To book international work trips having just found out pregnant?

What rubbish and overly-dramatic advice!

No she doesn’t need to disclose anything to her managers! Morally or legally. And yes she can also go on the trip if she wishes.

The sensible thing for anyone going travelling under a company insurance policy should be to request a copy of the policy from their team to make sure that it meets their own needs. Pregnant or not. Because your company won’t be bailing you out abroad if it doesn’t.

If on reading the policy the OP is worried about inadequate cover then she can get her own travel insurance. Many policies cover pregnant women as standard provided normal non-high risk pregnancy.

I also wouldn’t have worried about flying, but as others have said, make sure you have bullet proof travel insurance for the US. An early reassurance scan is also a good idea as you’ve said, just so you aren’t stressing about any further NIPT etc testing on the day you fly. Good luck!

I think you will be fine, but absolutely check you will be covered under your travel insurance. The one place you don’t want to be caught without any travel insurance is the US.

I would still do the trips if you feel well enough. However, I would say morally and legally you MUST disclose your pregnancy to your line manager if you still do the trips. The travel insurance that work have taken won't necessarily cover pregnancy related issues, and if something went wrong you would not be covered. This would reflect badly on the company and your managers, as well as opening a horrible hole about whole pays what in relation to private medical expenses and stuff. If for any reason you are not prepared to disclose yet, you MUST find another way of refusing to go on the trips.

You'll be absolutely fine.

Go and enjoy whilst you're still child free.

I would carry on as normal for as long as you feel able to- these kind of trips get harder with a little one.

Yes... I used to go to the US a lot, I've only been three times in the 25 years since; when dd was one and two (possible only because we had an excellent nanny and DH is a competent father) and once when she was a late teen. DD is 25 now, I'm on the verge of retiring and I regret I never got round to doing the sightseeing stuff in the San Diego area when I had the opportunity!

I felt exhausted until about week 10 but after that completely normal. Didn’t feel pregnant until my belly started getting bigger (about 15 weeks). Didn’t have any sickness or nausea.
I would carry on as normal for as long as you feel able to- these kind of trips get harder with a little one. I’d say yes without hesitation and you can always change your mind closer to the time. I don’t think you’ll get any criticism if you have to cancel- with it being your first you have no idea how you’ll feel.
We travelled lots including long haul whilst I was pregnant up to about 7 months without any issues at all.

And congratulations 🥰

Go on the trip
No need to disclose anything to work
Let your midwife know though. It’s a long haul flight so depending on your own personal risk factors you might need additional medication whilst you’re away.

First thing would be to check your travel insurance in case you do need medical care.

I think the 18 week trip will be fine. Not sure about the 12 week one. I was beyond exhausted and felt sick as a dog until 12/14 weeks with all mine.

I had a couple of work trips (to San Diego), one at about 5 weeks - I didn't tell anyone then, only impact was I was picky about food, and then at about 20 weeks - I asked nicely at checkin and got an upgrade to business for the return.

But I didn't have morning sickness or other issues.

I had really bad nausea and vomiting from 8 weeks until about 20 weeks. I was also incredibly exhausted. Very fit and healthy, mid 20s so you never know how pregnancy will be for you.

By 5 weeks on my second pregnancy I was in the full swing of hypermesis and had to disclose to my line manager that I was pregnant as I was off work 5 weeks and ended up at the hospital twice.

In my first pregnancy I didn’t suffer with hyperemesis but did constantly feel nauseous. We did go on holiday around 8 weeks - only a short flight t the canaries for new year - and went with family who we hadn’t told but most had figured it out by the end of the week as I burnt really quickly and wasn’t eating very well. Not drinking wasn’t a give away as I don usually drink anyway.

So you won’t know really how things are until day to day. Some people fly through pregnancy with zero issues, some don’t even know they’re pregnant til much later, and then some of us are just poorly the whole time.

Also I still felt appalling at 12 weeks so do consider that.

This would be my concern. I would book the trips because your work will take the hit if you can’t go, not you. I wouldn’t bother ringing the hospital, leave that for people who really need care.

I wouldn’t worry too much, in terms of travelling you are okay to fly until fairly late into the pregnancy. You don’t have to disclose pregnancy until you feel comfortable. By 12 weeks you’ll find morning sickness will be in full effect and unfortunately no one can predict how severe that will be. The early scan is a good idea it will but your mind at ease that baby is developing normally. In my opinion I wouldn’t pass up the trip as chances are you’ll be completely fine with a healthy baby.

I actually found out I was pregnant with DS on a work trip in the US. In spite of my previous recurrent miscarriages I went on with work travel as normal, stopping overseas travel at 28 weeks and was away in the UK the week he was born. I was more tired that usual, and had all day nausea in the first trimester but it was all manageable but I took it as it came really. DS was a very well travelled foetus!

