Travel at 34-35 weeks

[chickacharlchic]

Hi all

My DH booked a trip for my 30th birthday to Italy for 3 nights before we knew that we were pregnant. It’s coming up towards the end of Feb when I will be 34.5 weeks pregnant with the return flight at 35 weeks on the dot.

Should we go? I really want to but I’m not sure if it’s just a little too risky this late on, even if GP/midwife signs me off.

Anyone have experience of going on a baby moon or anything this late on?

I went to Venice for 4 days just after new year at 32 weeks and it was fine. Check your insurance and flight but most are happy for you to fly up to 35 weeks, especially short haul like Italy. Also make sure you have EHIC etc and know where the decent hospitals are just in case, then enjoy!

First and foremost check what your health insurance /credit card insurance etc will cover. Then make sure you are healthy to travel. If both are good, enjoy the break x

Christ no. If I had followed your plan my baby would be Italian!

I would go but would organise specialist pregnancy travel insurance. Most travel insurance covers you when pregnant, but not the cost of a normal delivery or the costs of any care the baby may need

No way.
I had a straight forward pregnancy but went into labour at 34 weeks and dd was born a few hours later. She was then in special care for a couple of weeks. It was very stressful and I couldn’t imagine being in a different country with a premature baby.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be comfortable with this. Being signed fit to travel by a doctor isn’t almost meaningless - there is no reliable way to predict labour, let alone premature labour. I wouldn’t be able to relax at all thinking of the “what if”s.

Even if you and the baby were as well as could be after an unexpected early delivery, you’d still have immense hassle trying to get home - imagine trying to get a birth certificate, get it translated, get a baby passport issued, etc. Let alone dealing with a medical emergency in a foreign country. You’d want gold-plated travel insurance and you’d need to get very explicit confirmation from them of your pregnancy, delivery, neonatal coverage.

If you already have insurance, check if pregnancy (that began after the policy was taken out) is enough to trigger cancellation cover.

You need to be very careful with your travel insurance. Do not travel without it. I travelled around the same time (live abroad and came home for a celebration). I'm pretty sure it was bupa who did insurance up to 36 weeks but double check.
Care is all consultant led here so I had a VERY thorough examination before she would sign me as fit to fly. I was also measured for DVT stockings but stupidly didnt go out of my way to purchase them. I was fine but suffered cramps after my long haul flight and freaked out for days after that it was a DVT. Please get thr stockings, it's not worth the risk.

I personally wouldn't risk it - my son was born at 35 weeks despite a scan just a few days beforehand showing no issues. Things can change very quickly!