Long haul flight at 30 weeks?

[NewHere789]

Hi, looking for advice.

My husband and I are considering a trip to South Africa to see close family before our first baby is born. For the dates we’re looking at, I’d be flying out at 30 weeks and back at 32. I have no idea how I’ll be feeling around that time. It’s an 11h flight.

Would you fly this far at these dates? Have you done it yourself and what was your experience? An alternative could be more like 25 weeks though the dates are trickier. Would 25w be significantly better/wiser than 30w?

I think I could probably handle the flight discomfort (maybe I’m naive?) and would take all the DVT precautions obviously. But my main concern is about possible early delivery and the challenges of getting home again if it happened. Though 30-32 weeks would be very early!

The big pluses are obviously a special family time (another family member who lives there is also pregnant so it would be the last chance to see her for a long time too) and a really good sunny break before parenthood begins…

Thoughts and experiences please - thanks in advance!

Honestly 30-32 weeks is not ideal. Some airlines won't allow it and you may struggle to get insured. 25 weeks is probably much more manageable.

I think you need to think through the worst case scenarios - would you be happy to have your baby there if they came early, can you afford medical care of the standard you would want, and would you be OK with staying there until you got a passport organized to take them home?

I would have been really uncomfortable travelling long haul at 30 weeks pg. what about going after the baby is born? When they're small, they don't need much stuff, esp if you're breastfeeding, and they're quite portable and easy to travel with til they start moving around 😊

As a midwife I would definitely recommend 25 weeks over 30. Some airlines won't actually want you to fly at all around 32-34 weeks so you'd need to check individual rules. If you do go, wear compression socks and make sure to walk about every hour or so. Plus drink lots of water☺️ and make sure you have comprehensive insurance that would cover you and baby if anything were to happen. After 28 weeks you would need a fit to fly letter but 25 you'd be fine to just go.

As pp says, the airline and your travel insurers will probably make the decision for you. Also, you will need a certificate from your midwife. Technically, 36 weeks should be the cut off point, but in recent years it seems to be getting more difficult to get all the necessary things in place.

Is it even possible? I flew at 24 weeks and believed 28wk was the cut off?

im currently 33 weeks and cannot wait for this baby to get out. Other women I know who are at this stage are regularly needing hospital checks. I really wouldn’t feel up to flying long haul.

I'm 25 weeks and don't think I could do it now! I am flying shorthaul with a toddler at 33w and dreading it 😂

Don't do it.

I flew to Japan (so admittedly a longer flight) at 22 weeks, back at 24. I had quite a neat bump but was really uncomfortable on the way back - there’s just not space in an economy seat!

So I wouldn’t consider going any later unless you can go business.

But I agree with PP that going with a pre-crawling baby could be good. The easiest flight I’ve done since DD was born was when she was about 5 months.

I did 4.5hrs at 28wks. It was hell, so uncomfortable.

I wouldn’t personally. I needed to wee constantly at that point, but that might have just been me.

Also you don’t know what midwife appointments you might have - e.g. if you need extra monitoring/scans etc, not ideal to miss them.

I did my last long haul around 24 weeks and that was late enough. No way I could get the tray table down so had to hold my drink and food.

After 28 weeks most airlines require a fit to fly letter, so if you have any complications you might not be able to go later anyway.

I couldn’t do it comfortably at that point in economy. It would have it be business. We considered it with my first, my Dr would write the letter but said that at 30 weeks your baby has a very good chance of survival if they receive prompt medical care. If you had it mid flight they may not. That scared me enough and we moved it forward a bit. Didn’t end up going at all though due to covid.

I wouldn’t have wanted to. We did a trip to wales about 34 weeks and even that worried me a bit incase she came early!
make sure your travel insurance would cover you if you have them early as I’ve seen people end up with huge bills!

No way

I’m going against the crowd here… I traveled throughout my pregnancy… including USA-Italy at 32-33 weeks. It was fine! I was very tired on the way home but no regrets. Was the last time I saw my husband before I gave birth (he was deployed). I had an uncomplicated pregnancy though and was very active throughout.

Oh and almost all airlines are fine with travel up to 36 weeks. I got a doctors note just in case though.

I fly a lot , long haul, and I can't imagine anything worse. Unless maybe you can afford Business or First Class, no way. 11 hours crammed into a regular seat with people on either side, would be hellish. Even at 25 weeks I wouldn't do it.

That would have been my idea of hell at that point. Anything requiring sitting around really.

I flew Hong Kong to London at 34 weeks and I was fine. That was 16 years ago.

I’m 30+3 and I’m back to peeing more, my boobs are sore, I’ve had horrible round ligament pain in and around my belly button (feels like a big stitch) over the past day or so and my legs get fidgety and irritated most nights. No way would I want to be travelling long haul right now. I’d definitely do 25wks if you can.

Check if your travel insurance will allow it. Mine won’t cover anything pregnancy related within 8 weeks of due date. Whist that is technically 32 weeks you’d be very close to it. It’s be cutting it very fine and could leave you with big bills if you have any complications or premature Labour while you’re away.