Crazy to book 13.5hr flight to Japan in 2nd trimester??

[JuniperGem]

DH and I have booked an exciting and packed trip to Japan (also very expensive) for Spring 2024 but I want to start TTC this month... is that crazy??

We have felt ready to ttc for a while but been travelling a lot this year, checking some bucket list places off first. The only reason to wait is this one final big trip next year, and I feel like I'm "on hold" for it as much as I'm excited to go, I'm impatient to start our next chapter as parents (god willing).

but if it were to work first time (we are both 29, both healthy) then the trip would be right at the start of my 2nd trimester with a 13.5 direct flight each way and lots of busy activities planned when we are there.

Should I just be patent and wait until after we get back to TTC? Or would it be fine to do a big trip during 2nd tri?

@KingsleyBorder of course the length of the flight makes a difference. I have PGP and sitting for extended periods of time is painful. The thought of a long flight right now is hideous!

Agreed. We were actually able to get pregnant very quickly (so theoretically one of those smug "first month TTC" people). But I had two MCs in a row which really took the joy out of it. I would not have wanted to be anywhere near an airplane during the first/early 2nd trimester as both MCs occurred quite abruptly and I felt so ill throughout.

That’s not what I meant. I meant that there are lots of other factors related to the holiday that need to be weighed against pregnancy, so they shouldn’t think that it will be all fine to go ahead if OP gets reassurance that such a long flight is fine at that stage of pregnancy.

We did this. We started trying after our wedding in Dec 2018 and our Japan honeymoon was booked for May 2019.

In the end we had fertility issues and didn't get pregnant until March 2020!

I'd book the holiday.

Crazy. I was in and out of hospital in my second trimester (and third). No one needs that stress. Start ttc on the holiday!

Went downhill skiing with family on ski trip when 6 months pregnant with 3rd DC age 35.
Got yelled at by the consultant when he saw I had sprained my hand! But it was great and did not regret it !

Pregnancy is not a sickness. Be prepared to change plans if necessary.

Have a great trip.

Holiday is booked. It says so in the first line of the OP.

Thanks all for your opinions and advice!

I can't really talk about this subject to my friends or family as everyone acts like I'm about 12 not about to turn 30 and I get the impression if I mentioned the thought of kids I'd be looked at like I were mad... still, I did want someone to convince me to wait really as I have been too eager to TTC to convince myself to wait until after Japan ... but I think you have all convinced me now that we should hold off a few more months and not risk having hyperemsis or ruining the trip having to fly home!

(I'm not a huge sushi or alcohol fan so those bits alone weren't enough to give me reason to hold off but you're all right about the medical risks.)

I definitely don't believe we will succeed first time but want to act as if it might happen, just in case.

For those that suggested I might be fine, I will continue to book (less expensive, easily cancellable) trips after Japan I think. Good to know it isn't all guaranteed doom and gloom at least 😄

Thanks again for sharing your experiences x

I'd wait! I conceived 1st month TTC even in my 40s so it could happen quickly

I would wait until you are back. You have no idea how you will feel when you a pregnant. You may have HG and spend the entire 9 months being sick and needing hospital treatment for drips etc. you could have high blood pressure and be told not to travel. Even if all goes well you will tire more easily, could have back pain, will be uncomfortable on the flight, may feel sick / queasy, not be able to eat what you want or have alcoholic drinks with your partner. Honestly just leave it until after. I understand the desire as I was desperate to be a mum however I wish I had waited a couple more months to TTC with my first as he was born just before Christmas meaning his birthday and Christmas are a week apart. For the sake of a few months enjoy your trip first

I’d suggest waiting until you get back (you’re still young and it’s only a few months).
I did travel in the second trimesters of my pregnancies and had a lovely time but it did affect what I could do (I also had horrendous hyperemesis every time that didn’t get better until about week 16-18). I planned shorter haul trips that were much more laid back than my usual holidays. I would have found it difficult and unenjoyable to do anything that involved too much walking/hiking etc and obviously there were activities I couldn’t do safely and foods/drinks I couldn’t have.

Japan is amazing so I’d recommend just enjoying the trip and then TCCing when you get back. You can always plan some extra European breaks once you’re pregnant and know how you feel (and know that you don’t have any complications etc that would make travelling a problem).

I flew to Bali from the UK at 13 weeks pregnant for a 4 week holiday with my partner and 3 year old. Being pregnant didn't make any difference, I was just past the morning sickness stage and we had the best holiday, even with 16 hours of flying either way!
Book it, you never know how long TTC will take, and it's always nice to have a holiday to look forward to.

