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Original poster

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

78 replies

JuniperGem · 07/12/2023 22:32

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?

Crazy to book 13.5hr flight to Japan in 2nd trimester??
OP posts:
DrFosterWentToGloucester23 · 10/12/2023 13:20

We had a holiday booked to Japan which fell when I was six months pregnant with my first. By the time it came round, I felt quite big and heavy and there were no business class seats for us to upgrade to. I also felt like I wouldn’t be able to comfortably climb Mt Fuji and do all the activities I wanted to.

In the end, we swapped and went to NYC instead. Had a lovely time sightseeing, watching Broadway shows, visiting museums etc - all things we can’t do as easily now we have two small people who don’t appreciate art and culture! I’m sad I haven’t been to Japan but it’ll still be there when the children are older.

BreatheAndFocus · 10/12/2023 13:25

Spring 2024 is very close. There’s no hurry - just wait. You’d potentially ruin your trip, not feeling 100%, worrying about food, not being able to drink, needing the loo more, worrying about medical issues. You’re still young. Go on your trip, enjoy it, then start TTC when you come back. No brainer, as the yoof say.

AliceS1994 · 10/12/2023 13:42

You'll be fine, I went on lots of flights in pregnancy, long haul in first and second trimester and short haul in third trimester, it's not an issue. Not a huge concern and it's still very rare but compression stockings and staying very hydrated can make you more comfortable and reduce risk of a blood clot, it just means you have to get up all the time for a wee! First trimester you're more likely to have uncomfortable symptoms, e.g. nausea, fatigue and also worth considering if you had complications, or a miscarriage how you feel about this if you were abroad and how easily you could access healthcare. This is only my experience there will be others who wouldn't consider it, or planned to travel and it was a disaster, a lot is down to luck!

Middleagedbeige · 10/12/2023 13:53

We decided to TTC thinking it would take a while. We got pregnant on the first try. We had a trip to Canada booked which would have been the start of my second trimester. I ended up having extreme morning sickness and fatigue. The trip was still amazing, but not being able to drink or do activities such as zip lining, going to fancy spas etc and feeling pretty rough most of the time did put a bit of a downer on the trip.
I would wait until afterwards.

Nejnej · 10/12/2023 14:19

We flew to Mauritius and had a reasonably active holiday at 17/18 weeks - it worked out as the perfect time and was an amazing holiday before baby arrived.

However, I would have enjoyed it a lot less in the first trimester - was quite nauseous and tired, so might pause for a few months beforehand?

Lilxaura · 10/12/2023 15:43

Considering I flew to Japan in my second trimester of one of my kids I feel I can confidently advise against you doing it. I did it and the next day I suffered with SPD which I ended up suffering badly from for the duration of my pregnancy and IT IS NOT FUN and pretty much crippled me by the third trimester, I needed to be on crutches but I couldn’t because I had a toddler at home. I had already had a child before and hadn’t suffered from SPD in that pregnancy so I’m certain the long flight is what caused it. Also japan gets humid asf and I dunno if you’ve been pregnant before but pregnancy and hot humid weather do not mix.

GreenFields07 · 10/12/2023 16:18

Id personally wait until you get back before TTC. As someone who's had 3 miscarriages, if that were to happen anywhere near your trip, you would feel miserable not really want to go (especially if still having the effects of the miscarriage). A few months isnt really going to make much difference on your TTC journey. You're still young, but theres also no guarantee it will happen in the first few tries. You might be in 1st trimester and feel horrid with pregnancy symptoms. Id enjoy your trip stress free and not have to worry about what you're eating, drinking etc. Go on the trip, and start trying afterwards!

Kwazikitten · 10/12/2023 16:26

I went to Japan and China in my third trimester (flew home at 35 weeks) for a month. I was 40 years old. I had a blast. I even managed to walk 15 km round Tokyo in one day.

Outliers · 10/12/2023 20:13

KingsleyBorder · 10/12/2023 12:48

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.

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It's my opinion.

At 29 she's only 6 years from being considered a geriatric pregnancy.

KingsleyBorder · 10/12/2023 21:50

Outliers · 10/12/2023 20:13

It's my opinion.

At 29 she's only 6 years from being considered a geriatric pregnancy.

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The holiday is 4 months away, for goodness sake.

Outliers · 10/12/2023 22:28

KingsleyBorder · 10/12/2023 21:50

The holiday is 4 months away, for goodness sake.

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Exactly

KingsleyBorder · 10/12/2023 23:21

Outliers · 10/12/2023 22:28

Exactly

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You’re just talking nonsense now.

