Ok to fly at 29/30 weeks?

[Starryalex]

Planning a week away in Portugal over Easter when I’ll be 29 weeks flying over and 30 coming back. Will get a fit to fly letter from GP and make sure we have good travel insurance. I’m assuming I should be fine to fly at that stage?

You have to check with your Airline. Each one has slightly different rules.

I’d love to know this too! Considering flying between 8-12 weeks

On the insurance front, getting insurance for you is straightforward (most include it as standard as pregnancy isn’t an “illness” that you need to declare) but check what date they cover you until. They will usually cover you for complications that aren’t already aware of and for early labour if that happened.

What they don’t cover is the baby if they were to be born abroad prematurely and that can be weeks or months in hospital. Two pregnancies and I have never found a policy that did and remember you and the baby are not the same person and once born they aren’t covered by a policy that is taken out only in your name.

It’s Europe so make sure you have a GHIC for you, not just insurance, and the agreements between GHIC / EHIC countries do minimise a lot of the risk. But be aware that even though the agreement on which the GHIC is based means that if you were to have a premature baby abroad they’d be treated in the same way and for the same cost (if any) but the big gaps, even with both insurance and GHIC, are the costs of getting a premature baby repatriated home and the costs of an extended stay of potentially weeks or months whilst a premie is in hospital.

Personally I did my holidays before viability for that reason.

@Getching99 thanks so much for your reply, really helpful. Have insurance sorted both for me and if baby did arrive prematurely so can relax on that front. Feeling good at the moment so hopefully will be still the same at Easter.

Why would you even risk this?

Yes, it's completely fine. I've flown around 30 weeks in my first pregnancy and I'll be doing it again in a few weeks, plus a toddler!

I got the fit to fly letter but nobody asked for it.

Of course you'll be fine then, many people don't even realize they're pregnant at that point.

OP -Personally I wouldn't risk it at 30+weeks but my view is skewed because I had ds at 32 weeks.

My baby arrived unexpectedly at 28 weeks. Will your travel insurance cover your medical bills for premature birth in europe?

@Getching99what does viability mean? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Baby could potentially survive out of the womb. Usually considered to be 24 weeks, but even 22/23 weekers are surviving these days in some cases.

Shouldn’t be an issue. Most airlines will let you fly up to around 36 weeks but do check!

Yes you can but it is not always comfortable! And you might benefit from compression socks just to reduce risk of DVT. I ended up with oedma in my feet and ankles flying at 30 weeks although I did have a huge bump due to polyhydramnios

@WallaceinAnderland hi, yes we have insurance all sorted. Wouldn’t be going otherwise!

Are you sure it covers baby not just premature birth? Because no insurance I have ever found does. Who is it with?

@Getching99 its with Aviva. Yes covers me, premature birth and baby once it’s born. Husband has tripled checked!

Everyone is different and no one can tell you the right thing. Some people are asking "why would you risk this" and another poster has mentioned their baby came at 32 weeks.

For balance.. I flew at 35 weeks in my last pregnancy. I didn't even get asked for a fit to fly certificate. I flew to my home country to visit my family at 34 weeks and I would have been prepared to have the baby there etc., but I flew back to my country of residence at 35 weeks, baby came at 41 weeks. There are risks, but it's up to you to work out what's best for you.

There’s nothing in Aviva’s policy wording that would suggest extended care on a neonatal unit for a premature baby born to an insured person would be covered. Taking care of the baby during / immediately post birth is one thing and is essentially part and parcel of your coverage but unless you have in writing specifically that they will cover extended neonatal care for the baby (and support your staying with them if you have been discharged) I would be very skeptical that what your husband has been told means what you think it does - not trying to be awkward but it’s a sector I know well!

@Getching99 thanks, I appreciate you sharing the info. He specifically got it confirmed that extended care on a neonatal unit would be covered but will get him to double check again.

@Getching99 he’s just off the phone again and yes if baby arrived prematurely it’s definitely covered for extended neonatal cover!

Hi @Starryalex, im going to be flying 28-30 weeks pregnant and I tried so hard to get cover for premature birth but I couldnt find a single insurer? I tried for weeks? Now im relying on my EHIC card to cover me and baby when born, but my original travel insurance said "cover in unexpected events" and they did say if claim accepted, they would cover baby care too, but were very careful to word it as a loop hole if that makes sense

So my advice, get an EHIC card and any emergencies go to nearest state hospital not private as thats only where EHIC is valid.

But could you send a link to aviva premature birth coverage please? As i was desperate

@Notmycuppatea its with aviva but through a HSBC bank account so don’t think I can send a direct link. It covers if I have any pregnancy complications and also covers the newborn child as standard once it’s born.

Is your husband talking to HSBC or Aviva directly? I agree with PP that this doesn’t sound right and I would want written confirmation.

@Fullofthejoysofspring yes we have it in writing

There is the problem of the passport if the baby is born early. I know if someone whose baby was born early in Greece and they had terrible trouble getting the baby home. This was pre Brexit too. Might be worth looking into it

@Musicaltheatremum thanks! We all have EU passports but will have a look into it!