So I did almost exactly this - although my pregnancy was maybe less planned! I was 4 months pregnant during my trip to Japan, and also 29.
Cons: I had awful morning sickness, and Japanese people are (or were?) especially squeamish about it. I had to be really subtle about puking in a little bag and binning it!
Food aversions- they were very tricky to deal with when you know really know what you're ordering / what's in packets. I ended up eating a lot of plain crisps and western fast food! Even green salad or pizza seemed to come with fish on, abd that was a Nope!
A lot of walking - I ended up with SPD later in my pregnancy and did wonder whether it was from all the walking in Japan? However I was also a teacher at the time so on my feet a lot anyway.
The flight on the way I was really very sick, that was probably the worst bit. But tbh I am sometimes ill on planes anyway, its the pressure. The way back was fine.

Pros: it was a last chance to be away for a big couple holiday before the baby (who is now 16!)
I wasnt too tired at that stage in the pregnancy.
Japan is a developed country where things are safe and clean and heathcare, if we had needed it, is good.
It was still really fun! And we have pictures of the mini bump doing fun things. And I bought Japanese baby things, and got a special blessing at a temple. We saw the Japanese royal family, and did lots of touristy stuff.

I hope that helps!

I think you’re wise to postpone ttc until you’ve been, you just can’t predict how well/unwell you may be in pregnancy.

If you want to have more than 1 child in future i would suggest you don't wait. This forum tends to attract people on extremes of the spectrum.

There's a strong chance you'll be absolutely fine. It's a misconception that you have to remain sedentary during your pregnancy. I get morning sickness, but I still manage to exercise and travel.

And when baby arrives you'll be kicking yourself for not maximising time during pregnancy to enjoy your last moments of freedom.

Also God forbid it takes longer than a few tries to get pregnant, you'll feel silly for planning parenthood around a holiday and not the other way around.

Your title is misleading

you would not be U at all to go to Japan when pregnant, just make sure your travel insurance is solid. But you have no idea you’ll be in second trimester! You’ll either be in 2nd, or 1st or possibly not at all so you need to be prepared for all eventualities. Which could be 1st trimester and not feeling great. But plenty of women feel on throughout.

Feel fine that should read

Another hyperemesis sufferer here. I would definitely hold off TTC until you get back. During my last pregnancy I usually vomited as soon as I got out of the car even on short journeys at the start of the second trimester. I wouldn't have made it as far as the airport never mind Japan!

So many women paint this rosy picture of being pregnant and I'm sure for a lot this true. However, I had every complication possible and it was a stressful and difficult time. I wouldn't knowingly book anything like this if I thought there was a possibility I could be pregnant. Before I was pregnant I would have said go for it, don't put your life on hold but the reality isn't always blissful

Don’t be bloody ridiculous. She’s only 29. Unless she wants to have 5 children a few months between now and spring is not going to make any difference to the size of her family, even if conceiving is not straightforward for her.

Spring 2024 so 4/5mths time

Honestly I would wait

Enjoy the holiday of lifetime

Eating and drinking various different thing plus travel

Yes it took me 10yrs ttc and 5 private ivf but you are also a under 30

Carry on using contraception and then come off it for the holiday and shag shag shag and who knows

I had hg while preg. I was always being sick - feeling nauseous and spitting in a bucket and laying still in a dark /quiet room Daytime mainly

Felt a little better evenings which is just as well as I work nights

If you don't fall for a couple of months you'll be in the throes of morning sickness and desperately hoping the baby 'sticks', don't do it

Why not make the trip the beginning of your ttc journey, like a honeymoon.

From someone who suffered horrendous nausea and sickness till approx 5.5 months, I would wait till you get back in case it does happen quickly for you, you don't need that on a special trip. You have time to wait a few more months.

Hello,

I went to Japan in 2019 at the beginning of my second trimester, if you've never been before I honestly would recommend going not pregnant (i've done both)

Its hard to get medicine from pharmacies if you catch something on the plane and be confident they are safe for UK standards in pregnancy (for example I was given an ibuprofen based cold medicine which is fine in Japan but a big no in the UK)

You have to try and figure out if something is safe to eat or not, I had a few times where stuff was hidden in soup and i didn't realise and was obviously unable to read ingredients labels confidently, if you like Sushi, again fine in Japan but a no in the UK.

Also experiencing the nightlife is a massive part of the experience, places like Golden Gai etc, I wouldn't go when pregnant not just because of the alcohol but all the smoke from the yakitori restaurants.

And the walking, do not underestimate how much walking there is in Japan, we were doing 30,000 steps a day easy when we went when i wasn't pregnant and when I was I couldn't keep up and still needed a nap from fatigue most days (obvs every pregnancy is different but honestly its an insane amount of walking)

If you go for it you'll still love it i'm sure as Japan is my favourite place to travel too but you may not get the full experience you want.