Would you travel abroad at 26weeks pregnant?

[Randomgenericusername]

Well, just that really - is 26 weeks too late in a pregnancy to travel for a 2 week holiday?

We have a family holiday booked and have decided for various reasons we would prefer to not delay trying for baby #2. However I would like opinions on travelling that late into gestation, as it's recommended to travel in the 2nd trimester if possible.

Of course I'm conscious we could decide to try and be unsuccessful, and I'd be beyond grateful if we are able to get pregnant again. I'm just curious to know if it's silly to try now, know we are holidaying in July and if I would struggle, or be putting myself or baby at risk.

Hypothetically speaking, would you want to get pregnant now knowing it would mean a holiday abroad at 26 weeks, if able to conceive when planned, or would you wait until closer to the holiday to try for 2nd baby?

So further details are:

• Would be 2nd pregnancy
• 5.5 hour flight each way (return is overnight)
• All inclusive holiday
• 2 weeks duration so (26 weeks outgoing, 28 return)
• Travelling with (would be) babies father, 2yr old toddler and 14yr step son.

Have you travelled at that point in gestation and would you recommend or avoid it?

I also discussed it with my GP who advised I'd need a fitness to travel letter of course but she also said she would recommend travelling no later than 2nd trimester.

Thank you

Just read this! No I would not travel to a country with 40 degrees C pregnant and I also wouldn’t want to rely on Egyptian health care. Can you change your destination?

I personally wouldn’t want to go somewhere with security personnel with guns posted along the road every x00 metres at any time, let alone with a toddler and pregnant. Sorry OP. I think travelling at that stage is fine but somewhere much safer.

Labour began exactly at 40 weeks, but one thing and another lead to an assisted delivery at 40+4.

I would go. You might not get pregnant immediately so chances are by July would be a bit earlier on in your pregnancy anyway. Worst case you will be 26-28 weeks pregnant which should be absolutely fine barring any complications - chill out by the pool and have naps in the afternoon. You could be 2nd trimester and in a good place for travel & a bit of energy!

I'd also give Egypt a miss just because of the unrelenting heat.

I wouldn't go anywhere where abortion is illegal.

Seriously.

God forbid there's some hideous issue and they'd rather see you both die than do what is necessary to save your life.

Would I have flown at that point? Yes.

Could I? No. I had placenta previa, where the placenta is too low. Over 90% move but until it does you're high risk and definitely can't fly. Mine did move but only at 30 weeks. Ironically I could have gotten a letter to be able to fly at 30 weeks but at 26 would have been an absolute no as I had 3 bleeds that week!

I would totally do it. I went to Malaysia at 30 weeks pregnant and this is my 3rd. Stayed there for 2.5 weeks and so glad I did it!!!

Yes I would (and I did) with all of my 3 pregnancies actually. It was fine!

It would depend on the country, but I wouldn't.
Not because of the flying itself being a risk but if you had complications/prem delivery you could potentially be stuck in a country away from home with your baby in a foreign nicu with the only way home being a many 1000 piund medical transport.
It's not LIKELY but it is much more likely when you are pregnant than a random health crisis/accident happening in normally circumstances.
If you do go I'd scrutinise your insurance and what it would cover (what about accommodation, extended hospital stay for you or a premature baby, transport home?) And investigate the quality of medical care available where you are going.

I did a 2 week holiday in Iceland when I was 24-26 weeks pregnant, including treks up waterfalls, 12-hour drives and all that jazz. Make sure you get good travel insurance and take it easy where you can, I wasn’t easily exhausted at that stage even though I was already huge - but bathroom breaks were an issue as felt like baby was sat right on my bladder that trip. Every time we spotted a petrol station I was like ‘yeeeeah we’re gonna have to pull over again, soz’

I personally wouldn't, but that's just because I've had 2 friends have very premature births in the last 2 years (25 and 27 weeks). Which I know is statically very odd that I know 2 people in such a short time, and overall it is very uncommon. But as I heard the full breadth of how traumatic and sudden it all was, its put the fear in me. I'm going away at 21 weeks which is my personal cut off. I've basically based it on travelling before viability outside of the womb

If your midwife and doctor say it’s okay then yes of course! I think I would travel abroad before 30 weeks if everything was going well for me. This time around I’m going abroad for 3 weeks after my 20 week scan so when I’m 20-23ish weeks. :)

Wouldn't bother me,

Yes but not 40 deg C!

And I would want to know i was somewhere I wouldn't be at risk (eg i wouldn't go to the US in case something went wrong)

Just seen destination and it's a no from me.

I wouldn't go anywhere I wasn't prepared to have baby cared for in neonatal unit. Egypt not a chance beyond viability 23/24 weeks. To be horribly blunt, baby wouldn't make it before that so doesn't matter where you are. I've known patients deliver unexpectedly at 24 weeks plus needing months of neonatal care abroad, a huge toll financially and emotionally.

So, you've booked a holiday in Egypt and you're TTC.
I think there are many variables here, not least what kind of pregnancy you'd have.

Definitely take the fit to fly letter with your confirmed due date on it. You can be asked at check in or on boarding for proof of due date - more likely if your looking very pregnant that day - as they have to be sure they are carrying passengers within the day was allowed to fly. I was asked at check in and they were pleased I had the proof required and let me check in as normal

Book the holiday, don't wait as there is every possibility that it may not happen straight away, as often takes a few months or more.

I planned my life around what if's for a while, and it actually took 2 years to conceive, it happened when least expected and I'd given up hope, currently almost 20 weeks.

Good luck, enjoy your trip

My friend had planned a holiday to Thailand before getting pregnant. Then she got pregnant without two months of trying and she decided to get through with her holiday. She was 27 weeks pregnant, if was a 2 weeks holiday, in a posh hotel with sanitized food. She was up to date with her vaccines, hadn't planned anything too wild and, most importantly, her booked a solid travel insurance. Holiday went fine but on her last day before returning home her waters broke and she gave birth. She then stayed for 3 months there while her baby was in NICU (good thing her husband was with her).
No one can know if traveling there had brought on premature labour, but one thing for sure is that if it had happened at home, she would have had her support system with her. I feel guilty because when she asked me if she would go on the holiday (by then she was 18 weeks pregnant, and no complication) I told her it was going to be fine, just takes it easy and make sure your health insurance is good.

No, I didn’t. But it depends entirely how you feel.

Congratulations.

I would consider it to somewhere like France or Spain, close countries with good healthcare systems. I absolutely would not go to Egypt that late.

I might consider it to a European country with good healthcare but probably not. Too much hassle if baby comes early. Plus going on holiday pregnant with child to take care of in 40C heat sounds hellish to me but appreciate people have different tolerances.

If you had complications before, your travel insurance might be interesting.

Also you need to ensure you have insurance for baby if you go into premature labour.