Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

Original poster

Travelling to USA at 33 Weeks.

25 replies

beth27123 · 31/08/2013 18:07

Hi Ladies,
Looking for advise on a few things really;
Insurance- will I need different insurance for flying at this point?
If I give birth- my baby will be taking DP's surname, how will this affect flying her home? How would I go about sorting a passport etc? We would prefer her to be a British Citizen?
Flying- Will I need to take any precautions? Will it be awful flying for 9 hours at my stage?

I think that's it for now, thank you.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

dyslexicdespot · 31/08/2013 18:15

I bought insurance from www.ravenhallgroup.co.uk/traveller-pregnant-traveller.php Ravenhall]] when I flew while pregnant, and yes, you will need to make sure that your unborn baby is covered.

Make sure you are allowed to fly at 33 weeks. Are you an American? Why don't you call the US embassy and make sure they will let you in the country if you are not.

How to go about getting a passport for your baby will depend on the baby's nationality.

dyslexicdespot · 31/08/2013 18:16

Sorry!

www.ravenhallgroup.co.uk/traveller-pregnant-traveller.php

HettySunshine · 31/08/2013 18:28

You should also check that your airline will let you fly at 33 weeks. You might need a letter from your doctor confirming you are fit to fly. The airline still might not let you though. Hope it works out for you.

Excited2meetmyprincess · 31/08/2013 19:06

I flew to America at 25 weeks and the airline said I was just inside the limits for flying home at 27 weeks as they don't allow long haul flights after 28 weeks! So just make sure you check before you go. I had to get a letter from my doctor to say that I was within the limits and in good health with no pregnancy complications!
Also had to get special insurance to cover me and baby incase anything happened. Xx

fishandmonkey · 31/08/2013 19:16

you're at greater risk of dvt when you're preggers so you must get up often and stretch/walk around. also dehydration - drink plenty of water (and sit near the loo!).
are you or dp british by birth? if so your baby will be british wherever she is born.
are you and dp travelling back together? in the US a child cannot leave the country with only one parent unless you have a letter from the absent parent giving permission (or something like that) so if you are not travelling back together you might want to check that out.

NatashaBee · 31/08/2013 19:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gruber · 31/08/2013 19:22

Um, check out southsearocks birth experience... She flew out to USA, ended up giving birth over there- not sure she would recommend it!

(Sorry on phone can't link!)

NatashaBee · 31/08/2013 19:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

beth27123 · 31/08/2013 19:24

Fish I'm not actually travelling with DP I'm going with my mum, we had looked at that but I was going to have DP on standby with a letter just incase.

We are both British citizens, this is my first (and probably last) trip to the USA, it was booked before I fell pregnant and we're basically going to lose over £1000 if I don't go. We can't name change or cancel the tickets.

The airline have said 34 weeks cut off after speaking to them and they know already I will be within 4 days of the limit. We have been told with a fit to fly letter there should be no issue.

OP posts:

willitbe · 31/08/2013 19:32

Perhaps you should read these threads:
waters broken at 28 weeks in America
and
part 2
and
the birth announcement

Where an mn'er ended up having her baby in America unplanned!

Like others I am surprised you can get a flight, and a doctor to agree to give you a fit to fly letter, let alone insurance for going trans-Atlantic at 33 weeks. Dependent on how long you will be there, you might need a fit to fly letter from an American doctor to return home, this will cost too.

DVT a real risk, and as previous poster has said, you will need to be careful regarding hydration and keeping mobile.

Hope that the trip goes well if you make it.

willitbe · 31/08/2013 19:34

crossed posts, the links I posted are for Southsearocks threads as others had mentioned!

solarbright · 31/08/2013 19:38

I imagine that if you do give birth over there, the paperwork will be a nightmare, and you'll end up spending over £1000 on accommodation waiting for it all to be sorted. And if you have pay-first-then-reimburse insurance... the bill could be crippling.

If you HAD to go, for work or whatever, that's one thing. But I wouldn't do it for a holiday.

Maybe your travel insurance will get you back some money on the holiday as you will have a valid medical reason not to fly?

AnythingNotEverything · 31/08/2013 19:43

I'm 33 weeks and couldn't imagine flying long haul right now. I have done it before so know what it's like.

Currently, I ache from boobs to knees, I get restless legs, I get braxton hicks which get worse when I need to wee, and I'm dehydrated, which makes both the braxton hicks and the weeing worse! I can't sit or stand for any decent period of time. I'm genuinely only comfortable lounging on the sofa or laid in bed.

