Travel with newborns/when pregnant

[Prunella79]

Currently trying to conceive #1, it's not proving easy and i'm not especially young so don't want to put it off any longer, but DH and I have the opportunity to do a round the world trip Jan/Feb/March next year which is something we'd both dearly love to do while we're still young(ish) and healthy.
I'm just wondering how realistic it is to consider major travels if i become pregnant in the next year.
Does anyone have any experience of travelling whilst pregnant or with a newborn?

I have travelled at all stages of pregnancy and with a newborn.

I found travel quite demanding in the first trimester, when I was exhausted, sick and just wanted to be at home on the couch. I also found I couldnt carry heavy luggage in later pregnancy (and remember, most airlines wont let you travel after about 34 weeks).

Travelling with very young babies I have found mostly pretty easy (its all the equipment that can be tiresome to lug around - prams, car seats etc). Once they are a bit older, it really depends on the baby's nature. I had an angel baby who just sat on my lap smiling and gurgling and napping on planes and boats, but another child who screamed his head off as soon as we stepped foot on a plane....

Te scariest thing for me was being in a country with a very poor health system when one of my babies was ill. So do consider the practicalities.

Where would you be going? I was working in china when I found I was expecting ds and had planned some travelling time. I was determined to go despite being in a very remote rural region but then was in very early stages of pg. don't think I could have done it in second or third trimesters. Worst bit was sickness as there was literally nothing I could keep down except black tea!
I would say if you are going to be travelling to areas that have ok health provision and you will be reasonably comfortable in terms of accommodation and transport then go for it. If like me you will end up travelling on horseback for 8 hours a day and then sleeping on stable floors then probably stay home! Also consider that some jabs and malaria meds may not be suitable for you if you do become pg.

I think I would worry if I booked the trip and then was seven or eight months pregnant next January.

Just hope you dont get HG (most people dont but i did)

there was absolutely NO WAY I could have done that at any stage of pregnancy from 5 weeks onwards.

I travelled 4 hours to see my family twice during pregnancy, cause i couldnt do it anymore.... I didnt travel more than 45mins away from home at any other point in the 9 months, and for 3 months i didnt make it beyond my bed / drs / hospital.

Did the same 3 times before she was 4 months old (including flying) and it was fine.

I assume you could get insurance though?, so if you were too ill to go you get your money back?

I travelled a lot during both my pregnancies for work and pleasure all over the world but even I who am very pro travelling when pregnant would think twice about this.It really does all depend on how far pregnant you may be etc so we really can't answer that question just yet.

I have flow long haul lots in my first trimester (we went on holiday to the caribbean the day after i found out i was pregnant - no rum cocktails for me) and 2 weeks after i flew to the US for business. I have also flown long haul twice in my last trimester to remote locations. Last May we went to the maldives when i was 7 months pregnant (booked before I was pregnant) and a sea plane ride away from anything remotely resembling a city. I was fine, although the journey is tiring (especially with 4 yr old DD as well). We also went to the maldives when i was 6 months pregnant with DD so I was used to the journey / heat etc. My Mum also lives in Spain so I flew to hers for a few days of sunshine a couple of days before the cut off for flying (at 36 weeks). You have to have a drs letter after 28 weeks to say you are fit to fly with an uncomplicated pregnancy.

Personally, I think this would be a bit too much even for me.

thanks for posting your responses. i'm getting the idea that it would be too much of a risk.
the plan was to do south east asia before heading to stay with family in NZ or if i fell pregnant maybe a road trip across US on the way to NZ but either way i think i need to hit the contraceptives again for the next year if i want to do the travelling. I shall look forward to travelling more when/if i have a LO to accompany us but not whilst pregnant
impressed by the travel tales though ladies, i've always imagined travelling with a babe on my hip, someday...