I used to travel a lot pre kids and was in the same situation but with a trip to Madagascar - I couldn’t have some of the vaccinations I needed so quietly told my manager, publicly made my excuses for the trip and didn’t go. I did however go to Canada at about 14 weeks. It was fine but I didn’t get sick with pregnancy. Just tired!

personally I would maximise the work trips now, especially if good for your career as my willingness to travel - and ability - has done a 180 since having kids. Now I look for any excuse not to go away!! (And rarely can say yes due to the logistic chaos)

You'll probably be fine to go but as others have said, don't forget you may be absolutely exhausted/sick etc.

Also, to consider with such a long flight is blood clot prevention as you're more at risk being pregnant.and 11 hours is a long time. (Sorry medical hat firmly on, as I'm.a GP 😊).

Just a note of caution though, I think you'll need to tell your manager as I'm assuming they insure you for the trip? If so, and you don't declare pregnancy, God forbid anything go wrong, you.might not be covered. I understand what others are saying about not wanting to reveal so early but actually, why? I'm afraid that the magic 12 week mark isn't reliable. Things can happen at any stage. I lost my first baby at 20+6 who was born alive with no warning. That's not said to scare you but to prove the point that until baby arrives, there's always risk but I'm saying that because I know how important it is to enjoy every moment of it, and not worry about people knowing "too soon".

People are saying about blood testing re genetic diseases but remember, you don't HAVE TO have this. Neither my wife or I did with any of our 3 pregnancies.

So, by all.means go but I think you'll definitely need to speak with your manager to be safe.

I wouldn't have felt well enough tbh, sorry to be negative. I was running half marathons and hiking before pregnancy, I was very fit, and working 50 hr weeks no problem. I can't tell you how shocked I still am by how unwell I have been.

I would not cancel the trip, agree to it, but bear in mind that you may need to re-arrange.

And check what US states you are travelling to, I wouldn't go somewhere where I couldn't access proper help. Abortion is now banned in many states, even in medical situations.

To add a slightly different perspective, I wouldn't have been well enough to travel at that point of pregnancy. I found pregnancy extremely difficult. I was very sick and incredibly tired throughout but (rightly or wrongly) wanted to avoid taking medication. However I still agree with others, there is no reason not to go ahead and book the trips but then inform your employer nearer the time if for any reason you feel unable to manage the trip. Also just double check any specific travel/health advice for the area you are visiting. Any tropical disease risks / vaccination or medicine requirements etc which might not be good whilst pregnant. Even certain parts of the US have additional risks so just worth double checking the specific place you are going to.

The issue is you won't know how you're going to feel at 12 weeks pregnant. There's a high chance you'll be knackered beyond belief, I'm 3 months post partum and that hell is still fresh in my mind! Throw sickness into the bargain and that flight will be brutal, I'm not sure what the actual trip involves but the tiredness in that first trimester doesn't fuck around!

Ask your mum/sister how they fared in pregnancy, apparently if they were sick you are more likely to be (incidently both mine were) but I have friends who breezed through pregnancy before me so I was green going into it - figuratively and literally!

That's just my two cents!

Congratulations BTW 🤗

I flew from Australia to U.K. for a trip when I was 13 weeks pregnant with DC2, also had a 1 year old to look after. I had no nausea but did come down with a pretty bad virus after the flight, really sore throat, cough etc which took a week to clear. If you want to go then I would say go but maybe speak to your line manager just to 100% make sure that you are medically insured whilst there 😊

I think it's fine, go on the trips. Make the most of them and enjoy - you likely won't get time to travel again, with your dh, and so far away for a couple years at least.

I flew to the US (east coast) for a week at 7 weeks with my first, and then from there to the west coast (at 8 weeks) and then back to the UK from California at 10 weeks. It was totally fine. The only challenge was that I felt retched, nauseous and completely exhausted.

I had a second pregnancy where I would have been travelling to the US at 14 weeks, but unfortunately had a miscarriage a few weeks before. It was still fine (well, as fine as it ever would be) and I didn't have any concerns about going - other that at the time, I was annoyed I wouldn't be able to have a drink on the flight! 😂

It would have been much easier at 12 and 18 weeks. I'd say go and enjoy.

You should be fine. At 12wk scan, unless there's bad news from the scan itself, you won't know for a few more days until get the blood test results and can deal with anything when you get back on receipt of the full information. If you have the early reassurance scan, probably less chance of a massive curveball on scan day itself. You could do your early scan at more like 10 weeks and have a private NIPT, which would tell you about most of it save for neural tube issues. But honestly, still very early, you will be ok. I think priority will be making sure that you have bullet proof travel insurance. You may also need to have a think about what US state you are travelling to - there are certain states that I would not want to even have a MC in right now. Definitely make sure that you have notes to take with you if is a red state just in case.