What would you do? Flying at Christmas

[Peanutbaby24]

Hi all

i am currently 27 weeks pregnant and looking for some advice and opinions around Christmas travel.

I live abroad away from my family who are all in the UK (I am British but live in another European country). I always go home for Christmas every year as it’s the only time I can catch up with everyone but this year I will be 33 weeks pregnant, 34 weeks coming back.

I know that the airlines let you fly until the 36th week so I would be within the guidelines. My midwife has said it’s OK and doesn’t see a problem at al, but my gynaecologist has advised against it. Not for any reason specific to my own pregnancy, which has so far been uncomplicated- just that they personally advise against any travel in the third trimester.

Getting such conflicting opinions from my two health professionals has really confused me, so I’m interested to know - what would you do? Would you still go anyway? I know I’ll need a form filled in and I will be able to get this sorted.

The flight is only 2.5 hours and I would be at home staying with my parents and close to an NHS hospital, so not like I’d be going to the middle of nowhere.

Interested in opinions!

Thank you, these are all really good points and given me a lot of food for thought

God I’d ignore the gynaecologist. They’re way out of step with normal advice. No travel after 28 weeks? Ridiculous.

Worst case scenario, you’d be a British woman, giving birth in a British hospital, surrounded by family.

And I had a premature baby btw so I do get that things don’t run to plan.

unbelievable

just unbelievable

the arrogance!

Thanks very much for your input!

As much as it would be easier to give birth in the country I live in, I have to admit being surrounded by my family if the worst was to happen and they did come early wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world as at least I’d have support

I don’t see any arrogance at all in her post?

“ignore the gynaecologist”

when your gynaecologist knows you, has examined you, has presumably decades of training and experience?

I wouldn't but I had a premature baby with an 8 week nicu stay.

each to their own 🤷‍♀️

And openly admits that it’s their personal view that they offer to everyone as standard…

They’re way out of step with normal advice. No travel after 28 weeks? Ridiculous

presented as personal view?

No worst case you deliver a 28 weeks in the air and have a big PPH. Very unlikely but that is the worst case.

Getting a fit to fly letter may be an issue if your doctor doesn’t agree.
I dont see a huge issue flying 2.5hrs if your otherwise low risk. People say you could haemorrhage so shouldn’t travel after 28weeks but you could do that at any gestation. It’s purely the flight that is the issue not being in the UK.

I’m driving 6hours up north for Christmas at
36+ weeks with baby #3, not the same as not stuck in a plane but I’m not against any travelling

Please remember at 33 weeks you're in your 34th week of pregnancy and at 34 weeks you're in your 35th week. Aer Lingus for example won't let you fly in week 36 or over, which would be anything past 35+1. Just double check your specific airline.

I flew at 23 and 26 weeks and it was really rough at 26 - uncomfortable and stressful. I also felt like I barely fit on the plane and getting out of the seat was awful. I wouldn’t do it. I also ended up in hospital abroad at 25 weeks which invalidated any fit to fly and if I hadn’t recovered before 27 weeks we would have had to contend with having baby abroad (albeit in DHs home country) and getting a passport before we could get back home. I look back at the time as I was stupid to risk it.

I would go. It's a short flight and UK medical care is good if anything was to go wrong (which it's highly unlikely to). All you'll be required to do is sit on the sofa and eat quality street.

I flew at 29 and 31 weeks with my first and was pretty relaxed about doing so, healthy pregnancy etc

The thing is, there's a risk with flying that whilst it's small, could lead to an emergency. I had pre-eclampsia with one of my children, which only came on in the third trimester and was undetected. This could have been really dangerous to fly with.

And then whacked with a bill in the thousands for giving birth here as living abroad means you're not entitled to free NHS care. Not worth the risk!