Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Zika and conceiving

56 replies

MSG92 · 24/02/2019 19:54

My husband is in the Army and is going away in May for 6 months, we have been planning to conceive for over a year, buying a new house which we are moving into in about 6 weeks, got a better job etc all in preparation for a baby. We thought we'd go on a nice relaxing holiday for 2 weeks before he goes, being pregnant when he's away means he won't miss birth etc so perfect timing.

Found out last week the countries we are going to have zika virus! Wasn't mentioned when we were booking. We are going on a cruise--Grand Cayman Islands, Panama, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Colombia and Florida, only in each place for 1 day (8 hours ish) apart from Florida 4 days. This has ruined everything!!! I tried to change destinations but they will only let us if I am already pregnant, can't do that otherwise he won't be back for the birth.

We desperately don't want to wait, because he is going to zika countries as well so earliest we'd be able to try is next March-June (3-6 months after he returns), when you've been waiting a long time this adds so much more time!

What do people advise? Would really appreciate a GP and scientist opinion as well as other people in similar positions. We figured we will do our best to not get bitten by covering up and using repellent, both have blood tests then if clear start trying 4 weeks after we're back, I know it may not happen but I'd feel better if we at least got to try and get pregnant before he goes. I've read the test is 97% accurate and zika can live in sperm longer than blood, so what if he (sorry to be crude) ejaculates a lot before we start trying as well, will that help?

As I said we will only even consider this if we don't get bitten and the blood tests are clear.

OP posts:
GemmeFatale · 25/02/2019 17:36

Did you purchase insurance through virgin too?

Although I think travel like this is an at own risk type venture. Virgin have no obligation to tell you it’s a Zika area, you’re expected to check travel advice with the FCO before travelling (and if your DH is forces he should be doing that anyway for other reasons).

Kinsters · 25/02/2019 15:43

MSG92 yes, guaranteed bites always happen at the worst time. I was pregnant last year and was so tasty to mosquitos, I tried my best not to get bitten but it was impossible. I think my smell must have changed because I usually hardly get any. I did end up miscarrying and sometimes wonder if it was related to any of the bites but try not to dwell on it.

You should definitely keep pushing with Virgin but if you don't get anywhere then just try and enjoy your holiday and not worry too much.

flissfloss65 · 25/02/2019 15:36

Definitely go back to Virgin and politely push to have your holiday at another destination. Take it further up the chain if they are unwilling to help.

Original poster
MSG92 · 25/02/2019 15:35

Yes, that is something I would have to deal with if it came up.

I just keep flitting between go and see if I get bitten if not tests and if clear try and just wait! I keep deciding on 1 of them then reconsidering the other and switching back and forth!

Thanks @Kinsters yes they are worse at dawn and dusk, we didn't get bitten on our last cruise, I did on holiday last year but that wasn't a cruise. But you know it would be typical when you CAN'T get bitten you do!

We would only TTC if we weren't bitten and results are negative, if we get bitten we wouldn't even bother with blood tests

OP posts:
JourneyOfSelfImprovement · 25/02/2019 15:25

@MSG92 it comes across like you just want people to agree that you'll be fine to start TTC straight away and everything should be fine?

You have a few choices - go and start TTC and hope for the best. Go but wait 13 months to TTC. Don't go.

I had this choice myself a couple of years ago, but only YOU can decide whether it's worth the risk. Don't forget that if you risk it and the test comes back positive you have to decide how to deal with that.

Original poster
MSG92 · 25/02/2019 15:12

I did think that but you may as well not go at all

OP posts:
Kinsters · 25/02/2019 15:08

MSG92 I think that sounds like a good plan. Just take max strength deet with you and put it on regularly. On a cruise I think you've got a good chance of not being bitten, mosquitos are usually the worst at dawn and dusk and presumably you'll be on the ship at that time.

Perhaps bring along a plug in coil for your room just in case as well?

wanderlustgirl · 25/02/2019 15:02

Could you go and not leave the shop? I know it's not ideal...

Original poster
MSG92 · 25/02/2019 14:42

Olderthanyouthink I did consider that, husband won't go for it in case! I am planning on paying for blood tests wombatsears, but it's not 100% accurate or so I've read. We were going to go on holiday, if we don't get bitten which as I said, we are only in each place for a number of hours so it is possible to avoid, we didn't get bitten on our last cruise, no bites means we have blood tests and then it's the decision of do we try if they are or should we wait until June 2020 (such a long time away!!!)

OP posts:
geologyrocks · 25/02/2019 08:35

I did a cruise in those places on my honeymoon. Fell pregnant shortly after and advised the maternity team and they said it wasn't a question they ask anymore. This was 2 years ago!

wombatsears · 25/02/2019 08:33

You can pay to get privately tested on return rather than wait the 6 months. Although it’s a few hundred pounds I think so not cheap.

olderthanyouthink · 25/02/2019 08:15

Might be a bit immoral but...How would you have to prove to them you're pregnant?

Your gp/Midwife just takes your word for it anyway and you don't see a midwife for ages and people do very early positive tests that turn out to be chemical pregnancies.

Could tell them in a couple weeks you've done a test and its positive? Are they going to check in 9months to see that you've had the baby?

Original poster
MSG92 · 25/02/2019 07:33

God I hope not, that would really push me over the edge knowing I have to do it all alone whilst he is thousands of miles away! I've just come off my 1st natural period since coming off the pill so I would say no I am not, we were supposed to start trying from March 10th. No, I know it isn't definite, I think its not even being able to try that I am struggling with, if it didn't happen then its rubbish but nothing you can do, currently though, we're not even sure we can try which is what's hard

OP posts:
Russell19 · 25/02/2019 07:29

So are you saying you'd only have 2 cycles at the most to ttc?

