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 think the decision has been made but I'm with the majority. I just wouldn't risk it. I'm in a similar situation. We've been invited to the in laws place in July when I will be around 35 weeks and that's too late for me to be comfortable with it. I speak French (used to live there) and know the healthcare system us good, but the insurance situation and being stuck there until baby can get a passport put me right off.

To the other poster at 16 weeks, I say go! Since that point in my pregnancy I have travelled to the Maldives (20 weeks), US on business (23 weeks) and France (27 weeks). I think I'm done now but in a healthy pregnancy I feel that travel into the early weeks of the third tri is fine, but after that I would personally skip it. Btw, I just grilled the unpasteurised cheese and made sure I washed fruit and salad well. For other reasons I had a toxicology screen for toxoplasmosis among other things since my trip and it was negative so I was fine doing things that way.

Bunbaker, you would have thought so wouldn't you, but trains in France are cheaper than in the UK (and far cheaper than going by ferry) and for many places in the uk in a similar setting you need a car. We don't have a car so using train / hire cars whichever.

However it's obviously not a free holiday entirely - it's free accomodation - so We will save the travel costs.

Just an update for all those looking at the thread to inform future similar dilemmas:

• have decided not to go
• this was mainly due to travel insurance. I called the overseas healthcare team to clarify situ with euro health card. Some of the other posters were wrong - they confirmed the card would cover medical costs of birth In france (via reimbursing me) as long asia could prove via resturant ticket that I didn't plan to give birth there. However all costs of extra stay / rebooking travel are not covered and no travel insurer will cover this beyond end of 36 weeks so I could have been well out of pocket.
• to not get too annoyed when I'm sat at home feeling five and not giving birth into the 40th week (as I predict!) I have decided to work for longer (I only have a 30 min commuter and a desk job), over perilous this holiday would have been which results in even more money being saved
• overall am accepting no holiday til at least 2015 for me, meaning no hol in well over a year, perhaps more . Ok so it's hardly a massive problem - just grates when friends and colleagues swan off abroad ALL THE TIME!

Restaurant ticket? I mean return!

I think you are being wise.

If it was before your 1st DC then you'd have had an actual holiday bit with another child in tow anyway it wouldn't have been that restful.

Plan in some lovely treats for those last few weeks - use some of the extra money! - to make sure you are sat there annoyed for every day that passes with no early baby:)

I've had a pretty easy pregnancy, and did a seven hour flight followed by a fair bit of waddling around for a city break. It was surprisingly exhausting at times, when I was on my feet for half a day having fun and not really thinking about what I was doing. I was 34 weeks but overall felt pretty healthy and confident and (relatively) full of energy. The change now, at 37 weeks, is pretty dramatic - I have to debate whether it's worth the effort to pop out just to the local shops! People say all sorts of things about babies being late or early don't they, but the fact is you can't predict when you'll give birth based on whether your pregnancy is easy or if you're had previous babies. I'd err on the side of caution, can you take the holiday sooner?

I wouldnt go and im usually the one to say go. But this is risky. You will be full term. It would be foolish. Go after the baby instead.

I was barely comfortable visiting my mum for the day when I was 38 weeks. And that included wearing what pretty much amounted to pajamas and being sprawled across the big comfy sofa. No way would I feel comfortable on holiday and that's before you take the possible need for health care into consideration.