Seychelles hospitals - ok for a holiday at 21 weeks?

[Womble999]

I’m in the lovely position of being able to take a 2 week holiday in November. I’ll be 21 weeks. Mostly I want warmth (28-30 degrees hopefully), relaxation and lovely views plus places to go and see (I’m not good at just sitting). (Sorry if I’m making you jealous!)
We’ve been to the Seychelles before and loved it. I know it’s unlikely I’d need it, but does anyone know what the standard of hospitals is like in Seychelles? I’d feel happier going somewhere with good quality hospitals just in case... even though I know it’s not likely to be needed. Any insights on Seychelles medical quality???

If you do experience complications at 21 weeks, you need extremely high-tech care, of a kind that is only available in the bigger teaching hospitals in the biggest cities of developed countries. I don’t know Seychelles myself but I’d be astonished if they had that standard with such a small population. The most difficult circunstance would be a complication that meant you couldn’t fly and would need to stay until it was safe for a viable early premature delivery. In that case, of a micro-premature, you would need a really high-level NICU.

On that basis, personally I’d avoid Seychelles. Would you consider southern USA? Florida perhaps?

You also should be very sure you have excellent health insurance and have disclosed your pregnancy to your insurer. Be aware also that pregnancy hugely increases your risk of blood clots to the legs (DVT) so take lots of precautions when on long haul flights.

For our baby moon we flew to the Canaries in the hope that should anything happen we would get European standard of care.
In terms of Florida, isn't there still a bit of Zika about?

Having said that, has your pregnancy been healthy so far?

I think it would be fine to go assuming you are low risk. I doubt the hospitals will be great there but don’t think you would need a nicu (sorry if this sounds harsh but a baby wouldn’t survive being born at 21 weeks).
I would probably choose somewhere closer to home (but my pregnancy is high risk so everything scares me!) just in case you want to go in and get monitored/ need to be transferred home if you are unwell.

@Womble999 the Seychelles are lovely indeed. I went for my honeymoon. I've chosen to go to Dubai though at around 24 -25 weeks. The flight isn't as long and the hospitals there are quite good.

I personally would give the Seychelles a miss- although, that's being very very cautious. At 21 weeks not much can be done in the worst case event anyway - so as long as there is no Zika, it should all be fine. Also, if all has been good so far and you're low risk, it's really unlikely the worst will happen.

Depends on the complication, but in most cases you probably would need to ensure your insurance covers the air ambulance cost to the UAE/ Egypt / Kenya where the specialist maternity hospitals are. You are probably better off in the Maldives as the air ambulance can get you to some of the best maternity hospitals in the world within 30mins (India).

The biggest thing is whereever you go, make sure you have really good travel insurance which covers your pregnancy (and any associated costs).

Thanks all, really helpful thoughts. So far I’ve no issues but it was IVF and I’m 42 so not considered totally low risk.
I’ll check out some alternative destinations I think just in case... Canaries, Dubai, Florida are all great ideas.

We went to the Maldives at that point (also an ivf pregnancy). Put bluntly, if things go very wrong at that stage no hospital is going to be able to do much.

I don't know specifically about Seychelles but I don't think I would worry too much at 21 weeks. Just check the zika risk there.

I've chosen Dubai when I'm 16 weeks. Most insurances cover for pregnancy and many don't need you to tell them in advance as they don't class it as a pre existing condition. Mine doesn't anyway.

I also like Florida. And just to confirm there's no zika there anymore. I was there in May just before IVF.

I'm no obstetrician but I imagine there's a range of 'things going wrong' that don't involve going into labour at 21 weeks. I'm sure they can be handled well or not well depending on the hospital and doctors available.

I love the heat normally but at 20weeks + I genuinely felt like I was dying in just the uk summer heat recently. Became very ill on hot days and would end up in bed, curtains closed, ice packs and fans on. If you haven’t been pregnant in summer before and know how you handle it perhaps something to consider, or make sure there are places with air con to escape too