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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Taking DSs, 9 and 7, skiing alone with pregnant

44 replies

Goodluckjonathan76 · 20/11/2017 12:59

I've booked a ski holiday for myself and DSs, 9 and 7, in Feb half term. We have been to the same place several years running so know the area well. Both boys love skiing and want to go again next year. The only issue if that DH (who is the boys step-dad) can't join us. He has his own kids, aged 14 and 12, who will be going away with their mum that week but he is saying that he can't come due to work commitments and that he also feels bad going away without his DSCs. It's also a massive stretch for him financially and unfortunately cannot afford to pay for all six of us. I really didn't want DSs to miss out though so have booked the trip but am now wondering if I will be able to manage both boys when nearly 5 months pregnant. I am a good skiier and the boys are good skiers but they still need help. I also feel a bit weird going away with just the kids but guessing single parents do this all the time. It also looks like DH will struggle to come on holiday with us in future so I should get used to taking the boys alone. Just wondering if other posters would do this or cancel?

OP posts:

Original poster

Goodluckjonathan76 · 05/12/2017 12:03

EvaParker, you are right and it's a bit of a bone of contention. Have realized that the only way to go on holiday is to make plans without DH. Fed up with trying to persuade him to come. My ex is a possibility but I haven't told him I am pregnant yet as awaiting panorama results. What a minefield.

The only potential workaround is going for 3 days just before Xmas. Eurostar will let me change trains for other times. I would be 12 weeks pregnant. Surely I could ski with boys then? Friends also going to same resort so we could ski together. Views??

OP posts:

mummymeister · 05/12/2017 16:09

Nope - haven't changed my view OP. its not you that puts the baby at risk its the other twats on the slope who have had a bit too much to drink, over estimate their abilities and crunch - they crash into you.

I cant believe you have to persuade your dh to go on holiday with you - that's a big elephant in the room isn't it.

I guess I am in the unfortunate situation of having a child with a disability. every day I wonder if its something I did/didn't do during pregnancy. I would be shit scared of getting knocked off my feet by skiers or snowboarders and then having the long wait to see if everything was ok. maybe this experience has made me risk averse, I don't know. but I just don't think that a holiday ever trumps the health and safety of a mother and baby and skiing is not a risk free/minimal risk holiday.

Cockmagic · 05/12/2017 16:10

Please do not go skiing at 5 months pregnant!

You could seriously injured yourself or the baby, have some sense!

Original poster

Goodluckjonathan76 · 05/12/2017 16:57

Surely going at 12 weeks is ok? Hard to do any damage given no bump and that baby is so small.

I do hear you all on the risks and if there was any way to cancel without losing a huge amount then I would! Just can't bring myself to lose 2k!!

Mummy, so sorry to hear about your DC. I am sure it's nothing you did or didn't do during pregnancy.

Cockmagic (great name!) are you of the same view if I go at 12 weeks?

OP posts:

mummymeister · 08/12/2017 14:40

I am kind of at a loss to say anything more that would be positive to someone who seriously thinks £2K is more important than the risk. Any other sort of holiday would be fine, so choose something different fgs. go to iceland, stay in an ice hotel, go on snow rides, go to somewhere warm. its actually really easy to avoid this risk, you just don't want to. obviously its one of those posts -

Q - do you think I should go skiing at 5 months pregnant?
A - No (from most people)
Q - surely you don't think that
A - whats the point in asking if you don't want honest responses.

You are clearly going to do it anyway so I will have my fingers crossed that some twat doesn't career into you or that you don't have any serious falls.

If you can live with the potential risks and consequences go for it. it would cost you a heck of a lot more than £2k to get treatment abroad or to get you home.

Rodent01 · 08/12/2017 14:52

My job took me skiing at 18 weeks pregnant. I pottered around the magic carpet slope with nearly 4 year old DD, but apart from 2-3 others we were alone as it's a minuscule not known resort.

I felt totally ok to ski, but there was literally nobody anywhere near us. In no way did I even feel the need to go do a proper run, or anything else, even though I felt perfectly able.

How would you live with yourself if you fell and something did happen?

I wouldn't have skied in a "normal" resort, too many other idiots out there. Too much risk.

Especially at Half Term - one of the busiest weeks of the season!

QueenAravisOfArchenland · 08/12/2017 14:57

But the 2k is gone. It isn't coming back no matter what you do. The baby, on the other hand, is here, and it would be mad to expose that baby to risk to "save" money that is already gone.

