Long distance travel while pregnant

[PeppyMintOtter]

Hi!

Writing to get people's advice and hopefully reassurance regarding travelling while pregnant.

I have a trip next week and I'll be 27 weeks pregnant, returning at 29. It's a long flight (10 hours!) and I have prescription compression socks and low-dose aspirin, but I guess I'm just nervous since most online resources say international travel isn't advised after 28 weeks.

Any experience from people who've travelled later in their pregnancies? Was everything ok - and if not, what happened? I could still cancel the trip if needed, so curious to hear if many of you have done it.

Will the airline let you fly that distance at that stage?

First thing to do is check that your insurance covers you. Then check out the standard of medical care and facilities for premature births in whatever country you’re going to. There’s a big difference between rural Laos and Australia, for example.

You may need a doctors note too.

I drove back from a month in France with 10 days to spare with dd. Hate flying!!

Personally I wouldn't. I wouldn't want to risk having a baby overseas. You're not going to be insured, being pregnant means that you have a lower immune system anyway, so you're more likely to pick something up.
The risk of a DVT is about 2 x that of someone else on the plane, unless you're obese in which case it's higher.

It depends on why you're travelling. Visiting grandma before they die, a big wedding of a sibling, important work trip maybe?
A holiday, no.

It's my cousin's wedding and my whole family is getting together for the first time in years. I have a 3 yo who's very excited about this trip as we've been talking about it at home for months.

My doctor has cleared me and I can get my insurance to cover me while I'm away. I'll be back before I'm 30 weeks pregnant.

Is there a decent hospital near the wedding?

You have to check that the insurance would also cover care for the baby, should they be born early, not just you.

I wouldn't risk it. My travel insurance would only cover birth related complications before 28 weeks. You could be on the hook for thousands if anything went wrong.

Will the airline take you at 29 weeks?

I went to Thailand at 26 weeks and came back at 28. At that time (dd is now 19) you could fly up to 34 weeks I believe.
I had no problems whatsoever, I found the heat a bit more tiring than I might usually but otherwise was fine.
It was a great trip which I remember incredibly fondly

I flew to NZ at 31 weeks and back at 33 weeks and had no issues whatsoever. Insurance covered me and I wore compression socks

What’s the medical care like in the destination? Do you speak the language?

it would be a big no from me as I have had two prem births (the first one being utterly unexpected as I had zero risk factors or warning). because ds had had respiratory distress we were advised not to fly for a year.

Additionally had a friend give birth at 28 weeks while visiting family 15 hours from home. It was three months before her DD was able to fly home.

obviously I am biased but it’s based on real experience!

Where you’re going makes a big difference!

I went to west coast America at 27w pregnant with very good health insurance etc. figured if something happened I was in a place with great hospitals and I was covered by my insurance.

I went to Barbados at around 24 weeks was fine. Only problem I had was on the way back my SPD started and my hips were agony, I lay on the floor at one point!

I'm going to Poland and my insurance does cover me. I'm also a Polish national so even the baby would probably have cover, although I think giving birth at 29 weeks is highly unlikely (my first one was born at 40+6). I also have family there, so it's not all doom and gloom.

Mainly worried about being uncomfortable on the flight and being very swollen when I arrive!