To cancel going to Egypt (Dahab) as I've found out I'm 8 weeks pregnant

[Beans1234]

OK, so my sister-in-law (33) was booking a holiday to Egypt for 7 nights on her own (she doesn't have a boyfriend so fair enough that she wanted to get away) i offered to go out with her so it wasn't do daunting for the first 3 nights so she extended the break to 10 nights in total. I have just found out I'm pregnant with my first child therefore nervous to say the least, finding out a little later means I haven't been the most careful with drinking etc so I'm conscious I give this little bean the best chance. I've heard so many horror stories about bugs/poor sanitation etc and even though its only 3 nights away, I'm extremely nervous as getting back from Egypt isn't just a simple hop on a plane and you're home (e.g. France) .

Answers on a postcard please as I feel terrible, she was nervous about going away on her own anyway and now she's doing so for three extra nights.

stupid phone !

I wouldn't go to Egypt when pregnant and I live in the Middle East. I can only think of one person I know who didn't get sick when they visited and my brother was very, very ill.

From a not just anecdotal point of view and with a logical head on, if you were to have a miscarriage abroad after you had had spotting is it possible the insurance company would consider this a pre-existing condition and not pay out leaving you with a whacking great medical bill?

cumbria - what a compassionate person you sound like

op - you have been very sensible imo, bad timing but nothing you can do about it. I'm sure if your SIL is a nice person she wouldn't want you to go.

To those who say 'pg isn't an illness'. You've either forgotten or been lucky. 16 weeks of vomiting and a baby lying on tube from kidney causing it to swell up (owww) certainly felt like an illness to me. Have some sympathy folks!

I lived in Egypt for a few years and spent a lot of time in Dahab. This was back in the 90s so it may have improved since then, but both me and a friend came down with amoebic dysentery while we were there. The cafes on the beach look lovely but the kitchens were a sight to behold.

On one memorable morning I came across a Dutch guy shitting in the sea next to one of those cafes because he hadn't had time to get to the toilets...I'm not a delicate little flower, I've done plenty of travelling but I would not go back to Egypt while pregnant, particularly not Dahab where you really don't have any control over how your food is prepared. It's not being paranoid, it's a sensible precaution.

What MMeL said. If you'd said that you were worried about the pregnancy because you'd been bleeding and wanted to be near your doctor you would have had a different response.

getting back from Egypt isn't just a simple hop on a plane and you're home (e.g. France)

This confused me. Um, yes it is. You just spend slightly longer on that plane. Where do you live?

trillian, "Egypt isn't just a simple hop on a plane and you're home (e.g. France)" - I took that to mean that France is an hour away but Egypt isnt. i.e. Egypt isnt a "hop" away, iyswim.

Anyway, OP, it's actually irrelevant whether anyone thinks youre unreasonable, because you did what felt right to you to protect you and your pregnancy. I think most people have done something that others would class as over the top or unreasonable. A baby is too precious to risk, and if something did go wrong you'd never forgive yourself for not trusting your instincts.

A trip to France is to go to somewhere broadly similar, with recognised behaviour, culture and social similarities.

Egypt is another planet IMHO. It may only be 5hours away on a plane, but it's light years away us in reality.

I thought it wasn't recommended that you fly in your first trimester? I may be utterly wrong....

Yanbu op. I think there is a link between miscarriage and flying in the first trimester
Also I have been to Egypt on holiday and I got really sick and was sick for weeks after my return. I was really careful when I was there and stayed in a great hotel etc but the hygiene standards there are not high

OP - I was in this position two years ago.

First pregnancy, 8 weeks in, going to Dahab (but for two weeks). I ummed and ahhed and finally went.

I was miserable. I worried over everything I ate or drank while trying to stay hydrated. It was not enjoyable. I left after the first week.

I think you are completely right to do what you feel is best for you and baby. If anything were to happen, you'd never forgive yourself. It's just not worth the risk.

I did a lot of things while preg that were a bit silly. including getting food poisoning in Egypt at about 26 weeks. I think with hind sight it was a mistake. I think if you have had some bleeding, and you are nervous it would be better not to go. Sod the money, sod the SIL (though I hope she would understand), you would not forgive yourself (or SIL herself) if something happened and you could not access the help you needed.

A holiday in your 2nd trimester, when things are established, sickness (probably) gone, you're not too big yet, might be a better idea, and maybe go somewhere in europe where you know healthcare will be accessible (though that would mean between september and dec, not exactly great weather in europe that time of year).

Unless you have previous medical history that makes you concerned that something is likely to happen in your pregnancy then you are being entirely U. Women do have perfectly healthy pregnancies in Egypt you know ! And unless you are going to one of the "banned" areas north of Luxor you will be fine. Egypt is a very modern country.

"Every single person without exception, who I know, that has been to Egypt has been extremely ill during, or after, going there."

I went to Egypt for a fortnight and was fine. I went with a trekking company, we travelled on a really skanky overnight train, camped on the banks of the nile for 4 nights, I swam in the Nile, I ate salads. The only thing I didn't do was drink tapwater. And never got so much as a tummy ache

why did you ask on this thread and then get annoyed when people told you to go?

Egypt is a very modern country.

PMSL...

Ohdearnigel - I just googled and Egypt has a maternal mortality rate of 170 per 10000, ours is 7.

So yes, people do have 'perfectly healthy pregnancies' but sadly less women than here.

sorry rates per 100000 not 10000

I know 4 people who had 1st trimester miscarriages within a week of flying (myself included). although I know more people who have flown and not miscarried, it's not something I'd do again.

waterrat, I dont think she got annoyed at all

I don't think she did either vmc.

OP I'm amazed how many people think you're being unreasonable! Personally I wouldn't go anywhere without access to first world healthcare at any point in pregnancy, and I'm no delicate flower; have lived in several different countries. But I've had several early pregnancy nightmares and would have hated to have to negotiate them in a foreign country. And to those saying 'wait until later', my ds would not have made it if born somewhere without very sophisticated neonatal care.
As a matter of fact, I remember a conversation with a NICU nurse about how her sil was off to Egypt at 26 weeks pg and that in her shoes she would have cancelled. She said none of the NICU staff wanted to risk having an early baby born abroad at all! Even in the states - imagine being stuck there for potentially 6 months or more until your baby was well enough to travel.

I've had a 1st trimester mc within a week of flying and also two prem babies so wouldn't fly at all whilst pg.

My first dc was late and had to be induced so we had no idea we would have an early baby. Sometimes second or third pg can have problems that you didn't have before therefore saying you should only be worried if you have previous medical history of pg problems isn't always true.