Would you take an overnight ferry?

[MrsS11]

Please tell me whether I'm being paranoid! We are booked on the Newcastle -Amsterdam ferry (14ish hours) and when we come back I'll be 24weeks. Would you go? I keep thinking, what if I noticed reduced movements and can't get to a hospital in time? I've asked dfds for their procedure in a medical emergency and they haven't gotten back to me yet.
In my last pregnancy my baby died and I gave birth at 20 weeks so knowing something is very unlikely to happen isn't particularly reassuring any more. (My pregnancy is still considered low risk) When I was pregnant with my daughter I went on a sailing holiday in Greece at 34 weeks so I am honestly not normally paranoid!

I wouldn't, but I had IVF, was very unwell following treatment and had a high risk pregnancy. It sounds like you'll be very anxious about it OP (as would I) so perhaps better to give it a miss?

I would and will be doing the same thing soon. But haven't had the awful experience you have x

If travel insurance, doctor and midwife said ok I would go.

I don't think I would.

Can you take a flight instead?

I'm so sorry for your previous loss, it makes the next pregnancy so fraught because you spend your whole time convinced the same will happen again.

In all honesty I don't know that at 24 weeks you would be able to feel enough (or even any movement depending on the placenta location) to be able to identify reduced movement and at that gestation in reality if something was going wrong there wouldn't be a lot a hospital could do.

@MrsS11 Is it a trip you need to go on?

Honestly, due to family history I was extremely paranoid during pregnancy and I know I couldn’t have enjoyed any trip away (I couldn’t travel anyway as it was during Covid) and would have just spent the time worrying. Can you reschedule for a good few months after baby is here and go with baby?

@MrsS11 And I’m so very sorry for your previous loss ❤️

I think only you can decide OP. If you are already stressed about it, is it worth the stress? And in your position I think it’s completely legitimate to feel that way.

Is there anything you can do to alleviate the stress? Private scan for reassurance? Extra midwife appointment to hear the heartbeat? I only suggest this as it’s something I did before I a holiday in my last pregnancy (following a loss) thinking that I’d rather find out bad news before I went then whilst I was away..,

I would go but I understand why you’d be anxious given your history. I very much doubt the ferry will invoke their emergency medical procedure for perceived reduced movements at 24 weeks so if it’s to e long ferry ride that’s worrying you most it may be best to give it a miss.

I’m sorry for your loss.

I haven’t been in your situation but I have experience of horrific anxiety and also ferries!

Personally I would just fly. Why on earth put yourself in that position if you don’t have to. Physically I’m sure you’d be fine. Mentally it sounds like you wouldn’t.

Oh op, I'm sorry for your loss. I am normally very much pro getting on with things, but with your previous experience, I'm not actually sure that I would. Could you fly? It's such a short flight.

Personally I wouldn't be leaving the country after 24 weeks. It's "viability" week, and my consultant advised me not to go abroad after this point, as they have had women who had their babies early and got stuck abroad for the first few months.

Obviously very unlikely for this to happen, but possible. Wouldn't be worth the stress for me. Though I would love one last baby free holiday!

I have done the Newcastle to Amsterdam overnight ferry but not while I was pregnant. I had horrendous motion sickness and basically spewed all the way to Amsterdam. Was a bit better coming back because I had anti sickness meds to take but still felt really sick.
If there is any chance this could happen to you, I would not risk it. I’m not even sure you can take the anti sickness meds if pregnant?
just a thought.

I went that exact crossing in my 2nd pregnancy around 22 and 24 weeks. It was fine but then I hadn’t gone through what you had in my first pregnancy x

Thanks for your replies, it's helpful to know either decision is justified! It's an extended family holiday that I do kind of need to go on so if I'm not on the ferry I'd be flying while my husband took the big kids and car which would obviously be a big faff. I'll have a talk to my midwife and insurance and see what they say. Good idea for extra reassurance checks @NotARealWookiie , thanks.

Was it a rough crossing? We're thinking of this trip but seasickness puts me off!