Holiday to Spain at 32 weeks pregnant

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Do you think I can do this? Planning a holiday for august but not sure if I will be able to at 32 weeks which is what I will be then x

You need to check the airline policy, they won't all be the same.

Agree, check with the airline. You will likely need a fit to fly certificate from your midwife before leaving the UK, BUT, you might also need another to be able to fly back again.

Check your insurance (or get some!) and whether you might need to pay for such a check yourself once abroad.  Especially with brexit, your previous EHIR card needs replacing with a GHIC card, but I doubt it would cover pregnancy issues at such an advanced stage of pregnancy.

I'm fully insured by the most expensive Bupa policy so that won't be a problem but just wondering if it's wise generally regardless of fit to fly etc... I'm in 2 minds!

Have you actually checked with BUPA about this, including how many weeks you will be?

Yep fine up to 36 weeks, plus most airlines say up to 36 I'm just worried it might be a risk to fly past around 30 weeks.... I don't know anyone who has flown anywhere near 36....

You will be fine as long as you have full insurance. I went to the states on holiday at 34 weeks....the worst bit was the long flight (althlugh the stewards were fab at keeping me hydrated etc).

Have a great time.

With Covid I think this is nuts! What if you can’t get back/ have to isolate??

You’ll be fine, take a letter for the airline just in case. Most airlines are fine until after 36 weeks. I took my last child-free trip to spain at 35 weeks. I was quite big and on one part of the journey did get asked for a doctor’s letter proving due date.

FYI....when I asked the Doctor then midwife about providing me with a fit to fly letter they said there was no such thing. There was just your notes with no worries in them.

Sorry....yes should add you need a PG with no risks and no complications I believe.

Thank you for the advice. Yes I don't know much about how I would feel flying in late pregnancy as I didn't fly past 20 weeks with my first as he was a December baby and we only really tend to go on holiday in the summer. Though have heard of people doing baby moons etc and they look quite pregnant in the pictures so was wondering what an acceptable time to fly up until was... yes covid definitely a risk, really hoping it won't still be such a problem by august but we said that last year...

Why? Why are you planning a holiday abroad in August when you have absolutely no idea whether you will be permitted to travel, what the situation will be in the country you plan to travel to, whether you will need to quarantine either or both ends? And you’ll be in the late stages of pregnancy as well!

I live in Spain and our PM has said we won’t be opening up to tourists until after summer, so do please check the cancellation policy first!

I understand some people like to go on holiday before the baby but at such a late stage and during a pandemic seems an unnecessary risk for a bit of sun.

I wouldn’t personally, but if I was lower risk I might feel different. You’re into a time there where they could deliver you in an emergency, and I would prefer to be within reach of a hospital where I could speak the language, they can get my notes, and I know they have a system for 24hour access to triage if you were concerned for any reason. Those things might be available where you are going but I would check that out first, and bear in mind that if you did have to deliver early out there you could be stuck out there for some time!

I don’t mean to sound totally paranoid, just saying how I personally would feel and I know it’s likely you’d be fine and need no help while there. The lack of certainty about covid would put me off too. We have a holiday booked for mid/late autumn in Spain, it’s been booked since before covid but I am not at all sure it will happen.

I probably wouldn’t in a “normal” year. Certainly wouldn’t atm. Just too many unknowns.

Honestly, there is no way I would be travelling abroad in the third trimester with covid around. We have seen some incredibly sick pregnant women with it - needing early c-sections, to go onto intensive care and even more invasive forms of treatment (especially this wave). I would be staying put!

I flew at 35 weeks. It was horrible, I swole up and thought I’d burst! I was asked numerous times for confirmation I was fit to fly, I had a letter confirming I was fit for up to a 2 hour flight. The pilot got cabin crew to make sure I knew the airline would not accept me on a return journey. I was really huge tho. Baby came early at 35 +6. I wouldn’t recommend flying this late, I was moving home and it was the fastest way to get there and probably safer than long car trip.

I am not normally risk averse but I just wouldn’t. A friend lost her baby at 25 weeks on a foreign trip, after giving birth prematurely, no family was able to join her in the hospital. Best insurance cover too, that was not an issue. It is a very unlikely to happen of course, but I would be think about this very carefully.

I wouldn't just now. I flew at that stage with my first and didn't like it i felt very anxious and swollen and that wasn't in a pandemic.

I assume you won't be vaccinated, so that might cause an issue too.

I wouldn't want to factor in possible quarantine/isolation into your dates either.

I flew at around 32/34 weeks with my first, but that was a trip to the UK (we live overseas) I went knowing I would be ok if I had to deliver in the UK or if there was any kind of emergency and I had to stay there.

It was a 7 hour flight and it was bloody uncomfortable to be honest.

Totally different situation, but we ended up in hospital in Spain with my 2 year old a few years later, after he had an asthma attack. I speak Spanish but if I didn't, it would be have been even more overwhelming and scary. We were in quite a rural village and none of the staff spoke any English (although I will say that the care we received was brilliant)

I flew up to 34 weeks but only between Ireland and the UK for work, monthly. Pre covid. Had a letter from my GP just incase.

You can fly then as long as the doctors say you are fit too. Please bear in mind your pregnancy might cause medical problems at a later date and you may not be allowed to fly so your insurance may not pay out. You also need too check your insurance covers premature birth as otherwise if you did go into early labour you may well end up with a huge medical bill. Also add to that with COVID around you need too factor that in.

Have you been too Spain before in august? It’s horrifically hot. My sister lives there and was 7 months pregnant when I met her in Spain in august. The heat was unbearable for her and she is very used to Spanish summers.

I just don't know if it's worth it tbh, there are so many factors involved. If it was me and I had to go to hospital in Spain for any reason I'd be petrified if I couldn't understand a word. What about a UK break instead? Last year it was so warm it felt like Spain half the time anyway so hopefully the same happens this year!

I am absolutely not a MN covid catastrophist but no. Portugal is currently on the enforced hotel quarantine list due to the Brazilian variant. The Spanish / Portuguese border is theoretically closed but in reality is pretty porous. If the Brazilian variant becomes established in Spain then Spain will be added to the quarantine list and this could happen at very short notice. I certainly wouldn't go to the mainland.