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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Holiday before birth

54 replies

Steoh1 · 21/03/2022 17:14

Hi,

We're expecting our first in early July but are keen to have a final holiday before the new one arrives.

We were thinking mid May, which would mean my wife is a couple of weeks earlier than the cut off period for the airlines (I've worked it out properly, but off the top of my head I think she'll be around 34 weeks).

Is this a good idea? Also are there any considerations that we need to factor in?

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ShadowPuppets · 22/03/2022 16:58

As far as I'm aware OP it wouldn't cover it. Just have a lovely UK break and make sure to take her hospital bag! Go somewhere with an indoor pool.

I'm 32 weeks and even though I went over with my first DC I wouldn't want to be flying now. My cut off for travelling far from home is 35 weeks - after that I'm staying within an hour or so of home. Can't imagine how horribly stressful it would be to go into labour hours from my hospital.

PingPages · 22/03/2022 17:03

This may be helpful www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/going-abroad-for-treatment/giving-birth-outside-the-uk/

Heartofglass12345 · 22/03/2022 17:04

I wouldn't, but I gave birth at 30+4 when I was holiday in Cornwall from South Wales so I'm a bit biased

AdriannaP · 23/03/2022 08:53

It might be fine, on the other hand she might not be. She might not be able to sleep well, be uncomfortable on the flight, risk clots and a premature birth. Seems a high risk to me for a holiday! Personally for me it wouldn’t be worth it. Go earlier or stay in England. Next year you can take the baby abroad.

EvelynBeatrice · 16/04/2022 15:29

Given that so many maternity units in the U.K. are now officially sub-standard, perhaps a delivery abroad in a more patient centred environment wouldn’t be the worse thing to happen!

ivfbabymomma1 · 16/04/2022 15:32

I went at 27 weeks, I got a note from my doctor to say I was safe to fly. I didn't get asked for it on the way there (Spain) but I got asked for it on the way back so worth getting one however I also wouldn't risk going at 34 weeks

Regenbogen22 · 16/04/2022 16:14

Hi @ivfbabymomma1 can I ask which airline you flew with? I wasn't aware any airlines asked for a note at 27 weeks.

Heronwatcher · 16/04/2022 16:26

No way would I do this. I personally know of 3 people who had their babies before 34 weeks abroad and in each case it was a nightmare. One was in intensive care in the Canary Islands for 3 months and then had to be brought back on a ventilator in a military plane. The other was in Mauritius and had to stay in hospital for 2 months with the baby- in the meantime her toddler had to be brought home and she didn’t see him for 6 weeks. It’s not just the money but if a baby is born at that gestation it can be pretty scary and in some places hospital facilities are not the same and obviously there will be a language barrier. It’s one of those situations, if you used a risk matrix, where the risk of it happening is low, but the severity if it does happen is very high. Can you consider a really nice hotel in the UK (with a nice indoor pool) or by the beach instead?

ivfbabymomma1 · 16/04/2022 17:09

@Regenbogen22 it was Ryanair! The doctor did say it wasn't necessary but gave me one anyway because I was anxious and then on the way back they did ask to see it, I don't know what would have happened if I said I didn't have one, probably nothing but yeah the lady at checkout asked to see it in Spain.

ivfbabymomma1 · 16/04/2022 17:10

@Regenbogen22 probably worth noting i was huge! She probably though I was a lot further on that I actually was lol

Coco9910 · 16/04/2022 17:22

I’m flying with Ryanair next week at 26 weeks pregnant, flying back 27 weeks pregnant and don’t have a fit to fly letter..I think I’m just going to take a copy of my MatB1 form with my due date on it as proof.

Regenbogen22 · 16/04/2022 17:38

@ivfbabymomma1 thanks so much, I'm flying soon with Ryanair at 26 weeks, might get a note anyway.

ivfbabymomma1 · 16/04/2022 17:47

@Regenbogen22 yeah it's worth having just to save some hassle if it comes to it ☺️

ivfbabymomma1 · 16/04/2022 17:48

@Coco9910 yeah that's probably absolutely fine! Like I said I was huggeeeee so they probably thought I was due any time lol

babyboybluewithnumbertwox · 16/04/2022 17:48

I flew at 26 weeks pregnant to Portugal and didn't get a fit to fly letter, they barely looked at my passport let alone asked for any documents. Flew home at 28 weeks and that was my cut off Only a 3 and bit hour flight but I was pretty uncomfortable on the way back!

NoBabyMoon · 16/04/2022 17:55

I have NC for this!

