A completely insane idea?!

[elk4baby]

Hi,
I need some advice (and possibly a good kick, depending on what you think :))

I have an 18mo DS and am expecting another.
We had this idea to go skiing (well, DH will be skiing, I'll just walk and play around in the snow with DS) around X-Mas.
Trouble is I will be 36-37 weeks pregnant by then (naturally, taking the train is our only option).

Is this completely insanse?
What do you think?

I'd really appreciate your honest! opinions.

[BertieBotts]

Where are you planning on going?

[muslimah28]

From how much fatigue i was suffering from at that stage i would say yes, its insane ime :) but everyones different

it IS nice to have a babymoon, definitely.

Can you not go ealrier though?

Otherwise you shd probably take yr hospital bag with you just in case!

[ragged]

If you go to a first world country with decent hospitals or other medical options for the birth within an hour's drive, and you are relaxed about what happens in your birth plan (ie, it's okay if it goes kind of pear shaped because you don't know them and they don't know you), and you're low risk anyway and generally feeling energetic now, and if somehow your medical bills will be paid in event of needing medical attention and you won't mind if your DH can't come with you for the birth because he'll be minding the DS (who else would mind him?)....

Then it's fine, but those are a lot of IFs... and I'm sure I haven't thought of an exhaustive list of IFs that ought to apply, either .

[japhrimel]

TBH I'd say insane too.

It's hard enough staying on your feet in the snow anyway - with a toddler and when heavily pg, I'd be falling over a lot.

And would your travel insurance cover you anyway? An EHIC card would help in the EU, but that doesn't cover getting home or hotel bills. Sounds very very expensive to me.

[pinkyp]

Is it somewhere local? might be good to get away but bare in mind you might not want to do any walking and be able to bend over to play in the snow and generally be uncomfy,so if it was me i'd prob wait unto dc2 was here and go when i was a bit more mobile to enjoy the full benefit.Maybe go somewhere local for a get away instead

[Madhouse41]

Also, if you did need to get to hospital and you are at the top of a mountain, it could take ages to get there! You may have to be taken in a helicopter which could cost a lot of money. It sounds like a great idea but make sure you check out every possibility before booking anything. Good luck.

[elk4baby]

We're limited to train travel and with a toddler 'as close as possible' works best. I've looked on raileurope, and La Plagne seems to be our best bet.

[jasmine51]

Keen skier here - I have been advised to think very carefully before going skiing at any time due to increased chance of ligament damage. I dont know the stats but if you ski alot you'll obviously know about ACL injuries and our sports physio friend says these are alot more likely during pg. Also have been advised to research effects of altitude after 5 mths. I know La Plagne well and whist it is not massively high, is is high enough to feel effects so maybe do some research on this. Oh and one more thing our friend said - your spinal alignment is different during pg which shifts your centre of gravity and can make you unstable - imagine skiing with a heavy rucksack on your front to replicate the effect.
I will be 20 wks at end of Jan and will not be going on my usual trip this year

[Deliaskis]

I would check out insurance ramafications at that late stage, as the likelihood that you might go into labour is pretty high so you might not be covered.

FWIW, people who live in mountain resorts have babies, so I wouldn't say blanket no, as the healthcare system will be able to handle you, but you would need to be prepared to:

• Spend the whole hol (and waste all that money) sitting in the apartment cos you're too tired to go out.
  

• Spend the whole hol sitting in the apartment cos it's treacherously icy.
  

• Potentially go into labour in France, with all the normal possibilities of things not going to plan - e.g maybe ending up with an emergency section and not being able to travel home for yonks.
  

On balance, I probably wouldn't, as I think the risks (not risk to baby, but risks of things going pear-shaped) outweigh the benfits.

D

[Deliaskis]

Add to list, possibility of early delivery, maybe not being able to travel straight away, and DP having to go home at end of pat leave, or not having accommodation as it's Christmas/New Year which are high season and you get chucked out after the week.

I had this (slightly different) worry when we were away at Christmas and DH had a back injury skiing, leaving me potentially homeless as all accom was full for the next week. Wouldn't have liked to be going through that with new baby and toddler. In the event we staged a prison break and travelled anyway, against advice.

I would consider going to our own apartment in Austria at a fairly late stage, but that's because the healthcare there is the same as UK with the EHIC, whereas France isn't, and we have our own place so could stay as long as we wanted plus DH is self-employed can be flexible.

FWIW, if you're thinking of using a tour op/package hol, don't expect the reps to have any clue as to how to handle any medical eventualities. Some are good, some are woeful.

D

[MoppingMummy]

I personally wouldn't go. You'll have loads to think about/ get ready at that time plus top priority to rest.

[Deliaskis]

Hmmm the train journey might be a bit of a pain that late on as well - not being able to get comfy or not getting any sleep on the nighttrain (I never sleep on the snowtrain really, the bed is just somewhere to be).

