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Original poster

Going abroad 32w, back at 34w, am I crazy?

24 replies

AleenaM · 11/01/2019 10:46

Main worry/question is what are the chances of going into early labour between 32w and 34w+3days with my first one, as I would rather give birth here in the UK? Would you risk it/have you travelled so late into the pg?

This is my first PG, 30w now. Been sick the whole pregnancy and have a high BMI but no issues or complications with the actual pregnancy, not even back pain or swelling, all my bloods and GTT, blood pressure etc always come out fine. Husband is going to his home country in two weeks, and staying over for two weeks. I have been before and would really enjoy it if I could go as well as it would be our last holiday and weather is good there, enjoy time with the family etc. The flights are 8hrs + 3hrs. I would fly out at 32w and back at 34w. I would not be overly worried about giving birth there, however if baby born abroad he won’t have citizenship until the age of 18 I think ( me and husband only have settled status atm).

Phone midwife today and also asked consultant about this before, they did not seem worried and advised they would give me injections to do myself and a fit note and to wear compression socks.

OP posts:

Frenchfancy · 11/01/2019 11:10

I wouldn't personally. You would need a doctor to certify you are safe to travel and you would need insurance.

Original poster

AleenaM · 11/01/2019 12:15

@Frenchfancy, midwife told me I would get a pre-natal check and I would get issued a letter for fit to fly. Not worried about insurance or health insurance at the destination. Only worry is going into early labour and having to give birth over there.

OP posts:

MarthasGinYard · 11/01/2019 12:19

I wouldn't personally

Goldangel · 11/01/2019 12:39

I wouldn’t if I had a choice.

If I had to fly that distance at your stage it would be business class for comfort.

Not sure if you’d be allowed an emergency exit leg room seat.

Xiaoxiong · 11/01/2019 13:53

I wouldn't either, personally, unless I was going to this place intending to actually give birth!

Both my pregnancies were uneventful until around week 33 when I got very large and uncomfortable, PGP, SPD, light headed, babies seemed to put on 50kg in a week and I was dragging myself around. DS2 ended up being born at 35 weeks by ELCS and that was after a few weeks in and out of hospital for monitoring, steroid shots to help his lungs the week before, etc. The babies were just enormous by then and I had a hard time heaving them around and the strain on my body was immense. They and I were fine, it's just a fact that end of pregnancy can be uncomfortable and you need to be ready for anything really.

Sorry to be discouraging and not trying to scare you but those last 8 weeks are best to stay close to home in my experience.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 11/01/2019 14:27

I would postpone all travel to his home country in your circumstances. Can he really not go later, does it really have to be now?.

Giving birth abroad can be hideously expensive as well and medical facilities may not be up to scratch either. You would certainly need a good level of insurance cover.

Hersetta427 · 11/01/2019 15:13

I did a 10 hr flight plus a seaplane flight when i went to the maldives at 29 weeks - flew back at 31 weeks with no issues.

Then flew to Spain at 35 weeks and flew back at 36.

Its not like you are in a strange country, alone. You'll be with family and familiar surroundings if anything were to happen.

PenguinPandas · 14/01/2019 05:51

I wouldn't though chances of going into labour are low in those two weeks - just under 1% but its would mean staying in NICU. I was 36 weeks with my first when waters broke and after that I had to be kept in hospital. It's complications occuring as well as going into labour. Don't know where you would stand on citizenship with Brexit either. Does the airline allow you to fly at that stage?

PenguinPandas · 14/01/2019 06:03

Looks like you can fly but insurance generally won't cover you after 28 weeks. Are you sure you would get free healthcare at destination - would imagine it would be ££££ if you haven't. I was in NICU for a week with mine.

sunsalutations · 14/01/2019 06:16

Not a chance, I'd be too worried the whole time

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 14/01/2019 06:18

Not a chance.

KingIrving · 14/01/2019 06:24

With the citizenship issues and the xenophobic wind blowing right now I think you would be mad. Yes you have status now but laws can be changed especially under election pressure and remember that one of the main reasons for the leavers was to get rid of ALL foreigners who are stealing jobs, house, NHS, concert ticket or what bullshit or one day your child makes a very silly mistake as a teenager that could jeopardise his citizenship .
There was a case here in Australia of a family and all got the citizenship except the 18y girl because when she was 17 she drove a car and had a positive breath test for alcohol and has now a criminal conviction and she will never have australian citizenship.

