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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

How can I get to Ireland!

49 replies

Newmummytobe79 · 31/03/2011 14:03

After reading some posts on here ? I have to admit ? you?re right! I booked flights to Ireland for my best friends wedding with Ryanair before I found out I?m pregnant and I?ll be 37.5 weeks. The website states they won?t let pregnant women fly after 36 weeks and Irish Ferries won?t let a pregnant woman travel after 32 weeks!

My midwife said she has no problem with me flying as long as the Dr writes a fit to fly and my travel insurance company is happy to insure me.

So ? I can?t miss her wedding! The only reason I wouldn?t go is if lo has arrived or if I?m in labour.

If I tell a tiny weeny 1.5 week fib ? and something happens ? will my insurance be void?

I know there are lots on here who wouldn?t fly ? and if I?m not well enough nearer the time I won?t. But to all those women who made 40 weeks and felt great ? would you tell a porky pie?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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FeralGirlCambs · 31/03/2011 14:42

Hmm, I think insurers etc (the airline's and ferry co's as well as yours) are always trying to wriggle out of things so there's no way you'd get away with that if anything did happen and you'd need a fit to fly note and no medical professional would lie on that. So I suspect you're stuck... Are there any other airlines or ferry cos? I think most airlines have a blanket ban after 36 weeks, mind you. Good luck!!

nannyl · 31/03/2011 14:51

37.5 weeks is very late to be doing anything like that

given that baby is considered term, and you can be having a home birth then...
a flight to ireland isnt very long (have done it many times < 1 hour!) so probability of going into labour and giving birth is pretty low, in such a short amount of time, but it can happen...

even if you make it out there will you make it back?

I know some one who emigrated to Australia with a 3 and 15month old at almsot 36 weeks pg . Id sooner travel to ireland at 37.5 weeks than to Aus at 30-lots weeks. she had a drs note and it was all fine

mosschops30 · 31/03/2011 14:54

No chance! And i dont know why youd want to at 37 wks tbh, there is a reason that docs/airlines/ferries have these rules.

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 31/03/2011 14:57

I find the ferry company a tad odd as I'm sure other companies will let you go right up to your EDD.

I wouldn't fly. It will not be comfortable no matter how healthy and great you're feeling. Especially with Ryanair....

What would you do if you went into labour over there?

HipHopopotomus · 31/03/2011 15:01

Ryanair probably won't allow you to fly (even if your Dr says its OK) as they can sell your seat on for more profit!

A bit at the ferries though!

Original poster

Newmummytobe79 · 31/03/2011 15:11

I want to go because it's my best friends wedding! I'm going to be gutted if I can't go :( I think I'll contact both and ask ... you dont get if you don't and all that! x

OP posts:

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 31/03/2011 15:15

Airlines may extend - Air France will exceptionally allow you to do domestic flights up to 38 weeks if there's a genuine need. I only know this because I'm currently 37.5 and a couple of weeks ago we thought DH's grandmother was dying, there's no chance we wouldn't go to the funeral so we looked into the circumstances for flying.

That would be a 10 hour flight (still counts as domestic though :)). I have to say I'm very, very glad we didn't have to as I'm 37+5 now and it would be impossible for me I think.

And obviously I'm glad she's getting better too, not just for selfish reasons!

thefurryone · 31/03/2011 16:31

To be honest if I was in your position I would just reluctantly accept that I wasn't going to be able to go. Even if you get there and don't go into labour what happens when they don't let you on the plane on the way back? In all honesty is it really worth the stress that this could cause?

I'm 37 weeks tomorrow and despite being quite fit and active generally I just honestly couldn't face the journey (I live in NI but travel to England a lot so I do know exactly what the journey is like), I also really just wouldn't want to be that far away from home at this stage.

The ferries are a bit more strict because at least with a domestic UK flight you're usually only a few minutes from an airport if they had to land in an emergency whereas with a ferry you're literally stuck out at sea.