I was supposed to go abroad earlier this week at 32 weeks. I really struggled to find travel insurance that would cover me for ‘standard’ premature birth as most of them either only cover up to 28 weeks or for some of them it’s 8 weeks before the due date, so the start of the 32nd week. I did eventually find a company that would cover me up to 33 weeks, but that was the latest. Based on that I think you’d find it very difficult to get travel insurance which would make it an automatic no from me. Midwives were a bit of a mixed bag, one of them told me that they had hospitals were I was going (European city break) so to go and have a lovely time and another one implied that both the airline and I were being irresponsible

I also didn’t actually get to go anywhere as I had a bit of bleeding at the airport the morning I was due to fly. The baby was absolutely fine (cervical polyp so actually not really related to pregnancy) but obviously I was told to go to the nearest hospital and they wanted to keep me in for 24 hours. I’ve no idea whether we’ll be able to claim it back on our travel insurance, hopefully we will.

So I really wouldn’t if I were you. I’m sure it’s fine for lots of people, but I have been put off forever! Could you go on a nice break in the UK instead?

makingabebe · 16/04/2022 18:06

I'm 23+5 and currently in Lanzarote, due to fly back to the UK this Tuesday when I'll be 24 weeks. I have a fit to fly letter (I didn't ask for it, my hospital just sent me one when I said I was going on holiday, but it's nice to have it just in case). We were originally considering going abroad when I would be 27 or 28 weeks but then decided going earlier would be better and were lucky enough to be able to book leave quite suddenly and just go. I've not even got that much of a bump yet but have found it a bit uncomfortable in the heat, hotel bed is also quite hard! I'm very glad we came here as it's so nice to be somewhere with blazing sunshine at 6pm, and to properly relax with DH, but have heard so many stories of baby coming early/unexpectedly that I wouldn't want to be far from my hospital/face any language barriers after 28 weeks.

Namechange466 · 16/04/2022 23:33

No way

At that stage I found it tricky getting the train to work - just felt so big and heavy. Can’t even lie on your back so not sure how your wife would even sunbathe

But as pp said I know soo many people who have given birth before 35 weeks so it just doesn’t seem to be worth the risk

even if you can get insurance, you could be out there for months

is a baby moon worth it? If you really want to go abroad go somewhere over the weekend in April

Or do a staycation - nice spa or something

Original poster

Steoh1 · 19/05/2022 22:31

Well it looks like the best advice was to not go! My wife was admitted to hospital at 32 weeks with severe pre eclampsia and they performed an emergency c section.

All is fine now, but not sure I’d want to go through that experience away from home!

OP posts:

sundayweatherwatch · 19/05/2022 22:34

Derbee · 21/03/2022 17:18

Only you can decide your level of risk. There will be lots of people along to tell you about how they had their babies at 34 weeks. It would be too high risk for me personally

Only just starting to read the thread but I was about to say that exact thing 😂 had mine at 34 weeks when I was due to be abroad (but decided not to go). Waters broke the night of the event I was meant to be at.

sundayweatherwatch · 19/05/2022 22:35

@Steoh1 hope she's okay and congrats for the impending arrival

Original poster

Steoh1 · 19/05/2022 22:38

sundayweatherwatch · 19/05/2022 22:35

@Steoh1 hope she's okay and congrats for the impending arrival

Thanks. Yes she’s on the mend now, but has kidney and liver damage,

our baby will be in neo natal for approx 5 weeks but he’s doing great so far,

I’d never even heard of pre eclampsia until a week ago, but it’s pretty scary!

OP posts:

Heartofglass12345 · 19/05/2022 22:54

Congratulations!
I posted in March saying I went into labour unexpectedly with my 1st at 30+4 when I was away in Cornwall. I'm so glad you didn't go, you never know what can happen!
I hope your wife and baby are doing well and the baby is home with you soon, my son spent 5.5 weeks in hospital in the end so was home by (what would have been) 36 weeks and my youngest was born at 33 weeks and spent 16 days in neonatal. They are 9&6 years old now.
These babies are strong little things!

Regenbogen22 · 20/05/2022 03:51

@Steoh1 good that you were at home then!

Was she at risk of preeclampsia or being treated preventatively for it?

Original poster

Steoh1 · 20/05/2022 07:34

Regenbogen22 · 20/05/2022 03:51

@Steoh1 good that you were at home then!

Was she at risk of preeclampsia or being treated preventatively for it?

Thanks. She had shown some of the symptoms (small baby and swelling in legs) but they hadn’t diagnosed it at that point

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