Flying to Japan at 30 to 32 weeks pregnant, would you book?

[Friedbanana]

We cancelled our big Japan in 3 weeks time due to Dubai stopover flights. The next time I could possibly take off work is late September/October so we decided to rebook then, but I just got a really really faint positive pregnancy test (testing very early) it could be an evap line . But if I was pregnant that would put me at 30-32 weeks . Would you be comfortable booking a big holiday and flying then? This would be my first pregnancy and I would be 33 then. Or should we rebook flights with a different airline and go in 3 weeks as originally planned?! Would have to book everything from scratch, hotels etc and have no activities booked either.

Absolutely not (if you’re actually pregnant).

We originally decided to rebook in September/October because the flight prices had gone crazy and it’s so close to the date, £3300 return for 2 of us economy!

You might not be pregnant and if that’s the case, wait to conceive after this trip. You’ll be miserable being pregnant and on a really long flight.

@Toddlergirly what are the main factors?

The 14 hour flight was an absolute killer even without being that pregnant, so I wouldn't even think about going in your situation!

Absolutely not

Thanks everyone, what about at 26-28 weeks (if we conceive next cycle instead)

Flying there to begin your holiday or back at the end? If the former, no. I went to a long-haul destination with my first pregnancy and flew back at 31 weeks pregnant, which was fine. But I had an easy, uncomplicated pregnancy and the flight wasn't as long as to Japan. We went to Japan last year and the flight is killer! I honestly wouldn't have wanted to do it at 31 weeks pregnant.

That would be a really bad idea. Either go before you fall pregnant (the best idea) or go when the child is a few years old.

Your not seriously thinking about having an abortion for a holiday?!

Apologies if incorrect about that

Are you sure your airline will fly you longhaul at 30 or 32 weeks? What about the return trip? I flew shorthaul weekly throughout my pregnancy and my airline wouldn’t fly me at all after 34 weeks, even though the flight time was only an hour. I’d had to have a gp/midwife letter after 28 weeks, from what I remember.

I'm pretty sure she meant if she isn't actually pregnant but keeps trying.

It's really hard to say. Everyone handles pregnancy differently. I would be fine to go at 26-28 weeks.

Maybe choose a different destination with a shorter flight time? Save the Japan trip for later.

It would be flying there at 30 weeks and back at 32 weeks.

I’ve done 9 hour flights before and don’t mind it, but is the extra 5 hours a real killer?

Where on earth did this come from! Of course not! 😅 I just don’t actually know if I am or not. We were trying but only managed once during my fertile window and it’s first month trying so I kind of wrote it off as not possible! Then this really faint possible evap line has thrown me off!

Your travel insurance probably won't cover you so there's your answer.

I went short haul (Portugal) when I was about half way through my first pregnancy. I don't think I could literally stomach going long haul and I had a very easy pregnancy, virtually no sickness. In fact the only sickness I did suffer was when I was on holiday

I wouldn't plan such a big an expensive trip with the possibility of pregnancy to be honest.
There's no telling how your pregnancy might affect you, you could be unwell or you could breeze through it. As someone has already said, check the insurance, you generally can't fly after a certain point as it's not advisable.
Would you want to risk early delivery on the other side of the world?

nah. I think somewhere between 12 and 24 weeks is broadly ok, you're over the initial sick phase and not quite into the uncomfortable stage. Is the least risky stage too. I'd say Japan is a good place as any to be when pregnant generally but if heavily pregnant a long haul flight is just a daft idea unless absolutely essential, youre just permanently uncomfortable! Unless you are forking out for business in which case I'd say go for it as long as you've got decent insurance.

I wouldn't. What if the baby was born prematurely over there? You're a very long way from home.

Honestly no I wouldn't have gone even in my first pregnancy. I was due to travel to Europe at 28 weeks with my first but pulled out as there was no way I would have been comfortable to go even with a straight forward pregnancy.
I've travelled long and short all pre and post pregnancy fine but adding a pregnancy just was a no go for me.

If you really want to go somewhere between 12-24 weeks but anything before or after would be awful in my opinion.

Agree I think it’s 32 weeks but please double check. Be aware that you may end up going into early labour and having the baby before the trip/during the trip/on the plane itself if you travel back after 34 weeks.

what are the main factors?

Well it depends. Pregnancy affects women in different ways.

Near the end of my pregnancies I needed to wee every 30 mins, had a huge unwieldy belly that made me unbalanced when I was walking about, swollen ankles and legs, constant nausea, my blood pressure fell even lower so I felt dizzy whenever I stood up, it was difficult to sleep, and I was just fed up with everyone and everything.

I didn't want to go to the shops let alone the other side of the world. All I wanted to do was stay at home and make it lovely and cosy for my new baby ('nesting' is a common urge in late pregnancy)

Other women will come on here and say they found it all easy and could not only have managed travelling, but would have enjoyed the variety and seeing a different country.

the point is that you won't know how it will be for you, and even if you have had a child before, each pregnancy can be different.

At 32 weeks you could end up giving birth in Japan or the airport or on the plane.

There’s absolutely no point in speculating about this. Check your airline’s flying while pregnant guidelines for a start, and your travel insurance, but whether the flight itself is difficult or unpleasant will largely depend on whether your pregnancy is straightforward or whether you feel quite unwell, throughout.

No.

you have no idea what kind of pregnancy you may have.

I’m 31 weeks pregnant now and no way would I want to do a long haul flight! I normally don’t mind them but would find it so uncomfortable. Also when I was in Japan last year I was walking 20k steps a day AT LEAST which I could not do now. Also you’d miss out on lots of the food and drink. I think it would be much better to go with a baby than in third trimester honestly.