intense that usually 2 weeks out from a flight I start to have anxiety issues. I sleep less, worry more, and strategize different approaches to surviving the flight time. Although this upcoming flight (to Florida) is quickly approaching my anxiety levels haven’t fully increased because I have been too busy to worry about my flight. However, what I AM worrying about is whether or not I should take my small dosage of Xanax (.25 mg) to ensure I “survive” the flight with few physical symptoms or overreactions.
I had asked one of the OBGYN’s at my practice if it was okay for me to use this “magic” pill and he said based on the low dosage and information that I would use only one going and one coming back, he saw nothing wrong with it. However, what I have read online contradicts this view point and most articles read that Xanax should not be used when pregnant and that “This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby” . What confuses me is whether or not the medicine would/could cause birth defects when regularly used throughout pregnancy or if ever used when pregnant!
Of course I would never take any medicine that could have fatal effects on my baby’s development but on the flip slide I fear that the anxiety I experience during the flight would do more harm to my baby girl then the low dosage of medicine. (I would like to add that the ONLY medicine I have taken since pregnant is Tylenol and that has been about 4 times!).
This morning I have my every 4 week appointment with my OBGYN and I plan to revisit this concern. Perhaps there is another medicine, something considered “more safe” that I could take? I have even thought about taking a Benadryl instead. Although this won’t decrease the physical side-effects I typically experience, it will knock me out allowing me to miss most of the flight time!
Until I have some more answers I will continue my pre-worry to my next flight! Of course I will update you with the results of the conversation I have with my doctor.
If anyone else can offer advice or has had to make a similar decision concerning medication for fear of flying while pregnant, please let me know what action you chose!
God bless mothers. I never understood what females give up to become a mother. Society places so much value on vanity, beauty, and age – all variables typically lost or found less important once pregnant and preparing for motherhood. This picture at first may make you squirm, but look past the stretch marks (the sticky reads “I forgive you for the stretchmarks”). I came across it on a pregnancy message board. This woman has no control over the reddish layers that have been added to her skin. Instead of being angry about the addition of these zig-zag lines she has embraced them as a sign of her humbleness and entry to motherhood. In fact this picture is from her maternity shoot! She wanted to capture the essence of her pregnancy in film baring the scars that may be left behind long after her child is born. She is proud to sacrifice a small piece of her vanity for the large volume of gratitude and love she will forever have for her child.
I never really understood the coffee shop rage that hit the scene years back. Even now, I am not a coffee drinking although both my parents swore I would acquire 
a love for the taste and caffeine addition after college (which didn’t happen) and then again, once I entered the workforce (which also didn’t happen). But since pregnant, I have finally learned why people love Starbucks, Caribou and all the other overpriced café like chains that calm your addictive needs!
Each year I write a Christmas Wish List (yes, even at this age). I jot down a few items that I hope appear under the tree labeled with my name on them. Some items are small things I always need or want, but don’t regularly buy – think make-up, kitchen towels and Brita’s. 
Other items are a bit more expensive – think UGG boots, a Marc Jacob bag, or SLR camera! This year it took me more time than usual to create a list of things I needed or wanted, because being pregnant excludes a lot of my typical requests such as clothes (I don’t want anyone guessing what size I may or may not be after pregnancy, thank you very much); and perfume (A yearly request that I look forward to, but even the thought of Dolce & Gabbana’s “Light Blue” makes me want to vomit right now). So I took some time and thought about what would be most useful to me and other moms-to-be and compiled a list of The 
4. A new camera or camcorder. This is a great family gift that is for the parents-to-be as well as the baby on his or her way. Many people hold onto their older electronics as the latest versions of tech-savvy toys are constantly changing with costs that remain high. Most parents-to-be can’t justify spending $300+ on a digital SLR camera or mini DVD camcorder when they may be spending this on a baby video monitor! Yet this is an essential piece of equipment that will allow precious first moments to be captured and more easily shared with family and friends that live near and far.
