Wedding abroad at 34 weeks?

[CBB2021]

Very dear friend is getting married in Spain, and it has been postponed from this year due to you know what.

I have just found out I’m pregnant and if all goes well I will be 34 weeks by then.

Is it realistic to think I will be able to go? My first pregnancy with DD was low risk but I guess it depends if this one will be too? Any experiences/thoughts welcome xx

It's not recommended that you fly in the third trimester but I'm sure lots of people will tell you they flew at 34 weeks.

Does your travel insurance cover your pregnancy?

I wouldn’t but it will depend on the airline and insurance.

They do say your second baby can come quicker than the first (not always) and 34 weeks is pretty far into the third trimester.

Personally I wouldn't do it x

I flew at 32 weeks ( low risk first preg) it was only to Jersey- an hour flight I think. On the way back the airline attendant said I needed a GP note to fly home ( I'm not sure that's the case?) I was like " shall I just wait here 8 weeks to deliver then?!"

I personally wouldn't have flown much further abroad or at a later gestation because
a) I would just have found it uncomfortable wedged in a plane seat with a bigger bump for longer than an hour or so and

b) because I'm a worrier and I just wouldn't want anything to go awry with the bump, further away from home. Especially as covid is still around and pg makes you more vulnerable to infection.

That's my feelings on it. On a practical side, just make sure you've got the right health/travel insurance. I haven't been away since Brexit but I think it's just worth double checking your pregnancy is covered in the t&cs.

Like I said I'm a worrier! If you decide to go have a lovely time.

The airplane companies wouldnt allow i think....

Unlikely you'd be allowed/insured.

Thanks for all your replies.

Most airlines will take you up to 36 weeks but I would need a fit to fly letter from GP/doctor.

Insurance may be tricky so that may be the stumbling block in any event.

I just feel so awful missing it when it’s for such a close friend, and of course I really want to be there.

There was a poster here who had her baby early on holiday in Italy, she might post on this thread.

I wouldn't, because although the chances of it happening are low, the stress if it does is high.
If you do go make sure you have good insurance or hospital bills could be very high.
Do you know how much hassle it is to get a first passport for a baby born abroad to get home even if all goes well from a medical perspective?

Does your friend live in Spain?
Actually getting married in Spain is complicated for non residents (many people just have a blessing and party after an actual ceremony in the UK so if that's the case you might be able to attend the ceremony).

If they do live abroad could you visit earlier in your pregnancy? If they don't live abroad could you organise some special celebration together with the newlyweds?

I’d had 2 easy and straightforward pregnancies and then my 3rd made a very spontaneous and sudden arrival at 34 weeks and then was very poorly and spent 3 weeks in NICU, the thought of that happening abroad is pretty scary. If I was to have anymore I wouldn’t leave the country in the 3rd trimester

I'll be travelling to an abroad wedding and i'll be 26 weeks, i wouldn't want to travel past 30 weeks.

There are insurance companies out there that insure you up to quite late on

When do you need to decide?

Also perhaps need to consider what you’d do if you had any pre eclampsia symptoms or reduced movements whilst abroad

Most people can’t legally marry in Spain - unless you’re resident or meet very limited criteria - so most Spanish weddings are blessings and the legal part is done here. You could maybe go to the legal bit instead?

But no; I’m 30 weeks now and low risk, and mostly feel fine… but I’d be too worried about the immense stress caused if I gave birth abroad.

If you did go into labour at 34weeks you'd likely need to stay in hospital for several weeks as your baby would be premature. I'd hate that and logistically a nightmare.
Not to mention the fact that I was utterly exhausted and in a lot of back pain at 34weeks. I wouldn't even want to travel more than an hour by car let alone lugging myself through an airport and taxis.
Also you may be low risk now but may not be by 34weeks. Many pregnancy complications can present later.

I’ve just gone on holiday at 34 weeks and flown home at just shy of 36 weeks and it was lovely, but I was just lazing around/sitting down whenever I needed to when we went places. I don’t think I’d really have managed to enjoy any part of a wedding, especially not on a very hot day. I’d consider going for a very close friend, but it would depend a bit on the specifics.

So the legal bit was done here in the summer, with just close family, so unfortunately that bit is all done. This is the celebration for it.

I am worried about things like monitoring for reduced movements or something like that. I would hate to be abroad and something like that happen.

I’ve got a weird feeling it might be twins (I don’t know why but they do run in the family) so that may rule me out anyway!

@MiddleParking where did you go? And who did you fly with?

I decided not to go to a wedding abroad as I'd be 35 weeks on the day. Good job I'd made that call as baby arrived unexpectedly the night of the wedding!

My pregnancy is straightforward/low risk and I am 35 weeks tomorrow. There is no way I would be up for travelling and/or a full day socialising/wearing something that isn't leggings.

It might be worth considering how you will be feeling as well, especially if you have a child to look after on top of things xx

Omg @my8thMNusername! Definitely the right decision!

I remember feeling pretty good last time at that stage but I didn’t have a toddler to run around after 🤣

I actually live in Spain and recently looked into private insurance to cover pregnancy and birth. As I was already pregnant they wouldn't cover the actual birth and told me it would cost around 5000€ if I actually wanted to give birth at the private hospital in the area (a separate experience with my father who wasn't a resident at the time suggests that a national health service hospital would charge a similar amount if you're not paying social security here). That would be a straight forward birth with no complications at all. So that's worth bearing in mind as and unexpected birth could end up being very expensive if you aren't insured.

I will always advise against it, as had my 1st in Italy at 28-+1 while on holiday/wedding completely normal pregnancy up till that point even had a fit to fly note. 8 weeks in an Italian nicu was not fun, not to mention an air ambulance home and the dick heads of travel insurance to contend with or the home office trying to get a passport
Stay here and take ur friend out for a lovely meal instead or a wee spa day

[quote CBB2021]@MiddleParking where did you go? And who did you fly with?[/quote]
Spain, Ryanair. They scrutinised my fit to fly letter VERY closely on the way home!

If it is twins then absolutely not - most twins come early

Even if it isn't I wouldn't - are you double jabbed - not a risk I personally would want to take for what is effectively a party since the wedding legalities have already taken place

In normal times I wouldn't take the risk. In covid travel times, I definitely wouldn't.