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Original poster

Flying at 36 weeks

75 replies

leannefox85 · 05/04/2023 18:13

I'm in a dilemma!!!
I'm currently 32 weeks and due to go on family holiday 1st may when I will be 36 +2 weeks and flying back 37+2 weeks to Turkey (4 hour flight)
This is my 5th pregnancy and alwyss had straight forward labours and pregnancies apart from 1st when I had pre eclampsia,I'm currently on blood thinners for this

What are the odds of going into Labour or having baby abroad?
The thought of not flying and my family (children) going abroad without me present and water and balconies and just general looking after them fills me with dread as my psrtner sometimes doesn't hesr my 5 year old waking up as he suffers insomnia and once asleep is asleep,just not being present and being home fills me with dread if I decide not to go.....

I'm not sure what to do and the odds and risks.... my midwife seems to think I'll be fine but of course there is always that what if.....
If I don't go I'll be so stressed with worry but if I go,I'm just going to be resting for a week once there.....

Please help me!! Any advice welcome bad or good,just honest....

I'm losing my mind and don't know what to do
I cannot cancel or amend or I will lose all of the £3,000

I'm losing sleep with what to do for the best.... don't go and worry about the safety of my children with my partner or go and risk possibly going into Labour,which I've read on Google are contradictory and ever changing?!!

Thank you! Much appreciated

OP posts:
Muchtoomuchtodo · 05/04/2023 18:15

Airlines differ in their rules. Which one are you flying with?

MadeofCheeese · 05/04/2023 18:16

What weeks have you given birth previous?
I flew to Greece at 35 but I had a feeling she wasn't coming and she didn't until 42!

Original poster
leannefox85 · 05/04/2023 18:16

EasyJet.... it says I don't need medical proof but I will be 36+2 so just over the limit by a few days. I'm so stressed about it x

OP posts:
Original poster
leannefox85 · 05/04/2023 18:17

MadeofCheeese · 05/04/2023 18:16

What weeks have you given birth previous?
I flew to Greece at 35 but I had a feeling she wasn't coming and she didn't until 42!

Never been super early,earliest was 4 days. It's just the unknown isn't it xx

OP posts:
Weepingwillows12 · 05/04/2023 18:18

Check your airline rules to see if you can actually fly. Am pretty sure BA is no flying after end of 36th week so you wouldn't be able to fly home. I think some require a fit to fly after 32 weeks too.

endofthelinefinally · 05/04/2023 18:19

Speak to your travel insurers and the holiday company. Hopefully you arranged insurance when you booked the holiday.
They may help you rearrange the holiday.
Generally you can't get insurance beyond 36 weeks.
It is a horrible dilemma to be in, but I think rearranging would be better.

KnickerlessParsons · 05/04/2023 18:19

I'm not sure I'd accidentally want to give birth in Turkey!

anxiouslemons · 05/04/2023 18:20

Granted it's been a while since I've had a baby but my mind is blown that you're even considering it? Is it a holiday you booked before you got pregnant?
What if you get pre eclampsia again? Is maternal care covered in your travel insurance??

Jojobees · 05/04/2023 18:20

You will be more that 2 weeks over the travel limit on the way home. They will ask for proof of gestation.

Flying at 36 weeks
LIZS · 05/04/2023 18:21

The airline may not agree to fly you back at 37 weeks and insurance win't cover you if you get stranded. Nor is ghic valid there.

Weepingwillows12 · 05/04/2023 18:21

That's a good point on insurance. Most won't insure that late. If you have no insurance then absolutely no way on earth would I be travelling that close to birth.

Tiredforfive45 · 05/04/2023 18:22

Why have you booked a holiday for when you are so pregnant? Or, if it was already booked before you fell pregnant, why didn’t you cancel it then and lose less money?

I personally think it is madness to go, but people have different levels of comfort about such things (plus I am influenced by the fact my babies were all born between 36 and 37 weeks). It doesn’t sound like you ARE comfortable to go though…

Original poster
leannefox85 · 05/04/2023 18:23

anxiouslemons · 05/04/2023 18:20

Granted it's been a while since I've had a baby but my mind is blown that you're even considering it? Is it a holiday you booked before you got pregnant?
What if you get pre eclampsia again? Is maternal care covered in your travel insurance??

It has been booked for a year and I have insurance through my bank,I don't want to go but the stress of them being abroad without me is giving me major anxiety

OP posts:
Katrinawaves · 05/04/2023 18:23

I wouldn’t have considered this. 37+2 is considered full term so the chances of giving birth abroad or in the air are pretty high.

if you do give birth in Turkey you would have to pay:

medical fees
additional accommodation costs in Turkey whilst you wait for a passport for the newborn and for them to be old enough to fly. EasyJet won’t accept babies under 14 days old
new flights
basic baby equipment to tide you over for this period

Probably more than the £3000 cost of the holiday. If your husband can’t be trusted with the children (why not?) could you pay to change the name on your ticket to be changed to another relative to go with him in your place?

TomatoSandwiches · 05/04/2023 18:23

Umm, this isn't even a question, you don't go op, too many risks.
How have you left it this late to sort?

Fibonacci13 · 05/04/2023 18:23

don't go

tribpot · 05/04/2023 18:24

Easyjet's limit is 35+6 so when you fly back you will be considerably over their limit at 37+2. Your travel insurance almost certainly won't be valid either, so you could be significantly out of pocket if you have to give birth privately overseas, or god forbid need air ambulance transport home. These are very unlikely risks but they're there.

endofthelinefinally · 05/04/2023 18:24

My labours got shorter each time. My 3rd was exactly 1 hour. I would be worried with a 5th pregnancy tbh. I wouldn't want to give birth in Turkey. Would your insurance cover the costs?

TheaBrandt · 05/04/2023 18:26

Christ no but I only have 2 one born at 37 weeks the other 35 so I would have been stuffed if I’d gone to flipping Turkey. No way.

maranella · 05/04/2023 18:26

You won't be allowed to fly OP. The rule is no flying after the end of the 35th week, as stated above. So either you cancel the holiday and go at a later date, or your family go without you.

LIZS · 05/04/2023 18:26

It has been booked for a year and I have insurance through my bank,I don't want to go but the stress of them being abroad without me is giving me major anxiety

Surely better the anxiety of that than being delayed in Turkey on your own with no healthcare. Why are you only considering this now?

maranella · 05/04/2023 18:28

Why are you only considering this now?

And this^. Has your late stage of pregnancy and whether this is a) possible or b) advisable only occurred to you just now when the holiday has been booked a year???

endofthelinefinally · 05/04/2023 18:29

Even if you have insurance through your bank you must update them immediately with any changes to your health and pay an additional premium. They won't cover pregnancy unless you informed them at the esrliest opportunity.
Pp suggestion of getting someone else to go is a good one. You will have to pay a fee, but it seems to be your cheapest option.

Jojobees · 05/04/2023 18:29

Your insurance will absolutely not cover you. You are outside of the 35+6 limit. I also doubt they would cover the cost of not going on the holiday either.

Overthebow · 05/04/2023 18:30

Your travel insurance won’t be valid and you won’t be able to fly. Unless you can afford all possible medical bills then no.

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