Would you fly to/from Australia at 33 weeks pregnant?

[phlossie]

We were planning on spending Christmas in Perth, Australia with my sister, but now I'm up the duff we're having second thoughts. I'd be flying there at 30 weeks and back at 33 weeks, it's my third baby, I'm 31 and healthy, and all my pregnancies have been uncomplicated (and both other DCs were late)! What do you think? Would you? It's a looooooong way!

Maybe not.
I was flying middle distances until about 34 weeks and it was a vile experience.
YThe thoguht of 24 hours on a plne with a huge bump (unless lounging in business class) sounds terrible.

I'm not a massive fan of flying anyway, and have a 4yo and 6yo to contend with too. The alternative is going next year with a 10mo...

Grim either way, girl.

No, will any airline take you?

You'd need a doc letter anyway by then. I'd say don't bother ...

I definitely wouldn't seeing as DD came at 32 weeks!
But I don't think I would anyway. Too long a flight, you'd probably be a bit uncomfortable.

No, I'm 34 weeks and the thought of even sitting in a car for more than an hour is horrendous. I can't get comfy anywhere except my bed with a hundred pillows so a cramped airline seat would be torture. Maybe in First Class I would consider it but seeing as I am still suffering just thinking about a return flight from Canada in the smallest economy seat ever last year, and I wasn't even pregnant at the time, I just wouldn't.

Thought airlines don't allow you to fly in the third trimester

I wouldn't, based on the fact I found that journey hard not PG and at 33w now I can barely stand the 2 hours in the car to my see my family. But you are you. Check about if the airline would take you. Also my sister has done it with her son when he was 6 months and it was ok.

I don't think you would find an airline prepared to take you.

I have flown to Perth with a 10 month old and it was absolutely fine.

Go next year!

BA let you fly up to 36 weeks with a doctor's note.

Both my DCs were 11 days late, so I'm not too worried about that, it's more the discomfort. Did I mention that I'm nearly 6ft tall???? Economy seats are a nightmare anyway...

Thanks for your (unanimous) advice. I've never flown for longer than 4 hours, and that was ages ago.

Bugger. Bloody sister living so far away.

Who was the MNetter who got stuck in American when her baby came at 28 or 30 weeks or something??

(not to scare you)

Fly Emirates or Singapore next year. Brilliant for children even in economy.

No!

I had to wait until DD was 6 weeks old due to DVT once i'd missed the 27 week deadline but that was 10 years ago, maybe it's changed but nobody wanted me on a long haul flight pregnant at all.
And I can't say I relished the idea of going into labour in bang kok.

No, I've done it a fair few times and its awful enough when not pregnant. Certainly wouldn't do a holiday, ie. there and back, where I would also have to cope with the jet lag and time difference.

Noooooooooo!!!

My waters broke at 32 weeks. Bad enough at home, truly terrifying at 30,000 ft.

Get your sister to come to you?

I wouldn't but then my waters broke at 31 weeks and I gave birth at 33. I was also away from home when it happened and it wasn't fun.

That aside, as you seem to have a low-risk pregnancy, I think it wouldn't be a nice journey at that stage - not comfortable.

Wasn't there a lot of insurance issues with the poster who gave birth in America? They wouldn't cover her hospital costs or something?

Suppose you just never know what might happen.

If you did go you'd want to certain you were totally covered for all eventualities with some iron clad travel insurance.