Taking mat notes on holiday abroad?

[JoJoCK]

Apologies for what is probably a v silly question, do I need to take my maternity notes with me on holiday? I'm 18 weeks and we are going to France.

I went to France recently at 20 weeks and decided not to take my notes with me (DC no.2). I would have taken them if I was much later on, e.g. 30 weeks plus. I think the likelihood of needing them was pretty slim, and I didn't want to risk losing them. Might be worth it if your pregnancy has any unusual features, but if all is normal so far I would think you could leave them at home. Just my personal opinion though I don't think there are any official guidlines on where/when you must start taking them with you.

well I would, as I came down with a kidney stone at 20 weeks whilst we were in Spain. It was helpful in that the hospital knew I was pregnant at least, as to start with someone came towards me with a needle and I had no idea if they understood that I was pregnant or not until they had seen my notes. I spoke no Spanish, they spoke no English. They updated my notes so that the NHS knew what had happened etc.

I realise that this is not likely to happen to you, but I would take them just in case.

If your notes were in English anf they didn't speak English how did they understand them then??

If you're worried about losing them, you could always take a photocopy of the completed pages with you...

It was clarification of my frantic gesticulations I guess. I felt better once they had seen them. I didn't dare let them inject me until after that point.

I would take your notes just to be on safe side. I took mine in my hand luggage and kept in hotel room so was no hassle.

Thanks guys, am going to leave them at home, am more worried about losing them and incurring the wrath of the midwives than needing them! Photocopying is a great plan but I don't have time now.

You got a scanner at home? Or take a photo of the page with all the contact details on for your midwife care? Then you have a little something as a comfort just in case the need arises?

we are going to Holland next week (I will be 20weeks 3-6days whilst we are away) and I plan to put them in my hand luggage best be safe than sorry. x

I'm on holiday inn Spain at the moment, will be 18 weeks in a couple of days so roughly the same point. Didn't even think cross my mind about bringing them until after I got here when it suddenly occurred to me that I probably should have done. We're with dp's mothough at the moment who is a nurse and speaks pretty fluent Spanish so I'm sure she could explain if there was a problem.

That should be mother, not mothough

I've heard that the vital points in maternity notes can be understood in nearly every country as they use the same abbreviations etc with reference to scans etc. But why wouldn't you take them? I was told at every stage (by midwives and a consultant) how important it is to have them on you at all times... if you're in an accident/ill it could make all the difference to you and your baby.

Going on hold myself this week at 29 weeks. Hadn't event considered taking my notes but doing so now. Thanks for posting!

I didn't bother taking mine anywhere with me until 24 weeks on the basis the baby wouldn't be saved if I went into premature labour before then.

There is nothing unusual in mine and nothing DH or I couldn't relay to HCP's with the words "I am x weeks pregnant".

I couldn't speak coherently at the time I was admitted. DH was whipped off to sign some forms the minute we arrived, and I was in so much pain and was so afraid it was hard to concentrate on what was happening. At least I had something written down about my condition that I could just hand over!

They do stress that you need to take them with you when you travel -no matter how far along you are. It's not just about whether the baby can be saved or not, it's about what potential medications you can/cannot take.

If you are Rhesus Negative (I am) it is especially important that you take them, as if you get a bleed anytime after week 12, you will need an anti-D injection, and that can be difficult to explain without your notes backing you up.

The French are notorious for pretending that they don't understand/speak english. I have even read about a case where the hospital people wouldn't transfer the person to hospital unless he gave them 150euros and it was NOT private, because he hadn't applied for some european card which shows you are part of the EU and they French hospital could use it to later claim the money from the NHS. Have you applied for it? NONE of the doctors there spoke english, although they all attend international seminars and all doctors know english, apart from an Indian doctor who explained the situation. But I would still take my notes if I were you.

I would second the point about anyone being rh-ve taking notes with them post 12 weeks.

And having just been discharged after 7 nights on an antenatal ward - and seeing all the things that can happen in otherwise uneventful pregnancies - I would definitely take them with me on hols. It has helpful things like your baseline blood pressure at booking in, which can be useful to compare later on.

Sorry, don't mean to scaremonger, it's just I have had a very eventful week!

MW told me not to bother when I went on hols at 18 weeks and said to just ensure that DH (and I) know what my blood group was

ninani the card you are talking about replaces the E111 form you would take with you. They are free and you can get them online but keep a track of the expiry date as they don't automatically inform you if it's due. Unfortunately you have to pay for treatment in europe if you cannot provide your card number but you are able to claim it back once you return home from the government.

But anyway I didn't even think to take notes with me at 13 weeks pregnant with DS and have only just thought of this now but I don't think my midwife even told me to keep them with me. This time (in a different county) the midwife told me I should take them to work and even if I go shopping as it will have all the necessary details in case I am on my own and unconscious!

I went on holiday at 16 weeks and my midwife told me to take my maternity notes with me incase of any problems / issues.

You never know what might happen and so it's better to have them with you. Not like they take up any space is it.

I took mine when I went abroad (Turkey) at 20 weeks.

I fell down some stairs (those marble hotel ones...) and had to get checked out..scan etc. I'm not sure how much notice they took of them but I found it reassuring to have them there. Plus I am rh negative.

Plus I then put all my notes from the Turkish hospital inside my green booklet and was able to pass them straight on to my own midwife when I returned.

You may be low risk etc and not expect anything to happen... but whio expects a cleaner to mop a flight of stairs and not put a "wet floor" sign down?! not me!

Hope you're ok PQ77

I took mine to Amsterdam. Better safe than sorry and you can always keep a copy at home if you're worried about losing them. I have pregnancy-induced high blood pressure so didn't want to run any risk of
(eg) losing all my tablets without my medical notes with me.