AuntMarch · 10/12/2023 23:26

On paper, should be fine, but you could be like me and hate every second of it. I wouldn't have enjoyed any trip at any point in my pregnancy and would have felt like I wasted my money.
It's not that far off, I'd personally wait and start trying while out there (I didn't know I was pregnant for the first 6 weeks so I'd assume it wouldn't immediately ruin anything 🤣)

Outliers · 10/12/2023 23:38

KingsleyBorder · 10/12/2023 23:21

You’re just talking nonsense now.

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If you're going participate on an open forum accessible to people all over the world, it's probably wise to learn to stomach differing views and dissent.

KingsleyBorder · 10/12/2023 23:57

Outliers · 10/12/2023 23:38

If you're going participate on an open forum accessible to people all over the world, it's probably wise to learn to stomach differing views and dissent.

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You’re confusing having an opinion with understanding the facts and applying sound logic.

Outliers · 11/12/2023 00:02

KingsleyBorder · 10/12/2023 23:57

You’re confusing having an opinion with understanding the facts and applying sound logic.

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The pot calling the kettle black.

Katiebaby3009 · 11/12/2023 08:06

Personally I wouldn’t of been able to take this trip in my second trimester. I was still very sick and tired. You are young enough to wait a few months so I would just enjoy the trip and try afterwards.

Mihijita · 11/12/2023 08:14

The thing is you don’t know how you’ll be. I went to South America at 23 weeks, 12 hour flight. All ok on the way out. Picked up an infection, ended up in hospital. Lots of discussion if I was fit to fly back, there was a possibility I’d have been stuck there. Trip was booked before I was pregnant and I’d been fine until I wasn’t. I managed to make it home, but the journey back was horrendous and then I was signed off work.
i was stupid to go in hindsight.

Harperhan · 11/12/2023 08:42

Personally I would just wait and see the holiday as your final fling before parenthood. Every pregnancy is different and comes with its own issues. With my first I felt permanently nauseous for my whole pregnancy, second I suffered bad hips and was in pain and the third it was like I had narcolepsy and slept at any given opportunity. Don’t spoil a holiday of a life time when TTC can wait.

Muddywalks34 · 11/12/2023 09:22

I went to Thailand when I was 16 weeks pregnant it was all fine but I wouldn’t of planned it that way, I missed being able to have a drink round the pool and beach parties not as fun sober, I was also a bit more cautious about what we did, where we ate etc. it’s unlikely you will fall on the first month though and you could end up travelling early pregnancy with morning sickness, personally I would hold of for a few months and enjoy your holiday to the full

Sunandsea26 · 11/12/2023 09:32

Id go for it! You never know how long it’d take. It took us years, unexpectedly. We were the same as you and kept planning our travel trips. I ended up doing Chicago at around that pregnancy doing 30k steps most days and it was absolutely fine, a good time to go as you generally don’t feel sick and aren’t too big!

KingsleyBorder · 11/12/2023 17:32

Another thing that is worth thinking about is how your partner feels. Yes, you would be the one who might be physically inconvenienced by a pregnancy but the stress and anxiety will be shared by your partner, as well as the need to flex your meals and activities to accommodate the pregnancy. He may also like the idea of a final carefree fling. I’m sure you are discussing generally but I think what I am saying is that his view should have as much weight as yours.

DSN88 · 11/12/2023 22:50

Go for it! I was in the middle of 2nd trimester for a long trip to Sri Lanka and it was amazing. Certain bits I held off from doing, mainly worried I’d be too dehydrated (hikes etc) but I loved it, and the locals were so friendly and caring with me being pregnant. You don’t know how long you could take TTC. Recently had another trip to Indonesia towards the end of my first trimester with my second child, and again, locals so nice and considerate. There’s no wrong time to go!

Boonanarama · 12/12/2023 11:54

Pleeeeease wait! You have no idea how your body will react to pregnancy! I've been to Japan and it was the best trip I've ever done.. if I had tried to do that during pregnancy I would have hated it. I ate so many weird foods and sushi which you can't do when pregnant. With all travel, there is a lot of walking so if you have fatigue it would suck. I drank looooads of Asahi and Suntory Whisky and rice wine.
With both pregnancies I had horrendous morning sickness till 20 weeks and then low level nausea for the rest. I also had extreme fatigue. I also had spotting in 2nd trimester which I freaked out about so had to get checked out. If I had been traveling that would have ruined my trip.
I'd recommend TTC on your trip, that would make it waaaayyyyyy more exciting!

pinkspeakers · 12/12/2023 12:00

I think it would be crazy to postpone doing trips like this while you try to conceive. How knows how long it might take, it could be years of putting your life on hold.

The only thing I would possibly try to avoid is planning a big trip for a point when you could be suffering from morning sickness as that is fairly common and could be miserable. Later in the pregnancy most people would be fine. I flew back from California at 6-7m pregnant and I don't remember it being a major problems.