To go on holiday to Brittany when 37 weeks pregnant

[catherinemm]

So, we haven't had a holiday in a while and couldn't plan one for earlier on in the pregancy as though we'd be moving. Move now off and am desperate to get away before the baby comes and before my husband's work will make holidays almost impossible, which is likely from October onwards. We are also a bit on the skint side and have possibility of pretty much free holiday a gorgeous town in Brittany in early august. Only thing is I will be 37 weeks pregnant (I'm 28 weeks now) and in to the 38th week on way home. We'd get there via eurostar and train which has no restrictions on pregnant travel (we'd go that way whatever as live in central london). I wasn't that concerned about how late it was in the pregnancy until I did some googling - most messages on forums seem very against it! I guess I'm looking for sine reassurance that I'm not mad though will take heed if I don't find any. The reasons I think it's ok is: I'm having a very easy pregnancy (still cycling to work etc) it's my 2nd and my son was 17 days late and there's a lot of overdue babies in my family. I also felt very good til about 41 weeks last time and I think it was being overdue rather than heavily pregnant.

I probably wouldn't. I didn't go far in the last few weeks. More than likely that you would be fine, not give birth and enjoy the break. However, my first
baby was born at 37+5. My second was more on time but from 38 weeks I was monitored as baby not growing as . I'd probably just be worrying too much. I'm sure the French care would be excellent but if you're not fluent in French or just have an unplanned birth it wouldn't be ideal, plus there's the paperwork and passports to think about.

no, I wouldnt - for the simple fact that you will not be able to get home for approx 8 weeks - thats how long it is taking for first passports for non UK born children - during that time you will have to stay in France and I very much doubt your insurance will cover that

In addition - the french medical care is very very different to the UK - unless your french is fluent I wouldnt give birth there

I can't think of anything worse! I missed my best friend's wedding in Holland as I was 36 weeks, and good job too as I was really ill on the day she would have got married, had to go and stay in hospital etc (baby born at 38 w and was fine). I hate to think what would have happened if I'd been away at that time.
I found the excitement of having a baby made up for the loss of the excitement of a holiday. You can go next year - babies are virtually free until 2 years old in terms of air fare, room etc.

Gah not enough sleep as stayed up to watch football.

Well the grain of opinion is against this so I am thinking we either don't go unless we can move the trip forward. I don't really want to give birth in France, especially given issues with insurance which will result in us being very poor if it does happen. Even though I think the baby coming before 40 weeks is extremely unlikely I guess it's possible.

However, it's a decision I am making very begrudgingly (given I bet the baby will be late), which may surprise some. I think it comes down to attitudes towards and experience with travelling. The idea of the train doesn't really phase me at all. Yes it's 2.5 he's to Paris and the a further 3.5 there (have checked, it's not quite 4 Hrs!) but it's something I've done before. 2nd to last holiday, when DS was a baby, was in France. We had a car crash and wrote off our car and hence travelled home (which was 3 hrs from london at the time) via train. The car crash was horrible but the train was actually fine. More than fine, in fact enjoyable despite having far too much luggage we'd planned a road trip! We also had a nice night in Paris with my friend which I'd do as part of this trip too. It basically rubbed away the whole crash trauma. My most recent holiday with DS involved 8 flights (inc long haul) and before DS was born I travelled overland Ho Chi Minh city to Beijing (ok not pregnant) and also have been overland to southern Italy. When heavily pregnant with DS I was also travelling 3 hrs for work often and it was fine. I guess I am just used to travelling and it excites me. Over a year without a holiday makes me feel depressed!

Sorry, awful typos

I went tot a wedding in Bordeaux at 36 weeks when pregnant second time. My first was born at 38 weeks and second at 39 weeks. We got the Eurostar, the European healthcare, post office insurance & took my notes.

I really wanted to go to the wedding & I had a great time. I would do it!

European healthcare card x

Heavens-I was thinking that you hadn't had a holiday for years & that this would be your last chance for years!

Ok so did have a holiday just under a year ago but very likely I won't get a chance for about 5 years after this summer!

Don't make it begrudgingly as if it's Mnet's fault! Just make a rational decision either way. If you are definitely covered for birth in france, consider it, if not, don't.

Why not a short UK break? There are still bargains to be had.

My first was late, my second came two weeks before his due date. Travel insurance wouldn't cover you for anything maternity related. EHIC probably wouldn't either because the French don't automatically get free maternity care. EHIC is designed for emergencies and unforeseen medical needs. You could end up with a hefty bill.

I agree, there is nothing wrong with the train trip in itself. The problem lies in the fact that you will be doing around 8 hours' travelling (taking into account time to get to the station at each end and travelling across Paris) with all your luggage and a small child whilst 37 weeks' pregnant. Is that really going to be enjoyable?

I understand why you want to go and you will probably be pissed off at 37 weeks if you are sitting here still pregnant wishing you were in France. I had to miss a holiday in my second pregnancy at 35 weeks because my consultant told me I couldn't fly due to a blood clot in my first pregnancy.