once the baby arrives. Her quick runs to the grocery store will be filled with fast paced shopping for items that are baby related – diapers, formula, and perhaps a couple of food items (merely for survival)! Her weekly or monthly magazine will be the gift that keeps on giving and will more than likely be used during late night feedings. The magazine that was so easily read in a 3 hour timeframe will now take her days to complete, but each time she escapes to the What Not to Wear page, she will have a few seconds to remember that a world outside the poopy diapers and leaky breasts still does exist! Check out 
I couldn’t resist purchasing this for our baby-on-the-way while at Target yesterday. I walked by a rack that had a substantial amount of baby Christmas and holiday outfits and this cute cotton dress had to be mine! I hope I picked the right size for her next year (6 – 9 months)! Several of my co-workers told me I should have purchased the dress in size 12 months, but I just can’t imagine 
still like the two original sets we had eyed weeks earlier – the one set was knocked down to $250 (floor sample). This price included the sheet, dust ruffle, bumper, blanket/quilt, window valance, diaper organizer, laundry basket, lamp, mobile and wall paper boarder! To put this in perspective, the lamp itself usually sells for $50! We both agreed we had to get this set. My husband said, “Even if you find something else down the road, we can’t pass up this price”. And typically I am not one to buy a floor sample item; however, it is not like babies have actually slept on this set and even when purchased new you have to wash the sheets prior to using so I figured this set was in a way meant to be ours!
rather clear, and my bed time still extends past 10 PM. But on approximately the 180th day of being pregnant, my body decided it was time to shake things up and slapped me with a host of symptoms I may have been in denial of acquiring. A rounded belly, an insatiable appetite, hormonal and emotional rage, and new found cellulite. Oh pregnancy, how I love thy.
despised looking at food anytime earlier than 11 am. Now, I must eat in the mornings. I drive to work thinking about what my first bite will consist of – maybe some milk and Cheerios (good); perhaps a multigrain bagel with cream cheese (not bad); or what about a piece of crumb cake or Dunkin Donuts Munchkin’s (bad, bad, bad). See the tough decisions I must make now?! Honestly, since pregnant, I haven’t even had many good, tasteful meals because most are desired to simply satisfy a craving or a gargling stomach.
I woke up in such a mood, with every small thing irking me. I warned my husband and provided him a disclaimer saying, “I don’t know what is wrong with me, but I am uncomfortable, irritable, and in a bad mood. Consider yourself warned”. And although we had a pleasant day, this pestering feeling of being annoyed wouldn’t leave. By night time I was showering and sitting in the tub sobbing, unsure what the hell had happened. I had no real reason to be so upset and inconsolable. I dried up and sat on my bed, the crying didn’t stop. And I don’t mean just tears – I mean hysterics that accompanied red, puffy eyes! My husband couldn’t help but laugh (note to other husbands, this is a bad move). He said this was my first real pregnancy symptom! About 20 minutes into my tantrum I cleaned myself up and headed to the living room acting as if all was normal in the world!
stretch the size of California, but no one warns that the other enemy in waiting is cellulite. Yes, I had some spots of cellulite prior to pregnancy, but now I have more and this worry wasn’t on my original list of worries! Apparently, cellulite is a byproduct of pregnancy because woman gain weight and exercise less. Makes perfect sense, right? I mean, I never thought my 4 days a week, 1 hour workouts would continue throughout pregnancy, but on the flip side I never imagined that the cessation of these activities over the course of a couple of weeks would result in more frumpy, “dimples”! Of course all the online advice reads the same – Eat healthier (umm hello author, have you ever been pregnant) and exercise more (going up and down my stairs is exercise – I am winded darnit!). But the good news is (and I choose to believe this even if false) is that pregnancy cellulite tends to correct itself after your baby is born! Well that is if you couple giving birth with correcting your diet, increasing your exercise plan, and purchasing many bottles of expensive anti-cellulite cream!
I purchased a NY Giant maternity shirt when I was only 4 weeks pregnant. I couldn’t resist knowing that the G-Men are my husband’s absolute favorite professional sport team and that
he would be over-the-moon when I would one day wear the red & blue across my belly. I couldn’t have picked a better day to support my hometown team and display my 5 month bulging belly as the local team, the Washington Redskins lost to the NY Giants 31-7.
I had no idea that Old Navy had a 
maternity store and alerted me to a outerwear sale they were having a few weeks back. I jumped at the opportunity to purchase a winter jacket for only $30! Of course it is not my most favorite coat, however it fits comfortably, has room to grow, keeps me warm and was cheap!
anticipating bad news each time. Lucky enough, each vile of blood that was drawn and tested for multiple diseases, deficiencies and so on, came back with positive news that allowed me to relax and think “maybe I will live”.
