WIBU to go on holiday at 30/31 weeks pregnant without a fit to fly letter?

[Uiscebeatha85]

My doctors surgery are being really unhelpful with a fit to fly letter request. Midwife appointment last Friday - she gave all clear to go but said the GP would have to do the letter, long haul destination for a week (10 hr flight) just advised flight socks. I'll be 30 weeks on way out, 31 on way back.

GP surgery receptionist has now rang to say that the doctor needs to see me before they'll issue the letter, but they don't need to physically examine me Looking at my notes is apparently not enough. Problem is there's no appointments before I fly.

Flying with KLM whose policy for pg women is just that 36 weeks is the cut off and if there's complications, a fit to fly cert. Guy on the KLM helpline has said that having the fit to fly is advisable but not compulsory. I've had no complications. WIBU to go without a fit to fly cert and hope for the best? What is the worst that can happen?

My pregnancy had no complications until I went into spontaneous premature labour with DS at 30 weeks. I would have been considered fit to fly. What are the maternity/neonatal facilities like where you are travelling to?

I'd double check Airport policies at the country you're going to as well, I know Dubai reserve the right not to let heavily pregnant women in.

This is private work and GPs are not obliged to give you a letter. Your midwife can do it if you ask, and midwives generally do not charge. Your GP will usually charge in the region of £25. You are of course, able to fly without it, but should definitely check with your insurers first. At my surgery, we cannot usually produce letters at such short notice, so you may have left it too late anyway this time.

Silly to go away at this gestation. You may be low risk and happy and healthy now but things can dramatically change for the worst very very quickly.

I've just cancelled a holiday (and lost some money, boo hoo), as I couldn't get insurance to fly at 31 weeks. They'd cover non pregnancy related issues, but nothing to do with the baby. I had genuine sleep ruining nightmares about being stuck abroad with a baby not in posession of a passport, plus huge medical bills. A fit to fly note was the last thing on my mind in all honesty x

Are you insured for pregnancy-related issues/early birth at such a late date? That would be my biggest concern - you might be healthy now, but anything could happen and you don't want to be stuck in a foreign country with complications or a premature baby and no insurance coverage!

If you can get insurance, I would get a fit-to-fly letter from a private GP. You might not be asked for it, but airlines can refuse to let you fly without one after a certain stage in pregnancy, and you don't want to lose your holiday money because you didn't get a letter.

But if you can get insurance and a letter, go for it. But I wouldn't go without both of those things. It's not worth the risk.