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Original poster

Travel abroad at 37 weeks pregnant

29 replies

Eplant · 15/04/2019 11:21

Hi there,
I’ve just been told that my Opa (Dutch for grandad) has passed away in the night. He was slowly deteriorating and was 92 but it aaa still a surprise.
My dad is going to Holland to organise the funeral and says it needs to happen in five days in Holland.
I will be 37 weeks pregnant in five days and that will be a Saturday so It’s likely the funeral will be once I’m 37 weeks.
My dad is obviously upset and wants me to attend.
What do you guys think?
It’s my first baby and I’m deemed low risk. It would have to be driving over in the car and via ferry.
I’m just anxious about going into labour abroad!
My husband is happy to take me in the car if I want to.
Thank you!

OP posts:
stucknoue · 15/04/2019 11:25

Take your notes and your hospital bag just in case but all should be fine, most don't come early. So sorry for your lossThanks

WinterHeatWave · 15/04/2019 11:25

I'm really sorry to hear about your grandfather. Flowers

My first thought was you cant fly, but you've already worked that one out. Will the ferry take you?
Could you get insurance to cover you, and that covers baby should they arrive?

Got to go out. Will think more later.

NewIdeasToday · 15/04/2019 11:29

I'm afraid I wouldn't go to the funeral. I know that's hard but you could find other ways to remember your grandfather.

Babies can come early. And it’s not just a matter of taking your medical notes. Do you have travel insurance that would fully cover healthcare for you and the baby if it arrived early? How would you arrange a passport to get home and how long would that take?

youwouldthink · 15/04/2019 11:31

If you're going to fly then the airlines won't carry you at 37 weeks I'm afraid. Sorry for your loss x

CadburysTastesVileNow · 15/04/2019 11:33

Yoyu need to check with the ferry company.

PencereTencere · 15/04/2019 11:38

I'm sorry for your loss.

Most ferry companies won't allow you to travel after 32 weeks, though Eurotunnel don't have any restrictions on travelling while pregnant.

If you're feeling up to it, I would still go. But please take your notes with you and make sure you're adequately insured if you do.

FogCutter · 15/04/2019 11:38

37-42 weeks is considered full term so yes there is every chance you could have your baby in Holland.

And you would be stuck there for quite some time going through all the burocracy of registering the birth there and getting a passport so you and baby could get back to the UK.

I'd not go to the funeral tbh. My baby was born at 35 weeks!

Smudggle · 15/04/2019 11:42

I'm very sorry for your loss.

I wouldn't even consider going to the funeral sorry. It's not so much the baby being born while there, but more so on the side of the road or worse still on the ferry.

30-34 weeks maybe. No way 37 weeks.

Sorry again for your loss Flowers

anonforthespies43267 · 15/04/2019 11:44

Personally I wouldn’t, you may find ferry companies won’t take you anyway depending on how long you are at sea? Some labours can be very quick, my friends first baby came at 35 weeks within 3 hours of the first sigh of labour. I know generally people say first babies are late but 3 people I know have had first babies 2-3 weeks early recently. X

anonforthespies43267 · 15/04/2019 11:45

Apologies, pressed post before adding i’m very sorry for your loss and it must be very upsetting for you. X

Drum2018 · 15/04/2019 11:49

Sorry for your loss.

Not a chance I would go. Are you an only child? Does your father not have anyone else who could help him? You can't fly, a ferry trip and driving would be a lot to take on at this late stage of pregnancy. It's a shame but you really do need to put yourself and baby first.

BendingSpoons · 15/04/2019 12:03

Sorry for your loss.

On balance I don't think I would go. It will be tough on you doing the journey and there is a risk the baby could come. I would probably try to mark the day privately at home.

However, chances are the baby won't come. Would you feel bad if the funeral passed and you hadn't gone? (You shouldn't feel bad, but emotions are a different thing).

BendingSpoons · 15/04/2019 12:05

I meant if the funeral passed and you were still pregnant, potentially for several more weeks.

SockQueen · 15/04/2019 12:09

I doubt you'd get insurance - a baby being born at 37 weeks is not unexpected or an emergency so they wouldn't cover you, and I don't even know how far EHIC cover would stretch in those circumstances.

CostanzaG · 15/04/2019 12:12

You won't be able to fly and I'm not sure about sailing.
My DS arrived at 37 weeks and he was my first. It's a risk.

Sorry for your loss.

SammySamSam09 · 15/04/2019 13:38

You can't travel by ferry after 32 weeks I'm afraid. You can travel on the Channel tunnel though.
Most ins cover upto a certain point in pregnancy anyway but I think It stops before 37 weeks for a normal delivery. You would have to look that up though.
Personally I would go but then I've given birth abroad and it was fine and paperwork all sorted out quickly so we could fly home.

So sorry for your loss.

99calmbeforethestorm · 15/04/2019 13:41

If the baby arrive when you were away you would also have to consider how to get home as current advice is new borns should only be in a car seat for 30 mins at a time.

PotteringAlong · 15/04/2019 13:43

I wouldn’t go, and all 3 of mine were born at 42 weeks. The logistics of getting home with a newborn (organising passports etc) and the idea of having to do it with a newborn, even without complications, would put me off entirely.

Happyspud · 15/04/2019 13:48

No. I wouldn’t consider it. Don’t think you can fly or take a ferry either. Insurance won’t cover you. You could be trapped there a long time if baby did arrive.

HaventGotAllDay · 15/04/2019 13:52

Sorry for your loss.
If the airline will carry you, you will need a doctor's letter probably. I flew UK to Italy at 38 weeks and the letter sufficed. I also had the usual travel insurance.

tenbob · 15/04/2019 13:58

If you really feel you should go, you would be much better off flying than being on a ferry... I wouldn't want to be in the middle of the north sea with several hours to get to land if I needed medical attention...

BA won't take you at 37 weeks but...
KLM's website says they 'discourage' women from flying after 36 weeks, but it doesn't say anywhere that you can't fly, or that you need to take medical certificates (although it is probably advisable)

I had to go to a funeral when I was 38 weeks, and it involved a long drive. I called the midwife to ask if it was ok, and she asked me to come in for an examination the day before I set off. She said the baby wasn't engaged and there were no signs I was going to go into labour in the near future, BUT, some babies don't engage until mid-way through labour so it isn't foolproof but might be something they do before giving you a fit-to-fly certificate

ImHastingsDarling · 15/04/2019 16:13

Eek I'm so sorry but I wouldn't consider going in your shoes. My first arrived at 37+6

MitziK · 15/04/2019 16:43

Actual maternity in the NL is superb - but the Ehic gives you cover on the same basis as locals, which I think means you might have a bill to pay, as you won't have their compulsory insurance. It would be almost certainly midwife led/low intervention unless medically necessary.

I'd probably risk it, but not everybody would feel the same.

OutdoorApathy · 15/04/2019 17:08

would it entitle the child to a EU passport?

Insurance etc but how long would It take before you can get your child ID to travel back?

OutdoorApathy · 15/04/2019 17:10

Pressed too soon Blush

Sorry for your loss. It's a hard one. It's not as if you'd be somewhere with inadequate healthcare. I honestly don't know. I don't think I would have travelled. I was told not to travel until DC had had first set of jabs.