I'm sorry if this sounds really negative, but I want to be honest with you! I'm having a good pregnancy, and wouldn't fly long haul right now.

Original poster

beth27123 · 31/08/2013 19:48

Thank you ladies,
Unfortunately its not a case of being able to cancel, we've been threatened with a £300 cancellation charge on top of what we had already paid for the tickets. There is no way I can afford this so it isn't possible just to cancel. There's no way even with insurance that I can stop this charge or get around it.

OP posts:

NatashaBee · 31/08/2013 20:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

beth27123 · 31/08/2013 20:09

Thanks Natasha

Is it likely I will have her early with the flight or is it just a precaution? I assumed if my midwife classed me as fit to fly I was unlikely to go into labour so early?

OP posts:

NatashaBee · 31/08/2013 20:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SmallBee · 31/08/2013 20:12

OP if the airline have said the cut off is 34 weeks, will you still be under that when you have to fly back? I haven't had any experience of long haul flights but I'm 34 weeks today & I'm not sure I could do it. But then again everyone has a different pregnancy experience!
Whatever you choose to do make sure you have very good travel insurance, read the small print & speak to the insurers to make sure you understand exactly what you are & aren't covered for. The last thing you want to happen is to get stuck with the cost of medical care in the States, from what I gather it isn't cheap!
Good luck & have a brilliant holiday if you choose to go.

(Just a thought, if you or the person who booked the holiday took out insurance before you found out you were pregnant is there any possibility that you could cancel the holiday & claim the costs back using that?)

FairPhyllis · 31/08/2013 20:17

You must must MUST have travel health insurance that covers things relating to pregnancy and childbirth up to a total of several million dollars. If you had a premature birth there it could bankrupt you.

Baby would be a US and British citizen and would have to leave the US on a US passport.

Kelly1814 · 31/08/2013 21:50

As someone who lives in a country like the US in that there is no NHS, I would really think twice about this. A 300 quid penalty for cancelling pales into insignificance when faced with private medical bills.

You are talking 1k Gbp PER DAY for NICU.

I am just 34 weeks, was admitted to hospital in premature labour this week. Am ok now but imagine if this was you in the states, without insurance, you just cannot predict these things.

Of course if you have fabulous travel insurance then it would cover it, although as others have said, you would have to pay in advance, so keep a credit card handy. Good luck.

enjolraslove · 31/08/2013 21:51

I have just returned from the states (flew at 32 and 34 weeks). I had a letter signed by my doctors (template downloaded from airline website) but it wasn't even asked for. Immigration asked me if I intended to have my baby in the stares- a very emphatic no seemed to convince them. Other than that and the good advice from others on here- drink lots, walk lots (at least once per hour in flight - no long sleeps!), and make sure you are covered insurance wise. It was absolutely fine. Long flights are never comfy and kat wasn't but really not a problem. Unless you are at real risk of early delivery (check with your doctor) I don't see the issue.

fishandmonkey · 01/09/2013 07:51

dual US/UK nationality isn't a problem. my dd was born in the states and has dual nationality.
i guess wrt hospital bills, check what your insurance will cover and find an ob/gyn (midwife or family dr) and a hospital (or birth centre) near to where you are staying that your insurance will cover you for just in case. ime a regular physician in the states will not treat a pregnant woman for anything so if you had any health problems whilst you were there, even if unrelated to the pregnancy, you would need to see an obstetrician.

dyslexicdespot · 01/09/2013 08:33

I would pay £1000 pounds never to give birth in the US. Please think long and hard before you go and get very good insurance!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 01/09/2013 08:45

I flew at 33 weeks with a fit to fly letter, and although deemed fit, it was bloody uncomfortable, make sure you get aisle seats!!

But seriously, you will need to make very sure your insurance covers you for all things related to childbirth, and if the baby arrives and needs help because they are premature, which they would be. I don't know that regular holiday insurance would cover this. You would be liable for thousands and thousands if not.

akuabadoll · 01/09/2013 15:00

You have it all in hand, with checking the airline regs (there is variation with this) for outgoing and return flights, correct documentation ('fit to flight' letter according to your airlines regs) and health insurance. There, in my opinion, is not much cause for concern, it's highly unlikely you will give birth while away, the example given here (I had a quick look) was of a very early delivery, well cared for and insurance paid. For what it's worth I have a dozen friends, non-American nationals, who give bith in the US without insurance problems or other issues.

I have just flown long-haul at 31 weeks and will need to fly again at 36 weeks (and yes, this is within the regs of the airline). It happens all the time for many reasons. Have a good time.

Flip