Going on holiday at 32 weeks pregnant??

[SergeantAngua2016]

I'm in my first pregnancy so a bit clueless about these things! My lovely mum in law booked a special family holiday this year a while ago, and we've since found out I'm pregnant. I will be 32 weeks pregnant for the holiday! I really, really want to go, as it's a special holiday with all the family, and the last holiday my other half and I will get before baby comes along. The other catch - it's on a yacht off the coast of Turkey. What do people think? Will I be able to go or is it too much of a risk? I know I will have to get a letter from GP/midwife. My pregnancy is classed as low risk, but obviously have never been 32 weeks pregnanct so have no idea what it will be like! Would really appreciate some advice from those who know.

[fluffypenguinbelly]

I am currently 32 weeks pregnant and would say that a yacht in Turkey is very low on the list of places I'd like to be right now. I have had a very healthy pregnancy but am risk adverse and it wouldn't be one I would take.

[SergeantAngua2016]

Thanks fluffypenguinbelly, that's helpful advice! How are you feeling at 32 weeks? I have had such a rough time up to where I am (16 weeks) I really hope it gets better!

[PennyHasNoSurname]

At 32 weeks the only holidays I would consider are UK breaks (with my carseat and notes). Yes its 8 weeks early, 10 if you go over, but babies are born at 32 weeks and its not as rare as one might hope so for that reason Id stay within reasonable distance of a british hospital.

[5hell]

I'm 32w and whilst i would love to be on holiday, and have also had a relatively easy pregnancy and am v low risk, i'd have a few concerns...

-insurance
-getting there (some airlines might not take you even with a letter)
-sleeping - getting comfy seems to get progressively harder, and even on a luxury yaught I imagine bed size & ridiculous numbers of pillows might b an issue?
-motion sickness
-access to healthcare should you get any unfavourable symptoms etc

but if you're happy with the above, and will have helpful and supportive family around then it might be a lovely last baby-free hol :)

[DPotter]

There are restrictions for flying you will need to think about as well. Off the top of my head 32/33 weeks rings bells, so good idea to check with your airline first.
Agree with pp though, as lovely as a yacht of the turkish coast sounds, the heat and the clambering off / on the boat would have been difficult for me.

[queenofthepirates]

I'd do it-you're not as far away from a hospital as you might think and a last holiday before the baby arrives is nice. Bear in mind you'll need a big bed with an en suite as you'll be on the loo ten times a night

[JustWantMyMoneyBack]

I went to Greece at 28/29 weeks pregnant and it was fine. I went snorkelling, lounged by the pool, walked to the shops in the shade, took naps. Wedging myself into the airplane seats was horrible, but otherwise everything went well.

[Junosmum]

As long as the midwife said it was ok and I had relevant health insurance I'd have gone at 32 weeks. I felt better at 32 weeks than at pretty much any other time. You'll just need extra suncream as pregnancy can cause skin discoloration in sun.

[TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams]

32 weeks at the start or at the finish of the holiday? You are definitely borderline for many airlines.
What time of year will it be at because air con definitely won't be an option, it's the ocean or nothing?
Will you physically be able to get on and off the boat, crawl into the bed space, actually fit in the onboard loo/shower thingy and be able to close the door....

Then there's all the safety aspects if the baby comes early. You could be a few hours from port and then several hours from a hospital.

It could be fine - I guess the key question really is, if you accept and then pull out at the last minute will you cost your lovely MIL a lot of money. They may be able to downgrade to a smaller boat now or invite someone else along.

It sounds amazing, it must be so tempting.

[ChilliMum]

I would go, I am always hideously sick until 25 weeks but love the 25-35 weeks, all the fog clears, my energy returns, I can eat, I feel great. Obviously everyone is different but I would take the risk and I am sure your family will understand if you need to take some time out or rest more often.

[fluffypenguinbelly]

I feel very well at 32 weeks. I am a bit achey though so wouldn't want to be doing too much although am still at work. It's just the what if for me.

[SpeckleDust]

Not in a million years would I consider going on a yacht off the coast of Turkey at 32 weeks pregnant.

My first (low risk) pregnancy ended up with DD born at 32+6 by emergency section. It was a fast labour and we were only 10 minutes away from our local hospital. She took a lot of resusitating and 10 years on, I still have awful 'what-if' flashbacks. No way worth the risk for a 'nice' holiday.

[Kitchencrayon]

Having been in a lovely yachting holiday in that area and been pregnant, but not at the same time, I wouldn't do it.

If everything goes well, it'll be great. If one thing happens - motion sickness, not able to get on the water to swim without fear of slipping, a bit of bad weather, then it could be incredibly stressful. And if baby comes early, even if midwife says you're good to go, there's not a whole lot you can do about it somewhere offshore.

It's a lot if "ifs". The key thing is that you'll be sailing, not relaxing by the pool, just a drive away from a hospital if you need it.

It's a potentially big risk for a lovely return. It comes down to how much of a risk taker you are.

