American Airlines policy allows F/As to use their sick time and vacation time during maternity leave. They also have the choice to be assigned ‘light duty’ office work if they would like to save their sick and vacation days.
Even though it’s every F/A’s choice about how long they continue to fly while pregnant, I worry when I see an obviously
very pregnant F/A onboard. The stress on our bodies in-flight in normal situations is very high...let alone pregnant. Pushing and pulling carts during ascent and descent, bending, stooping, lifting, etc. I worked with a pregnant F/A that didn’t do her fair share, expecting the other F/As to excuse her because of her ‘condition’. The rest of us were considerate and helpful to her, but it was still a little annoying.
Another thing that concerns me is what would/could happen to their baby if there were an accident/emergency evacuation...how much damage could the seat belt and harness do to the baby? It would be a very hard blow to the stomach area. Would she be able to help
passengers evacuate, or would
she need help in getting herself off?
I, personally, wouldn’t want to take the chance of harming my baby or anyone else during an emergency. But as
traveler said: “It's your body, you decide.”
