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.

[Branleuse]

id go somewhere beautiful in the uk.
jurassic coast, dorset, lake district etc.
I love Brittany, but you really cant judge a pregnancy by your last one

[LuluJakey1]

I will be about 16 weeks pregnant when our summer holidays start - teachers.

We have not planned anything but have been asked by a family member if we would like their house in southwest France for a month. We have been before for the whole 6 weeks and loved it.

Just a bit worried about it this time in terms of me and pregnancy. What f something goes wrong? Will I be able to stop myself eating all those cheeses?

We are also thinking of renting a cottage somewhere like Norfolk or Suffolk instead and just having a quiet English summer break.

Don't know what to do.

[dreamingbohemian]

Sorry, x-posted with Booboo -- that sounds like a nightmare really.

I used to live in France near Brittany and yes, I think likely no one will speak English, which would not be good.

That said, my SILs had natural births and lots of BF support in lovely hospitals, so not knocking that aspect!

[CaurnieBred]

How about Jersey as a compromise? Chances are weather would still be okay. You would be covered there medically (but only in Jersey, not on the other Channel Islands according to the DWP) and there would be no passport issues. It would still feel like a holiday (going to the Isle of Wight still feels like a holiday to me as you need to go on a ferry!) and a little bit of France.

Hope all goes well with the pregnancy and birth.

[dreamingbohemian]

lulu I think at 16 weeks it's quite different, I'd do it.

You can still eat lots of cheeses, thankfully! (don't eat Comte though, it's hard but not pasteurised)

If you have any issues you can just pop in to any French GP, you don't need to be registered. You have to pay around €25 but this should be reimbursed by EHIC.

[LuluJakey1]

dreaming I love comte.

[bloodyteenagers]

From what I am reading it's not about you May or may not go into early birth. It's more you cannot afford it. In your op you said you are a bit on the skint side. So how you going to pay the €18+ a day hospital fee. The ambulance and the gp if you panic and call the wrong people. And any other associated hospital costs (read the link you put up, it mentions fees and these are not private but standard) The extra costs - passport, extra ticket, extra stay, changing your train tickets, car seat, baby clothes, nappies etc?

You then have a few days to register the birth at a cost of €88 and €55 euros for the bc. Until you have done this the consulate can do nothing and btw the consulate is not open 7 days a week.

[anotherdayanothersquabble]

What do you want out of a holiday? And how could you get that without going abroad?

Time with friends.
Nice food
Nice weather


Could you work out how much you would have spent on your holiday and work out how you could spend that in another way?

Pay for your friend to visit you?
Hire a housekeeper for a few days to clean and cook for you and play with DS so you can catch up with friends, relax, not work.
No idea what you can do about the weather...

And perhaps you might not be able to get away as a family for a few years but travel with two children is not impossible. Your DH could travel there with you, come back to his business and then travel back to accompany you on the way home. There are ways round everything.

[dreamingbohemian]

lulu me too! was not happy to find out that tidbit.

You can have Cantal though, if you fancy that (not the raw milk version obviously)

[catherinemm]

I agree with bloodyteenagers - it's the cost if I do give birth that I think make it impossible. And if the health care card doesn't cover you beyond 7 months looks like the trip is out

Lulujakey - I'd go to France unless you don't feel well or are having any sort of complications. The holiday before the car accident, I also went to France when pregnant with DS. I did eat some cheese. You can eat all hard cheeses, including unpasteurised and all those made of pasteurised milk. I think I may have eaten a fresh cheese that was not pasteurised, so against the advice. Maybe don't do that, I used to work in cheese and feel the UKs advice re cheese is a bit over the top but that's just me! Overall the holiday was fab and year later we went back to the same place.

[paxtecum]

Travelling with two small children is not impossible at all.
I know a very chilled out mother who regularly drives down to Bordeaux with a baby and a two year old.

I'm not sure why you think that your friend in France, who is 3 hours away from Brittany, should drop everything and come to your rescue if you end up in hospital. Why should she reorganise her life because you wanted a break in Brittany.
Lower your sites and have a cheap holiday near home and stop resenting your baby.

[ReallyFuckingFedUp]

brittany, is like next door. I'd go if you want to.

[tobysmum77]

It clearly is covered according to the information. When I was in having dd1 there was a Portuguese lady who didn't speak English in with me. Personally i wouldn't do it but op it is entirely up to you imo as different people see things in different ways.

[mousmous]

I wouldn't.
my french would not be good enough to explain myself to doctors in case there is the need.
also, in case baby is born abroad, can you afford to stay (for weeks), pay rent, food, etc whilst you wait for the passport?

[RelocatorRelocator]

The weather in Brittany is v similar to the South West of England. Why not book a break in Dorset or Devon and save yourself a lot of hassle?

[BellaVida]

I have had four kids and in your position, I would either delay the holiday and stay at home, or go somewhere in the UK very close to a decent hospital!

[DontputyourfingerinthejellyNel]

I think that it is a bonkers idea. And as for going on about feeling resentful...is having a baby not special enough for you then?!

[Iswallowedawatermelon]

No

Too risky and if it was financially viable if you were to go into labour, would you actually be able to relax and enjoy yourself over there away from your familiar surroundings/friends/hospital etc?

[Blamenargles]

I wouldnt I had my first at 37 weeks straight foward pregnancy would never have guessed that I would have been early.

even tho he was classed as full term he had to be resusitated and had problems feeding and keeping his body tempature.

we have just got back from a week away in the lake district I was 31 weeks and it was so hard we didnt even do much walking because I was able too, also DS whos 3 is very clingy at the min I think because in pregnant vso eoulnt ket anyone else but me do things for him.

also after 37 week you wong be covered as you will be full term so wont be an unexpexted delivery

[Blamenargles]

Can tell I typed that in a rush

[lilolilmanchester]

People give birth to babies in France you know!!! I would go IF you know your travel insurance/EHIC would cover costs and you would feel happy giving birth there. I was at a family wedding 6 hours away the week before DS was due,took baby car seat and birthing bag just incase. Life doesn't have to stop, but you do need to think it all through (e.g what if you ended up having extended hospital stay...)

[SocialMediaAddict]

I had my daughter at 37 weeks. Would you even get travel insurance?

[PestoSunnyissimos]

Travel Insurance providers won't insure you past 36 weeks & 6 days for a single baby pregnancy or 32 weeks & 6 days for a multiple pregnancy.

HTH

[vindscreenviper]

If you did go into labour or need hospital treatment on holiday then would look after your DS? Even if you were ok about insurance/medical costs would you want to either give birth without DH or have your DS looked after by strangers so DH could be with you?