Travelling abroad when pregnant

[ticklebug74]

Currently pregnant with DC3 and thinking of taking a summer holiday (which the inlaws are kindly paying for) so was wondering when is the latest you can travel abroad.

We would be going to Portugal so nearly 3 hour flight. I will be between 28-33 weeks over the summer holidays and preference would be to go the first week or two when I would be 28/29 weeks.

I have had two normal pregnancies so am not anticipating any problems this time around but if we book now and for some reason have to cancel because of complications are you covered by your travel insurance or should I check our policy covers pregnancy?

And do you need a letter from your GP/Midwife to be able to fly?

yes you will need the letter because you will be 28+ weeks. Most airlines have a policy of needing a letter from 28 weeks and then no flying from 34-36 weeks. You'd have to check the policy when you book.

Definitely check your travel insurance.

Please make sure you have good travel insurance which covers you and the baby just in case. The link I have posted here has been in the news here in Australia just this week. A couple travelling in the USA had their baby at only 24 wks and are looking at a hospital bill for about $1million!! The insurance company has managed to wiggle out of paying! www.foxnews.com/health/2012/04/09/baby-unexpected-birth-in-us-leaves-australian-family-facing-1m-medical-bill/

Oh my goodness - that is awful, that poor family. Thanks for the heads up. Will ring my insurance company first to see what their policy is. I am a little nervous about going now.

Make sure you really check the airline's policy as some will only accept a doctor's cert and not a midwife's.

I will also say check and get in writing with the airline that you will be allowed travel with them. I worked for an East European carrier and we would have refused after 28 weeks with out a DR letter

I would also check that you're happy with the care you would get and your options if you did deliver there.

Portugal will cover you and baby on an EHIC but you may have to pay upfront and get reimbursed.

I went to SA at 28 weeks and it was okay but I wouldn't go later personally. Also think about how you'll cope in the heat.

I went when I was 32 weeks with DD1 had a letter from the doctor but not 1 person asked to see it !! Insurance didn't cost much more than usual either

Wow, lots to consider. Have checked the online wording of our insurance which seems to cover up to 32 weeks but of course if we actual end up going will ring and upgrade it if needed. Better check Monarchs policy and look up the nearest hospital to Vilamoura and see what it it like. Thanks for all the info.

What happened to the australians happened to me last year. Gave birth at 24 weeks when travelling alone, no problems at all up to that point. Total hospital bill was around 50K GBP for the lo, she survived for 23 days only though. Insurance cos were very good (I had two - health and travel) and they split the bill without me having to pay upfront, but they did make me run around for it.

I would not ever do it again even with my insurer.

So sorry to hear of the loss of your daughter. And for that tho happen when travelling alone is awful.

I think if I felt like going on a holiday whilst pregnant, I'd make it one in a Western European country and preferably one with socialized healthcare where I could just show up with my EHIC card.

To be honest, the chance of anything happening at 28 weeks is very low indeed but you do never know so for peace of mind it is good to consider all eventualities so that if you did have a premature birth you would be properly cared for.

ticklebug DP is looking to take me away for a few days and i will be 31 weeks. We will only be going over to england so the fight will only be 45 mins maximum. I checcked the easy jet website and it says it will allow u to travel to 36 weeks pregnant but from 27 weeks u will need a doctors letter saying when your due and is ur pregnancy normal no complications and it must cover you for your full holiday duration. Do yas think i need to get insurance even if its only to england? when i go abroad i always get good travel insurance but never when i go to england for a few days?

Bemybebe, I am so sorry for your loss and experience. What a traumatic time for you.

It is such a hard thing to consider when making the decision. Of course I want a family holiday with my two DC - it will be the last time they get some quality mummy time for a while. And of course I am assuming all things will be fine as they were in my previous two pregnancies BUT there is always a risk.

I do think Portugal will be fine for care if anything did happen and I would get the highest level of insurance allowed and I really do want to go - I can't live in the 'what if' world - I would go insane. Think I will just cover all my bases and go for it - obviously assuming that at 28 weeks I am still in good pregnancy health!

Sambrads, where are you coming from? If you are entitled to the same care here in England as at home then probably not but then insurance would cover things like accommodation should you need to stay with a sick baby etc so still might be worth considering - it does not cost that much relative to what could happen in the worse case scenario.

Sambrands, it depends where you are coming from.

If you are outside the UK then you do need travel insurance that covers you for health if you are coming to England. If you are in an EU country mostly you will be fine with an EHIC card though as there is no upfront payment in English hospitals.

Travel insurance is not just about hospital treatment in any case. You should ideally take out insurance for all foreign trips (or have it as part of your bank account/credit card deal) in case you are the victim of a crime, lose your cards, are involved in an accident, need to return home early in case of an emergency etc etc etc.

ticklebug I completely agree that you can't base the entire pregnancy on 'what ifs' and particularly if you go at the beginning of the Summer holiday, it sounds like a great idea.

We went to America at around 25-27 weeks when pg with DS and it was great. Also, parents currently live abroad so sort of forget sometimes that we're going to a foreign country! We should be more careful with the particulars of our insurance, actually. Definitely check out all airline/insurance details as suggested and take mat notes with you, but I wouldn't let it stop you going. You already know what sort of state you're in at 28 weeks and if that's not putting you off then go for it

Hello ticklebug I'm currently 27 weeks pregnant and writing this from my hotel room in Villamoura, Portugal. We flew with Monarch and paid £20 each way for extra leg room which I would say was worth doing. The flight it's self was fine and it's just a short journey from the airport to our hotel so the journey it's self was not stressful at all. Am happy with the facilities here in Villamoura and our hotel has an on call, English speaking doctor available 24hours a day which reassured me no end. Hope that helps!