[FlatOnTheHill]

Too risky

[SergeantAngua2016]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I am generally a very risk averse person, so it's unusual for me to be contemplating anything like this!

I'm erring towards not going to be honest, as I'd never forgive myself if something went wrong. I've my 16 week midwife appointment tomorrow so I'll bring it up then.

[alliemarg]

I think it is quite tricky to get insurance past 32 weeks - at least with all the normal companies. There are a few specialist ones for pregnant women you could try. Does the EHIC apply in Turkey? That might get you a certain amount of health cover but it's worth considering how to cover yourself if you do have a premature birth as I am sure they are expensive. Be careful of the small print as well as a lot of insurance companies won't cover premature birth due to natural causes, just complications (i.e if you had an accident or illness that triggered labour).

[Artandco]

I wouldn't tbh

I did travel both times at 32-34 weeks pregnant also. However I was in Paris and Berlin so Western Europe, with top hospitals nearby, and knew they had a good knowledge of English and high technology in terms of early birth

Turkey = not mainland Europe, generally poor so less modern technology.

On a yacht = sea sick, and not close to a hospital

Oh and my trips were in a hotel, just two nights for meetings.

Can you get the trip delayed and rebooked? And go together with baby when it's a few months old?

Then do a last holiday before baby at 22-26 weeks in France/ Germany/ Spain?

[BlackbirdSingsInTheDeadOfNight]

I would be wary, tempting as it sounds. I was considered low risk in my first pregnancy - that's until I gave birth at 24 weeks. Another comment regarding insurance is that you'd need to be insured not just for the birth but for the baby as well - this seems to be a loophole that crops up from time to time, with babies born abroad prematurely with the parents having no idea that only the mother's medical care, and not the baby's, was covered by the insurance.

Sorry, I don't want to scare you and I hope you have a very long and uneventful pregnancy, but it does sound a bit risky to me. Could you all go away as a family earlier in your pregnancy, or move the trip to a later date?

[Sidge]

Holiday at 32 weeks pregnant? Possibly, depending on flight/destination/facilities.

Holiday on a yacht off the Turkish coast at 32 weeks? No bloody way.

I'm guessing from the dates you've given it's at the end of May? It will be pretty hot there already, and yachts don't have air con usually. Facilities will be basic, and involve ladders and confined spaces. There's no swimming pool so you'd be up and down ladders swimming in the sea.

EHIC doesn't cover Turkey so you'd need top notch insurance, and the chances of getting covered are variable. If you needed medical intervention it wouldn't happen in a hurry and when you have pregnancy complications time is of the essence. Also it's pretty volatile over there, it wouldn't be my top choice of holiday destinations.

[mellowyellow1]

I wouldn't go I'm struggling with sleep in a normal climate and couldn't think of anything worse than being in a hot place.

You could book a nice weekend break in the UK instead? Nice hotel and easy to get to the hospital if need be.

[Iwonderif]

It sounds amazing. But I would agree with the majority and be closer to home at 32 weeks. I'm sure MIL will understand. It's you and her grandchild that are the most important. Have a break nearer home where you'll feel more relaxed I'm sure should you go into labour early. Peace of mind. The thought of motion sickness whilst heavily pregnant to me anyway isn't a pleasant thought.

[CityMole]

I wouldn't consider it as a serious option unless I was able to ensure that I could get to a decent maternity hospital easily and relatively quickly, and that my insurance covered me fully for everything, including the possibility of having the baby prematurely at 32 weeks in turkey and being stuck there with the baby for potentially months.

If I could satisfy myself as to decent cover and facilities, then I would go, assuming that I was still well and low risk at that point. Life is for living, is it not?

I'm not as far along as 32 weeks (I'm 27) but I really don't feel any less capable or fit and well than I did before I was pregnant and the only thing that would stop me contemplating such a trip in 5 weeks time is the thought of inadequate care out there. Are you feeling fit and healthy?

(you would obvs need to be a little more careful than usual re your footing on the yacht/ trip hazards/ bump hazards etc! but I'm assuming you're a sensible grown up )

[cantbelieveImquittingcoffee]

I'm writing to you from Goa (India) at almost 27 weeks which I know horrified some people when we booked it! Saying that I would consider the practical details as others have said regarding flights and insurance, plus the conditions on the yacht and how comfortable you'd be. FWIW I got insurance from Insure and Go and copied down what they told me in a live webchat when I checked that I'd be covered. Just checked back on it and they said that pregnancy is covered on all standard policies and isn't considered a pre-existing condition, and with regards to complications they said that I was covered from premature birth up to the end of the 32nd week but not for "natural childbirth" up to 40 weeks . You also need to carefully check he airline's policy as they all differ and you would need a letter from your doctor or midwife saying how many weeks you are and that you're safe to fly. I had this and was asked to show it!

[Barabajagal]

What Kitchencrayon said. I've been on holiday while 32 weeks' pregnant and I've been yachting. There is no way I'd do both. Sorry.

[maybebabybee]

I definitely wouldn't go I'm afraid.