I think the media is concerned for dear Sarah’s health and wellbeing.  During her last pregnancy, she took an eight hour flight from Dallas to Anchorage after her water broke. 

http://www.gambling911.com/politics/sarah-palin-flew-more-3000-after-water-broke-082908.html

Most reasonable people would conclude that this would not be a smart thing to do and shows particularly poor judgment on her part.  It is also against airline regulations, so in fact she broke the law.  She put herself, her baby, her fellow passengers and the airline in jeopardy because of an apparent selfish whim.  Yet to this day, she sees nothing wrong with her behavior.  So you see, short of throwing her in jail or tying her to the bedpost, there is little we or anyone else can do to protect Sarah from herself, other than discourage her from flying.  God knows what she will do next!

Why isn't pro-life a right? 

JDW

DAILY WAVE

The government works for me, not the other way around

I suppose that if she gave birth in flight and the plane had to make an emergency landing, you all would be cheering her for her bravery and strength under trying conditions.  I wonder what you all would be saying if Hillary did the same thing.  I remember when many conservatives faulted Hillary for not being "strong enough" to divorce Bill after his sexual escapades.  Hmmm.  Do I smell a whiff of hypocrisy in the room?  Nah.  Must just be a hamburger burning on the grill.

Palin's decision to fly home was made with the input of her OB-GYN.  This was not a capricious decision made without facts and probabilities borne out of dozens of years of scientific research.

A nice summary of the facts that pertain to Palin's situation can be found here.  To summarize:

• One may not know if the leak of fluid is urine or amniotic.  Palin's fluid leak could very well have been urine.  This is why an unexpected leak of fluid by Palin would need to be confirmed as to its origin.  There are two tests to determine the nature of the fluid:
  1. Fern Test - requires a glass slide and cover plus a microscope. If positive, a most beautiful crystalline fern plant pattern is seen.
  2. Nitrazine Litmus Paper Test
• Leaking of amniotic fluid does not mean that one is in active labor.  Contractions, specifically appropriate contractions that lead to birth, may not occur for hours.
• Antibiotics can be withheld following leaking of amniotic fluid for hours.  My experience was up to 12 hours for a known non-infected mother/baby, though there was no absolute concensus on the timing - some thought earlier, other later as long as no other problems occured.  The American College of OB-GYN (ACOG), the experts on labor and delivery, state that antibiotics can be given up to 18 hours after membrane rupture for Group B Beta Strep - something Palin may or may not have known yet depending upon the dating of her pregnancy and the presumptive date that her OB likes to check.

As far as I know, Palin did not break any laws.  The information given by the airline customer is voluntary and the decision to allow the customer to fly, with or without a physician's note, is internal and up for interpretation.  Except for some potential temporary discomfort in other passengers experiencing the birth (sounds, sights, smells), Palin delivering onboard the aircraft would not endanger fellow passengers.

The risks were to Palin and her child, especially if a delivery other than "normal" occured prior to hospitalization.  If the fluid leak was minimal, previous Biophysical Profile (includes ultrasound scan) were within normal limits (normal amount of amniotic fluid seen), she was infection free, etc., then the risk was small, especially factoring in the absence of appropriate contractions and her experiences with labor and delivery of her other children.  

I don't know if I would do as she did, but I am confident her decision was based on good data and was a well calculated small risk.