You can either put the kids in full time ski school and stay off skis yourself or not go, but it would be mental to go and ski.

sparechange · 08/12/2017 15:47

I've skied over Christmas for the last 2 years and the snow has been really bad. Nearly all manmade and everyone forced onto the same few pistes because so many are closed.
And a lot more slush and ice than usually because the pistes get skied out so quickly

And as I said upthread, are you sure you'll even be able to get into your ski gear comfortably? Even by 12 weeks, I've always had enough of a bump and thickened waist that a day on salopettes would be really uncomfortable

If you can't change your Eurostar dates, why not go at the same time but make it a holiday to Paris instead?

Your only other option is to hope you have some grounds to claim against your travel
Insurance for being unable to travel - pregnancy-related or an injury that would prevent you from traveling

Original poster

GoodluckJonathan76 · 08/12/2017 17:09

Mummymeister, what seems lost on you is that I cannot afford to just book another holiday as well as cancel this one! This was supposed to be our main holiday next year - where do you think I can magic up the dosh to book an entirely new holiday? I am trying to work around a problem. If I could get my money back I would of course cancel.

Sparechange, I think it depends where you go. I have friends going over Xmas and the snow report is quite good. I am 11 weeks tomorrow and still in my normal clothes. Don't think I will expand massively in the next week or so.

Your idea re Paris is a good one - I can change dates but no destination so we just get off at Paris. Not sure how fun Pars in in February though and we've been several times. Will have a think though. Would be good to use the tickets in some way rather than lose all the money.

OP posts:

sparechange · 08/12/2017 17:23

We were in Tignes 2 years ago and Les Arcs last year - both well above 2000m but both woeful snow despite big dumps early on

And don't underestimate how much bad conditions, especially ice, can knock the confidence of kids when they are learning
No holiday will set them back less than a miserable holiday on bad snow where they are falling all the time and hating it

Stillwishihadabs · 08/12/2017 18:45

FWIw Op I would almost certainly go, my dcs are older but I did ski at 10 weeks pregnant and also waddled around the Alps at 28 weeks; lovely walks, lovely swimming if it's France and your boys can ski the ESF will certainly take them all day.

mummymeister · 10/12/2017 15:49

...and goodluckjonathon what seems lost on you is that we are talking here about a baby vs a £2K holiday!

there are very few people who can afford to lose that amount of money. you could speak to your gp and see if they will sign you off as unfit to travel on a skiing holiday due to the pregnancy in which case your insurance will then cover you. If you are 11 weeks tomorrow and going in February then you will be nearly 20 weeks by my reckoning.

Original poster

GoodluckJonathan76 · 10/12/2017 18:03

Mummy, my insurance won't cover me. I've checked! Pregnancy is not an illness and it's not unforseen. Not sure what world you live in.

I'm very well that we are talking about a baby thanks. I have DSs and both seem to have survived pregnancy and early childhood.

OP posts:

allegretto · 10/12/2017 18:06

Surely I could ski with boys then?

No! I wouldn't. I went skiing when pregnant (didn't know though) and it caused a lot of problems. It is not just the risk of losing the baby. I suffered a bad fracture and had to be operated on which was an additional and very stressful risk to the pregnancy.

eurochick · 10/12/2017 18:28

I think user has the best plan- the boys go to ski school in the morning. In the afternoon do non-skiing activities with them - dog sledging, swimming or whatever the resort offers.

hardheadedwoman · 10/12/2017 18:41

What about booking to see euro disney instead? Then you ‘only’ lose the cost of the accommodation

juneau · 26/12/2017 16:24

I think you'll be fine going on holiday at 5 months pregnant with your two boys, as they're about the same age as mine and I'd take them on a skiing holiday alone, no problem.

However, I would NOT ski while 5 months pregnant. What if someone smashes into you? I've seen some big crashes over the years and seen people sent flying by other skiers who are out of control. You'd also need to check your insurance covers you for any accident while skiing pregnant - I suspect it wouldn't. I've know people to ski while pregnant, but most avoid it, particularly during the busiest week of the season. The slopes will be packed and that ups the risk factor. I'd do ski school or private instructor for them and stay off the slopes. You can swim, walk, snow shoe, etc. Much safer for you and baby.

ItsChristmoose · 26/12/2017 16:29

What if something happened? Who is going to mind your two boys while you deal with going to hospital etc. One fall at that level of pregnancy could be pretty serious. And you've no adult to help you deal with anything that happens.

dimots · 26/12/2017 16:34

The baby may be well cushioned, but at 5 months your ligaments will be more vulnerable, due to your hormones starting to 'relax' them for the birth. This can result in unstable joints. And skiing is hard on the knees. You could end up hurting yourself and being in pain for the rest of the pregnancy.
I would still go but try and take another adult skier. If you can't I would put the kids in ski school and do other stuff with them at other times.

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