So don't take a citizenship for granted and it is worth more than a holiday

TidaQuel · 14/01/2019 06:26

I wouldn’t but then mine were born at 29 and 32 weeks. It was difficult enough coping whilst here, I couldn’t imagine being abroad. I also had very fast labours both times, 40/ 50 minutes- certainly wouldn’t want to be 6 miles high.

redyawn · 14/01/2019 07:22

Have you checked that your travel insurance covers you? I went to the USA at s similar stage to you, right at the limit the travel insurance company was prepared to cover me. It was fine. I was in economy too and I am very tall. There's no need to be in Business just because you are pregnant.

ReaganSomerset · 14/01/2019 08:21

I wouldn't, no.

Huffleypuff · 14/01/2019 08:23

Can you fly business class? I wouldn’t otherwise

Aprilshowerswontbelong · 14/01/2019 08:23

I drove back from Portugal and got home 20 days before dd was born full term.

billybagpuss · 14/01/2019 08:32

Two issues,

mine was born prem at 33 weeks by c section as I passed a blood clot and she was 1.17k.
There was a high profile case in the US where the child was born prem and the mother was covered no problem but as it is not (or was not) possible to get insurance for someone who doesn’t exist yet, the baby wasn’t covered so the parents were stranded whilst the American hospital and the uk insurance company argued about who would pay the very large bill.

Original poster

AleenaM · 14/01/2019 10:38

Thank you all for your replies, I’ve decided against as the citizenship thing did weigh heavily after all. The other complication would have been that baby born abroad would have probably meant : wait and apply for a local passport, then get the baby a UK visa etc, all of which would taken at least one month.

The country where I was to go has cheap as pennies health care and husband’s family is fairly well connected so I was not worried about medical care and def not about insurance, but I guess you are all right in that, if I was to go into labour pre-term, it would not be a straightforward in and out in 24hrs for me and baby, so yes maybe would not be comfortable with that after all.

Third thing is that I’ve read babies put on a lot of weight at this stage, so while I don’t feel like a waddling penguin now, I might feel like one in 4 weeks.

Funny thing is my MIL mentioned she expects me and baby to travel there one month after the birth, presumably so they can all meet the baby, so you might soon see me posting about that... which I find way more daunting

OP posts:

MarthasGinYard · 14/01/2019 11:06

Good luck Op I bet you feel more relaxed now that's off the cards.

Visit when you feel ready, not before.

mummymeister · 14/01/2019 14:51

If your MIL wants to meet the baby a month after its born then she better get on a plane and come over and visit then. that would certainly be my attitude. Look,. you have no idea what is going to happen, how well you will feel, if you have to have a C section, if the baby is a lovely chilled one or a grizzle monster with reflux! this is the thing about having children - they just don't follow the script! wait and see how you feel and don't be pressured into travel or anything else. you are the parents now and need to take the best decisions for you and your baby. good luck I hope it all goes well .

ReaganSomerset · 14/01/2019 16:14

Bless you, OP. My mother lives an hour or so away and I still insisted she come to me rather than vice versa when baby was tiny. Don't travel until you're ready. If it helps, we used the car seat excuse (not allowed to be in a car seat for more than thirty minutes as a newborn and there ought to be a rest period of 45 minutes between car seat sessions) as an excuse to avoid travelling for long distances until baby was three months old. I presume the airport is more than 30 minutes away?

Original poster

AleenaM · 15/01/2019 10:44

MIL can come over, but FIL can't really and also can't be left alone for long, so a bit complicated. I will ask midwife when is the earliest baby can travel as I assume vaccines are needed before we can safely go there, and ask how much longer after birth the risk of DVT continues for the mother. Also can't imagine I'll be feeling too bright or fresh as a daisy 3-4 weeks after birth.

@ReaganSomerset that's a good point

OP posts:

BubblesBuddy · 16/01/2019 16:58

You seem to have demanding relatives! Don’t subject your baby to a lengthy journey because they want you to. Get settled and go when it suits you. Can a relative not look after FIL?

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