Travelling advice please

[thepurgebegins]

Bear with me as This is stressing me out and my mother and sisters aren't helping as they keep saying don't go. Me and my husband had plans to go back home to Pakistan . His whole family lives there in Faisalabad and I absolutely love going there. I booked my time off work for around 4 weeks with plans to go for about 3 and a half weeks in February as weather in Jan isn't the best. When I go.. if I go itll be from 28 weeks to 31 weeks max. My mum said you'll end up giving birth there it's too risky etc. I'm literally going to be relaxing there and doing nothing. If i need to go anywhere it will be car rides so its not bumpy. My son hasn't seen his grandparents yet and yes we can go later with both kids but when he told his mum today we don't think we can come she got so upset which is unlike her a she normally just agrees with us. She had plans to do a baby shower ( something she probably won't get to do again) pamper me and see my son bless her! She's the sweetest soul ever and normally goes with the flow. Medically if I need checking at all our doctor is amazing there. We can't move it to january as we've applied for husbands british passport so probably get it mid jan. I'm low risk and with my 1st was over due. Yes every pregnancy is different. I personally feel coming back before the 32 weeks mark is okay.. anything over is cutting it close. The flight there is long but that's something I've done in pregnancy before and you just make sure to take walks and there is a stop over. I just need advice whether I'm being unreasonable. My husbands happy to go but he doesnt know too much about this stuff. Sorry for the rant and If i sound angry. I promise I'm a nice person haha 😊

If it was me I wouldn't go ... that's just me. Plenty of people still travel xx

I'd go!
I'm also planning a weeks holiday to NYC when I'm 28/29 weeks.
Will make sure I get a fit to fly note, and enjoy myself!

@Dullblue1234 aww that sounds amazing. Thing is I'm only 20 weeks and I'm already uncomfortable so going there will give a me a break at that time as toddler will literally be taken over by family. And you get food on standby 😂

This sounds fab to me!

If I took best case scenario - you'll have a relaxing time and your son will be well looked after giving you a bit of a break.

The flight can be uncomfortable at that point (tho they always are..!) but not enough it would put me off..

So worst case - you develop an issue when you're there. Do you feel okay with the local hospital and care facilities? Do you have travel insurance?

Personally I'd go if I felt like I'd be in safe hands if something was needed while I was there.

I am due to go on a cruise for a week when I'm 22 weeks and had a brief wobble about 24 hrs while we're at sea but I've been told so long as I get a letter confirming I'm safe to travel my travel insurance would cover it

I'd definitely go, I travelled long haul late in pregnancy too and no issues. Just make sure there is a decent hospital nearby that can support premature babies for the worst case scenario and that conceptually you're fine if you have to stay for an extended period but it's highly unlikely you'll go into labour or need to give birth at 31 weeks if all is well when you leave at 28 weeks. If something were to happen you'll be with family so it's probably fine, and I'm sure some of the hospitals are better than the current NHS!

Presuming your current son wasn't very early, I'd still go. You aren't going to some backwater with no facilities, and you are going to people you know and who know the place and the culture if you do need medical care. You say your doctor is great there, how do you pay for that care? That would be my only concern, but I presume you have thought about that. Gently, could it be that your mother and sisters cannot cope with their own anxiety, and also think they wouldn't cope if something was going wrong and THEY couldn't be the ones to help?

@Harriet1989 I feel the same and yes I am comfortable with the hospital. You just need to make sure you go to a private hospital rather than a government one but I will be purchasing travel insurance beforehand if we do go fingers crossed. Especially because we have a little one. I'd be cared for so much by family alone. Thankyou

@bandicoot99 oh trust me at times me and my husband wish we were in pakistan because what you wait a month for here can be sorted within a day or 2 there. Yes you pay for it but it's peanuts and you get cared for properly. Congratulations to you x I will definitely make sure there's a good hospital close by

@stichguru we've never had to get travel insurance before. When we need anything we just purchase it. For some antibiotics it's like 50p but I would get insurance before we go this time. We'd probably still pay for minor stuff if needed but anything major happens we have it there. My mum does care about me but she also has always been jealous and has an issue with my husbands parents for no reason so thats more the reason she doesn't want me to go ( shes admitted) which I find silly! My sister in law went on holiday at around 25 weeks in her pregnancy and was uncomfortable but she didn't look after herself and became weak. I take my vitamins go gym etc throughout so feel abit stronger and healthier

A lot of cruise lines won't let you travel with them from your 24th week of pregnancy. I know you say 22 weeks but if you're on board for anything past 23+1 you're technically in your 24th week of pregnancy (rather than 24+1), it catches a lot of people out so be careful you don't get refused boarding.

Thank you.. this does have me a bit worried as I get back on the day I turn 23 weeks..

You are technically 23+1 on the day you disembark then, meaning you're in your 24th week of pregnancy. Who are you cruising with?

I've just double checked my dates and I turn 23 weeks the day after we get back but that's based on LMP so technically could be adjusted at 12 week scan. I'm travelling with Princess Cruises. Thank you for this btw as now I'm actually properly looking at it where before I thought I was definitely a week breathing space! (But also panicking as my dad booked this as a 70th celebration..)

Ah ok, you might be ok then if your dates don't get adjusted! P&O specifically mention you can't be 23+1 at any point but they also do free cancellation as long as you booked before pregnancy so Princess might have something similar if needed.

I almost got caught out with it so thought I'd warn :)

Thank you SO MUCH. Honestly this has been so helpful as now speaking to travel insurance and at least now I know so can be proactive. Worst case would be turning up to board thinking I'd be okay and being turned away. Sorry @thepurgebegins for slightly hijacking!

@Harriet1989 @FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant don't be silly if my post helped you get some information it is my pleasure xx I hope it's sorted and enjoy your cruise

If i were you, i wouldn't go, for the simplest reason, i'd take zero risk with pregnancy, long flight, sitting for hours, cabin air, virus, food, frequent travel to bathroom plus a kid to take care of. Sorry if i scared you but i think your families will have plenty of time to visit and bound With the kids. Yes it would be nice to be pampered. But i would be nicer to be home SAFE. Sorry if that s not what you wanted to hear. I agree with ur mum in sis.

@Heartypandaa It doesn't scare me dont worry mainly because I have to do most of those things on a day to day basis and have got a virus whilst being in the UK and food poisoning. No country is safe but it's safer there than here at times. Thanks 🤦🏻‍♀️