I would see if you can go somewhere here to soften the blow.

Actually looks like I might be wrong about giving birth, but you might be on dodgy ground going abroad so late because it doesn't cover you if you're going abroad to give birth www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx If you went into labour at 38 weeks you could hardly claim it was unexpected!

My first was late, my second came early. Don't assume they will follow the same pattern! I'm sure a French hospital would be fine, but do you really want all the bureaucratic hassle to deal with, an enforced stay in hospital away from your other child (they keep mothers in for 5 days mimimum in France)? If you want a holiday at 37 weeks then go down to Broadstairs from London - lovely sandy beach for your toddler, pretty town, and 2 hours drive from London. France can wait a year, surely?

Sorry begrudgingly perhaps wrong word - I guess I meant it's not the idea of travelling in late pregnancy that's putting me off but the small risk of early delivery. Because it's a small risk it's annpy

Sorry half finished . . . It's annoying me to be careful.

Yes suppose France can wait but it may be waiting a king time - my husband is about to set up a business which will mean no possibility he can get away for more than few days at a time for quite a while, perhaps years. Given that travel with 2 small kids alone is pretty much impossible it means no holidays for us for a good while.

Regardless of whether the EHIC covers you for maternity services or not it won't necessarily cover the whole cost of any treatment. My son needed emergency treatment whilst on a school trip in France and the EHIC only covered 70% of the cost. We ended up with a bill for the other 30% which we then had to claim through the insurance so whatever you do make sure the insurance will cover you for any additional costs.

Op, like you I have done quite adventurous snd extensive travel. I actually live half a world away from my family now but have done lots of overland se Asia, Russia, west and east Europe. I have 4 dcs and would not at all travel that heavily pregnant. I don't have a good maternal history, in fact quite sad. With dd1 when I was pregnant I backpacked around Italy (with morning sickness - disaster), I flew to Copenhagen for a weekend at 22 weeks. I knew something was wrong, went to the gp who said I was paranoid. Sure enough, it had transpired that my waters had broken. My long awaited daughter died at 25 weeks. At that time I was actually supposed to be visiting friends at Utrecht.

What I am trying to say is that it just ain't worth it. It's harder traveling with kids, but brittany will still be there in a couple of years time. We have just taken dd 7, 5, 4 and 2 camping to Brittany for the half term. It's not going anywhere, keep it safe and do it in a couple of years.

Best of luck with your pregnancy....

"Given that travel with 2 small kids alone is pretty much impossible it means no holidays for us for a good while."

Well if you're that determined then you'll do it alone with two!

But sadly, no holidays is the reality for a lot of people, and not because husband is setting up a business!

I had to be in France during the last months of my first pregnancy and I can tell you with certainty that the EHIC does not cover you for giving birth after 7 months. You need to apply for a special form that confirms the NHS will reimburse their French counterparts without which you will have a lot of delays and hassle at a French hospital (they are very likely to expect a credit card before admitting you if you are not having a life threatening emergency - again, been there, done that!).

Once you have that form (and get over the bureaucracy of registering with the hospital) you are covered 100% for maternity costs.

The baby will not get a French passport, you will have to decide on a name and register the birth within 3 days (legal requirement in France), then apply to the British Embassy for a passport with whatever other documents they will need from you. This is very likely to take a few weeks to get sorted.

French maternity hospitals are usually well equipped but hardly anyone speaks French and they are very paternalistic, so forget any ideas about birth plans, you get what the doctor thinks you need and have little choice. Epidurals are generally easily available.

In short this could be one unpleasant holiday!

Another thought, probably because I have had 4 dcs, I'd be quite confident to take a baby 12+ weeks to brittany. Not sue when you are due, but could that be an option?

If you breastfeed and sling, in fact it would be brilliant!

I've used the EHIC in France when I fell pregnant there -- we had to pay upfront and get reimbursed back in the UK, so that could prove very difficult for you if it's the same for childbirth.

I can totally understand why you're so desperate if you think you won't get to travel again for years, but are you sure you're not being overly pessimistic? Even if your husband can't travel, could you go with other family or friends? Or even go away on your own and leave the kids at home sometimes?

I've done my own crazy travel but I would be wary of what you propose too -- nothing to do with you and your abilities, but because of all the various potential bureaucracies involved should anything go wrong. It would be such a headache.

desperately revising the French for "gas and air"...

Gas and air isn't such a standard pain relief option in France (or pethidine) so it might not even be made available. It tends to be epidural or breathing exercises, basically.*

Also, EHIC will cover you for what is covered by social security in France. This is not 100% coverage. This means that if you were hospitalised, you would incur additional charges that may or may not be covered by any additional travel insurance policy you might have.

And remember that French hospitals will usually expect you to stay in for several days post birth. So costs could mount up.

It's not a risk I'd take, but you are the only one equipped to make the decision, of course.

*this is based on what my French friends told me. I had my babies in Belgium, which is quite a similar system.