There's no saying you'd actually get pregnant within that time so you'd have to wait until he's back anyway....

Just enjoy the holiday and wait and see. Xx

YepImafraidIchangeditagain · 25/02/2019 07:28

Is there a chance you could already be pregnant? As you said you had already come off the pill?

It doesn't seem worth the risk.....

Original poster
MSG92 · 25/02/2019 07:25

I'll try complaining in writing to Virgin, I just love the advice, seek advice from your GP, you tell them the advise received and they won't do anything, basically the choice from them is lose all your money you have given us or put your life plans on hold because we are incompetent and don't warn of exposure at the time of booking. I told them I don't want a refund, just let me go somewhere else.

I have come off the pill, been taking folic acid etc all in preparation. I think we will just end up going, and seeing what happens, we can check each other daily to see if we have bites, if we do game over, if we don't then do we risk the blood test...this is the hardest decision and so unexpected

OP posts:
mrs2468 · 25/02/2019 07:24

Sorry to hear you are going through this. We found out we were pregnant when we were on holiday which was a zika infected area. We paid around £700 to get private tests on our return. I can’t remember exactly but the optimum time to get tested is x after being bitten due to incubation period. The NHS would only test if you were pregnant and have symptoms or had been bitten. That was my experience anyway. As hard as it is to make the decision I guess it’s go on holiday and if you can afford it set tested or wait. Either that or cancel your holiday. Neither are easy decisions. Good luck.

YepImafraidIchangeditagain · 25/02/2019 07:16

YepImafraidIchangeditagain I know what I would do, but as I said this needs to be a joint decision, I don't want resentment or bad feelings

I'm sure you've thought about it an awful lot, it must be a really rubbish decision.
But if you think that there might be resentment from your OH about missing out on a holiday, when your potential conception is at risk or hugely delayed, maybe there is more to discuss before you try for a baby?

Pushpull · 25/02/2019 07:02

I'd try again with virgin to get the holiday moved, mention about being in the forces and how it's a much longed for holiday. And also say you're surprised they weren't upfront about being in a zika area. Put it all in writing and basically beg. You might just get a sympathetic reader. Or would your travel insurer cover it?

Otherwise i would cancel, it doesn't seem worth the risk and I understand in your situation you can't delay. There is no way you can avoid getting bitten and I think it would ruin the holiday

Original poster
MSG92 · 25/02/2019 06:52

Hi youcandothis365,
That would be a great plan, if he was here in 3 months after we return but he isn't. We get back March 31st he leaves end of May,

YepImafraidIchangeditagain I know what I would do, but as I said this needs to be a joint decision, I don't want resentment or bad feelings

OP posts:
Youcandothis365 · 25/02/2019 06:44

OP we went to a Zika virus in November and did our best to not to get bitten ( lots of Deet).

We had the blood tests 2 months after getting home (we'd planned to have them straight away but we had a change of circumstances) and got the all clear. Also, because of the timeframe, when we started TTC we were outside of the 3 month time limit that the CDC gives ( the NHS hasn't amended its guidance but the CDC does more research into Zika so I was content to use their guidance along with the blood tests).

Could you do something like the above? I know 3 months is still a long time, but perhaps you can use it to come off your pill / get ready to TTC?

YepImafraidIchangeditagain · 25/02/2019 06:31

we want a baby more but can't afford to lose what we've paid*

But you wouldn't have that money anyway, if you went?

It would be crappy to not be able to have the holiday, but you need to decide if you'd rather go and wait longer for a baby or sacrifice the holiday and try sooner.

You may be able to 'sell' the holiday? A 'buyer' would just pay for name changes? That way, at least you know someone has enjoyed it.

Original poster
MSG92 · 25/02/2019 06:30

Thanks for all your messages. I don't think not going is an option, it has to be a joint decision and I am pretty sure that as my husband is going away working for 6 months he has his heart set on going.

Re trying before we go, we can't, he won't be back for the birth if we try now.

I was going to go and see what happens, if we don't get bitten then consider blood tests and TTC, if we do get bitten, we wait. I have considered IUI, freezing his sperm before we go. I just don't know how I feel about getting pregnant for the 1st time through IUI not naturally, and obviously it might not work, we only get 1 shot whilst he's away and if it doesn't work that's £1000+ gone when we might get pregnant naturally.

This holiday really has ruined all our plans, virgins advice was contact you GP for advice,, so I did, as used not to travel, told Virgin who said can't do anything unless your already pregnant, my response is what the was the point in telling me to contact my GP for advice if you are going say we can't do anything?!?!

OP posts:
Lauren83 · 25/02/2019 06:19

As hard as it is I think you should wait, through my job we see a lot of people TTC through fertility treatment and I know this isn't the case for you but those having treatment often freeze sperm before travelling so they can use it when they are back without having to wait the 6 months when they return, those that don't freeze would do the bloods after 4 weeks, it's rare but I have seen positive blood tests from those who were convinced they didn't get bitten

PBobs · 25/02/2019 05:44

We live in a zika area. It hasn't even been mentioned by our doctor and I diddn't even think about it until reading a similar post on here. I've had mosquito bits before and during pregnancy. Not ideal but as far as we can tell baby is looking good at 25 weeks. I thought it wasn't such am issue with cruises though as you're not actually on land for that long?