India at 28 weeks experience

[Newhere1993]

Hello

My partner and I are off to a friend's wedding in India for 10 days when I'll be about 27/8 weeks pregnant I just wondered if anyone's done this or similar themselves.

Also for those who have travelled to places that require travel vaccines I think I'm just looking for reassurance as felt completely fine until I went to my vaccine appointment and starting to feel guilty (even though midwives, Dr's ect have all said I'm safe to go)

Thanks in advance!

No experience but I would be super careful about the food and water while you're there

I think you should be especially careful of what you eat and drink. Contaminated water and food can cause problems. Also, I would find out in advance what are good clinics and hospitals in the area just in case.

I'm not sure where in India you're going but I would avoid any street food. That being said, I actually got ill from hotel food - but we found that if we stayed veggie, we were fine - so that'd be my recommendation. Bottled water. Peel fruit, etc.

Like PP says I’d be careful with what you eat and drink.

Have you discussed travelling to a Zika country whilst pregnant? https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/105/india#Other_Risks

Not sure how much of a risk Zika is anymore but India is on the list (the website above is linked from the NHS website)

I gave birth spontaneously at 30 weeks so it would be a no from me.

Make sure you have health insurance that would cover you AND the baby in case of premature birth. Pre-term births do happen.

That's quite late to travel to a country where almost everyone i know gets a bad stomach. That's quite dangerous when you're pregnant. Even bottled water can be counterfeit and still make you ill.

I flew 12 hours plus another 4 hours when I was 24 weeks pregnant and that was OK but uncomfortable.

We were supposed to go on another holiday at 28 weeks but we cancelled as I was too uncomfortable to fly/stand in the standard 2 hour passport queue in Miami Airport.

Yes, be very careful of the water, even if bottled. My sister contracted typhoid from counterfeit bottled water in Africa.

Have good travel insurance in place. I wouldn't want to travel that late in pregnancy. Don't eat any street food. There is a lot to be wary of as other people have already pointed out.

Take a life straw bottle to refilter even your bottled water, stick to veggie food and at the wedding, I would choose the fresh food rather than that food that may be sitting out.

Take anti bac to wipe any glass bottles etc you may drink - i use milton wipes. Use handwash. India great for veggie food as a huge population so would really recommend.

Hygiene isn’t to UK standards but if visiting mumbai or goa- you’ll be fine.

Have fun and enjoy. The times i’ve been that i’ve caught a tummy bug typically tends to be day 8/9 and you’ll be returning by then

I was still travelling at 28 weeks, but I’d been very wary about going to India. It’s just one of these places where it is very easy to get an upset stomach with food/drinks. I travelled a lot in this region. I always had food poisoning at some point, I thought I can avoid it by being very careful with what I eat and drink, but no. Honestly, I wouldn’t risk it.

PP have mentioned the food - it’s going to be really rough whether it’s street or five-star because of the poor food quality standards (oil, milk, flour, veggies are heavily laced with toxic adulterants such as iodine, fertiliser, pesticides/insectides). Healthcare if you run into complications is stupidly inaccessible. I’m third gen Indian and my experience there was awful when I came down with malaria - limited English-speaking medicos, horrific hospital hygiene, hospital and other service providers constantly looking to fleece the “rich” foreign tourist.

I’d seriously reconsider.

I'm the only person in the history of the world to have gone to India and ended up constipated.

It was awful.

Even if you stay somewhere remote, the jostling in any queue (Mumbai airport made me want to cry) would have me really really put off going there whilst pregnant.

As a PP said, the Zika levels out there can be quite bad depending on region.

Oh gosh - the jostling on the plane (as soon as it lands) and airports and eateries! Definitely nightmarish

If you do go, don't eat meat, fish or salad. Just veggies, rice or bread.
I've been there several times and wouldn't go in late pregnancy.

I've been twice while pregnant (for work) and had no issues - if you are being shown around by locals who can advise you on where to eat and buy drinks etc, and staying in a nice hotel where you can eat and get bottled water, I wouldn't be too worried. The biggest challenge I faced was the heat - 45 degrees in Delhi in May!

I wouldn’t risk it. Not only for the hygiene standards/food risks but also the lack of decent care in hospitals. It’s just not worth the risk

I've travelled to India off and on for years and wouldn't risk it in your situation. I have always had gastro problems (painfully and unpleasant) there and now the BBC are reporting doctors strikes which might spread nationally.

If you have to go, I would make it a week maximum and stay at a 5 star hotel. As others have said, get excellent health insurance and research nearby hospitals.

I wouldn't go because of the possibility of giving birth prematurely then having to have your preterm baby cared for there for an unknown amount of time (/ money: check your insurance very carefully), followed by a potentially complicated repatriation. Yes of course it's a low chance, but the potential is there and I simply wouldn't risk it.

A friend was recently just in to being 7 months pregnant, took a short haul flight to Italy and went into labour. They're convinced it was because of the air travel/cabin pressure.

I wouldn't go if I were you.

We're from there, I went back to see family at 25 weeks, the flight was long and uncomfortable for me personally (SPD, big 2nd baby bump) and I was very careful with food/hand hygiene etc.

I'd suggest maybe skipping it unless you're a really close friend and you absolutely have to do it.

Also depending on where you're going it's been 40c where my family are.

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had the s for at least a day in any part of India

I really would not do this. I went to Germany at 25 weeks pregnant and just the slow queue for security nearly finished me off after a few days walking around. I definitely wouldn't chance India.

Mumbai and Goa are no different to other places in India unless they are very rural. Food poisoning can happen the first time you eat something or not at all. We have lived there for long periods of time in different places and have very rarely been ill. As long as water bottles are properly sealed and bought from shops they will be fine.

It's pretty high risk. I don't think i'd be comfortable going