Trinaluce · 31/03/2011 16:47

Where in Ireland do you need to get to?

oggybags · 31/03/2011 16:49

health care isnt free in ireland so you;ll have to be prepared to pay for all your treartment, and then stay in ireland until you get a passport for the little one should it arrive...
also - where in ireland are you going, is it rural / town etc? I only ask as out of the larger cities its a looooong way to hospitals...
hope you make the decision thats best for you

jasmine51 · 31/03/2011 17:32

Is the ban to stop people going over the Ireland specifically to have their babies (and then claim Irish nationality)? I know this is an issue in the US where they are very vigilent to ladies from places like Mexico sneaking in without declaring their pg so they can give birth to a little US citizen? Just a thought that there might be something similar going on particularly with the ferry company.

WinterOfOurDiscountTents · 31/03/2011 17:36

maternity care is free for all EU citizen, neither would you need to wait for a passport. And nowheres that far from anywhere.

WinterOfOurDiscountTents · 31/03/2011 17:37

and no to jasmine as well for that matter, it doesn't work like that and its international airline policy.

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 31/03/2011 17:43

You would need to wait for a passport if it's in Eire as UK/Eire aren't part of the Schengen area and you'd be crossing an international border.

jasmine51 · 31/03/2011 18:00

Winter so why would the ferry have that policy too...thats whats puzzling me?

thefurryone · 31/03/2011 18:08

Actually UK & Irish citizens don't need passports to cross from one country to another. Airlines ask for photo ID the same way that they do if you're flying around the UK, but it's not a legal requirement for it to be a passport (even if it is a requirement of the airline IYSWIM).

You can fly from NI to other parts of the UK with just a birth certificate and in theory the same should apply from the Republic but it would be best to check with the airline before turning up at the airport (particularly if you're flying Ryanair).

thefurryone · 31/03/2011 18:12

Jasmine51 the ferry company has that rule because they don't want you giving birth on the ferry, if you're stuck out at sea it's actually more of a problem than if you're in the air as at least the plane can land reasonably quickly.

WinterOfOurDiscountTents · 31/03/2011 18:13

No, its not Eire, its Ireland, and you do not need a passport to travel between the Uk and Ireland as they have a common travel agreement.

They have the policy so it won't cost them any money. You going into labour mid trip is expense and paperwork and insurance liability that they don't need.

urbandaisy · 31/03/2011 18:24

It's policy for a lot of ferries, jasmine51, I know Condor ferries (to France and the Channel Islands) won't take women who are more than 34 weeks pregnant. As someone said, it makes sense -- if you go into labour on the ferry, you're not able to get to medical assistance quickly if it's needed. At least on a plane, the plane can divert (at astronomical cost to the airline, which is probably one reason airlines don't allow it).

thefurryone · 31/03/2011 18:27

I mean the baby can fly with just a birth certificate up to a certain age (depending on the airline) adults need photo ID as usual.

suzikettles · 31/03/2011 18:29

Ryanair gave me the third degree when I flew home from France at only 24 weeks. I suspect they'd want a note from the doctor saying you were fit to fly and under the limit before they'd let you on the plane.

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 31/03/2011 19:39

"No, its not Eire, its Ireland, and you do not need a passport to travel between the Uk and Ireland as they have a common travel agreement."

Every time I've flown between the UK and Ireland I've needed to show a passport but that may be airline policy. On the other hand same airline will allow mainland UK - Belfast on a driving license. It's just that my experience is you do need a passport, even for a child.... So you could conceivably be stuck in Ireland waiting for one to be processed. Or driving up over the border!

And Eire/ROI same difference. It says Eire first on my passport.

WinterOfOurDiscountTents · 31/03/2011 19:43

In Irish its Eire, but you appear to be writing in English, so its misplaced. You wouldn't write, I'm going to Deutschland for my holliers, would you? Same thing.

It's not ROI either, thats a descriptor not a country name.

The airline policy may or may not require a passport for a baby, a ferry does not, the law does. not. And Belfast- Mainland is within the same country so is neither here nor there.

BikeRunSki · 31/03/2011 19:44

I didn't go to my brother's wedding at 37 weeks, because it was an 8 hour drive. Get someone to set up a webcam. DS was born (where we live) at a time we would have still been away. If this is your first baby you have no idea whether you have a tendency towards early or late babies.

Waswondering · 31/03/2011 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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