travel to the channel islands whilst 8-9 months pregnant - any helpful advice please!!

[wrinklemush]

We have a family holiday planned with in-laws next August on the Channel Islands and I've discovered I'm pregnant and so I don't think I'll be able to fly there after 35 weeks - are there any of you who've travelled to the Channel Islands whilst this heavily pregnant? Do the airlines notice enormous bumps or can I pretend I'm just huge for 28 weeks!! Or are there any ferries.... Any advice from channel islanders would be extremely welcome....it's a nightmare as this holiday has been planned for a year and I am going to be in very bad books with the family if I have to pull out......

[Theochris]

Hiya, don't travel after the 28 unless you have the letter form your doc etc..You will need travel insurance for the Channel Islands as there is no reciprocal arrangement with the UK, I doubt you could get this over 35 weeks. So if you need to see a doc on the islands you will need to pay or have insurance. Seeing the GP from memory is 30-40 quid.

Surely your family will just be delighted that there is a little wrinklemush on the way

If you really wanted to risk it and not fly, you could get a ferry.

[wrinklemush]

thank you for advice, is as I expected, and I think the ferries are even more restrictive than the airlines in terms of how pregnant you can be when you get on them.... I guess Channel Islanders sensibly remain at home for the last 2 months of pregnancy and don't try to leave - I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's travelled from/to the channel islands whilst 35+ weeks pregnant - maybe it's just not possible!

[Bellie]

I am sure that the ferries are as restrictive as the airlines - have travelled when I was 6 weeks pregnant and remember reading in the small print about the ferry company needing doctors letter over 29 weeks.

Also, you do need your own travel insurance as Theochris says as there is no reciprocal arrangement. I am sure there was a thread on here about a year ago about travel insurance during pregnancy but I think the outcome was it was virtually impossible to get over 34 weeks.

Sorry not much help I'm afraid.