Holiday at 35wks?

[Rabbiting0n]

Hi All,

The in-laws have arranged a large family holiday in the Canary Islands for next spring as part of a celebration for a milestone birthday. The holiday was arranged back in July and the in-laws are paying for accommodation for everyone - we only have to pay flights and expenses.

Now I've found that I'm pregnant and I would be flying at 35 wks (which I can do without a medical certificate because of the airline we are travelling with). My husband wants us to still go. He feels guilty about pulling out and says it'll be an opportunity for me to relax as his family will be able to look after our three year old.

I think the idea is hideous. I don't want to get too hot. I don't want a 5 hour flight (I'm not a good flyer) and I'm concerned because I have epilepsy (which is well-managed) and had a series of seizures at 8 months in with DC1 because of the strain on my body. I'll probably be fine, but I feel like it's not worth taking the risk, and that we should just cancel our flights and tell the in-laws we can't go. They have DH's siblings going, too, so it's not like his mum and dad will be left on their own without us, but I know they will be completely gutted if we don't go; especially because they love to spend time with our DC.

What do you guys think? Would you just go on the holiday or would you cancel? It's a villa holiday, so they wouldn't need to change their booking at all if we didn't go; they'd just have an empty bedroom.

Thanks :-)

I personally wouldn't, two reasons.

1. I am currently 37 weeks pregnant and sitting on a plane and then being in a hot country sound like my idea of hell.

2. you may go into labour and then be stuck in another country with a tiny newborn and a large medical bill.

However, if you can get travel insurance to insure you in case of that eventuality it's up to you really!

Honestly if ur not comfortable with it, don't go. You'll probably be fine, but I don't think I would like to be that far from home at such a time. That's just me, I'm a worrier tho. Lol

With your medical history you may struggle to get insurance and I wouldn't risk going without.

I'd say no because of the risk of early labour no insurer will touch you with a barge pole. Can you afford any medical.bills? I flew to south africa at 24weeks and it was awful. Any further along I'd have given up half way and refused to go home. Or shoved some idiot out of their comfy 1st class seat haha

Will you be able to get travel insurance?

That late in pregnancy, with a complication, and I think you might find you're uninsurable.

And I'm surprised a reputable airline will carry a heavily pg woman without some sort of doctor's letter (confirming number of weeks at the very minimum).

How late do the airline allow you to fly? Would you be well within the limit on the return flight? Would everyone be more pissed off if you had to cancel a week beforehand? If you have any complications you may not be covered by insurance unless your GP agrees you can go even though the airline will fly you.

No, I wouldn't, and I had a straightforward pregnancy. I definitely wouldn't in your situation given your history.

Are you sure you'll be 35 weeks? May sound stupid but I've just found out I'm pregnant, due mid July (eg 40 weeks mid July) so I'm struggling with how you can be 5 weeks less far along but still due the same month..?

Maybe I'm being dim.

Have you got insurance that covers your pregnancy AND the baby if born out there? Most insurance only covers the pregnancy and not the baby, and I don't think many cover up to 35 weeks.
Are you exactly 35 weeks when you return? Keep in mind the scan might move your dates. You need insurance for how pregnant you are on the flight back.
I personally wouldn't go that late but I had DC1 at 36 weeks so I'm biased!

I'm facing a similar dilemma but travelling at 33 weeks. I've decided it's just too risky - I really wanted to go but I'll have other chances. I've got a high risk pregnancy and read too many stories of complications and premature births while travelling.

No no no. I assume this is your first pregnancy. You won't physically feel up to traveling, you won't get much-needed travel insurance, you don't want to have a baby out there. You realise full term is 37 weeks right? You might get scanned now and find you're further along, then have to cancel anyway.

How did you find an airline that will let you fly at 35 weeks?!
I flew back from a holiday at 33+6, my insurance would have covered me any further on. It wasn't the most fun holiday, felt like a whale and found it hard to run around after two other DCs. Also needed a fit to fly letter from my GP.

Oh sorry I somehow skipped a paragraph of the OP. You have DC and have had a high risk pregnancy before, and yet you are still contemplating. I despair.

I wouldn't. If you are really worried about family reactions then tell them your gp has said you can't risk going. It's not worth the risk or stress. My ils would be the same but I'm at the point now where I feel more confident in being a bit more selfish and not bowing to family pressure.

I'm surprised the airline won't require a letter to let you fly. Most require one after 28 weeks and have a total ban around the 36-37 week mark. As another poster has mentioned, insurance is also likely to be a problem.

I happily travelled in the second tri but that late with epilepsy? No way. Also, my baby was a week old by the time I should have been 35 weeks pregnant...

I think it would be crazy. Could you even get insurance? What are the hospitals like out there should you give birth? It's not worth the risk and I think it would be irresponsible given all the risks.

Your gut feeling is no. Your gut tells you stuff for a reason.

DH has to back you up here, not cajole you.

quadlibet the op doesn't say what month she is due...

Just that she will be 35 weeks when they go. So assuming due August?

But if she was due in August she wouldn't be pregnant yet. If she is 4 weeks pregnant today, I.e only just found out as early as possible then that would make her due mid July

Sorry I was trying to agree with quads point and realise she's read the op wrong. The holiday was booked in July rather than is in July. So I imagine it's in an earlier month

I wouldn't want to go. But you can always suggest seeing how you feel later down the line and then cancel.

Just a question about insurance - wouldn't the OP be covered by an E111 in Spain? I'm not saying that she should go if it's the case, I'm just wondering as I live outside of the EU so not sure how things work anymore.

I would check to see if medical staff are happy for you to travel at that stage and if you can get proper travel insurance cover.
You may have an out that way. I flew for a short 1 hr domestic flight when 34 weeks pregnant with dc1 and was very uncomfortable even though I had a very easy pregnancy.

No don't go

I would however still send your dh With 3 year old. As he said family will help with them so they can all go still, dh and 3 year old will stay in that room, and you can have a week home to rest and catch up on stuff alone before another baby ( haircuts/ dentist/ extra sleep/ buying any bits)

Sorry; I've been confusing. The holiday is May 2016, but was booked in July this year, so the in-laws will be very disappointed if we don't go. Norwegian Air will allow a pregnant woman to fly up to 36 weeks without a medical certificate. I have no idea about insurance. I am fairly certain I wouldn't get approval from a doctor for any other airline, because of my epilepsy and the seizures I had at 36 weeks with my first pregnancy.

I certainly don't want to go. I would not want to give birth abroad or risk complications, and I think I'd be generally uncomfortable and fed up. It is my DH who wants us to go. TBH, I'm a little put out that he seems more concerned about upsetting his parents than the health of the baby/myself. I wasn't sure if I'm being unreasonable, because I am a bit of a pessimistic worrier in general. It sounds like perhaps my thoughts on the matter are quite normal.