I don't think it's insane, per se, I think you might just arrive and not be able to enjoy much, and wonder why you bothered with the hassle and expense, and then there is still the worry of going into labour early and any complications.

D

[mrsbigw]

Is it just the three of you going? If so are you happy to go to a foreign hospital alone whilst your DH minds your son? Don't mean to look on the negative side but the fact that you have even posted shows that you must have some major doubts?
Sorry if this has been covered already but will your travel insurance even cover you for anything at that stage of PG?
Also how comfy are you going to be travelling at that stage? I can't even sleep in my own bed towards the end of pg never mind on a train!

[elk4baby]

Luckily, our travel insurance is very good and should cover for whatever happens.
We'd need to take the day train, as DS doesn't sleep 'just anywhere', unfortunately. And he gets extremely cranky if he doesn't sleep well.

However, I've given this a lot of thought and taken everyone's opinion in... I think we either go in early December (32-33wks) and take the chance on snow, rather than take a chance on giving birth anywhere other than our familiar hospital with my DH holding my hand.

By the way is there really anywhere relatively local (we're in London) we could go in December without it being miserable (=raining, grey and generally unpleasant) outside?

[Muser]

Go somewhere where you won't mind what it's doing outside? You could go to the Center Parcs in Suffolk. Big tropical swimming pool, spa stuff, indoor climbing, outdoor stuff if the weather is ok, pool, bowling, etc. And never underestimate the pleasure of being inside with hot chocolate, a book and roaring fire when it's pissing it down outside.

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

Triple check with your travel insurer because I really doubt any will cover a 37 week pg woman who is taking part in winter sports. Unless you are a royal of course

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I think you would be insane, even at 32-33 weeks. What on earth will you do if you slip over and pull a ligament? You won't be able to get home on the train, will your insurance fly you home at that many weeks pregnant?
Even once you are home, you'd be completely immobile. Do you have backup possible childcare for your DS for a month while you recuperate?

I know that in theory you could injure yourself whenever you go skiing, but at least you wouldn't also be hauling round an almighty bump as well!

Why the desperation to go?

[elk4baby]

Thanks . Though I would NOT be taking part in winter sports (I might be insane, but not to that degree, I don't think)! I just feel bad for depriving DH of the pleasure of skiing this winter...

[elk4baby]

All I wanted was to have DH ski while me and DS are out walking and playing in the snow. I would never go skiing beyond 10-12 weeks - while there's still no bump and the baby is well protected behind the pubic bone.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

You are carrying his child, you are hardly stopping him going on a whim

Seriously though, I am a keen skier, so is DH and it wouldn't even cross our minds to attempt that trip. We went in March this year when DS was 20 months, and we had my parents with us as well. We drove there so that we could take all the stuff we needed for DS, and had a childcare rotation so that we all got to ski.
DS loved it, but he couldn't really walk far because it was snowy/icy underfoot so had to be carried. I am 20 weeks with DC2 now and I wouldn't want to be carrying a toddler across the snow, I really wouldn't.

[nancydrewrocked]

My only concern would be the baby arriving early - the fatigue/location wouldn't be a big deal for me.

If you feel that you could adequately deal with matters (language barrier/health insurance/logistics generally) if the baby arrives early then go for it.

FWIW I will be on holiday from 32-33 weeks and my first two arrived at 36 and 37 weeks.

[lilly13]

My husband and I are also thinking about taking a train to France to go skiing in January (I will be around 24 weeks, but I do not want to fly). I will not be skiing. I think the biggest risks to consider are the following: 1) you might slip on ice whilst walking and fall badly and 2) the baby might come early. Good luck!

[japhrimel]

Um, you could go into early labour at 32 weeks. Going then doesn't mean you definitely won't be giving birth abroad!

If you really don't want to go into hospital on your own, you can't go. If anything happened and you had to go to hospital, even if you didn't end up actually having the baby, you would have to be on your own.

I would be very at DH not being able to do without skiing. Far more practical IMO for him to go alone when baby is a few months old if he simply can't survive one winter without skiing.

If you simply have to go , is there anyone who could come with you who could look after your LO if you had to go to hospital?

I would definitely double check with your insurance - many policies have get-out clauses if you done something risky or not followed medical advice. And you'd also need to check that the policy could cover accommodation & travel for not just you, but your OH, your son and the baby if it arrived early.

[Muser]

If you just want him to be able to ski send him to XScape in Milton Keynes for the day. It has real snow.

[MistyB]

Elk I nearly went with my DH and our older two (4 and 2 at the time) when 35 weeks pregnant but having bought flights, realised I was too far gone to fly.

You could go to somewhere like Lax in Switzerland when you are 32/33 weeks. It's a lovely resort, 2 hours drive from Zurich - you can get on an early flight and be on the slopes by lunch time. There are lots of walk on walk off chairs so you could wander up a little for some snowy sunshine and mountain views if you are lucky.

Or you could send him off to Lax for the weekend - Friday morning till Sunday morning - then have a spa weekend yourself the following weekend!!