Travel to the USA at 36 weeks

[Bantria]

One of my best friends is getting married at the end of September and is living in the States. She has invited me to her wedding and if I wasn't pg I would definitely be going. I thought the decision would be made for me beacuse the airline wouldn't take me at 36 weeks but, oddly, the airline in question allows travel as long as you're not in labour This is my first pg and, even if all goes well, I can't imagine that I'll find it easy to travel at 36 weeks but it would be really helpful to have some comments either way so that I can pass them on to her if (or more likely when) I make my excuses. Thanks!

I think its impossible to know how you will be feeling by 36 weeks-you might be skipping about! However I was huge and found it uncomfortable to be driven for more than a couple of hours and couldn't have imagined getting on a plane by this stage.

I would think it unlikely you would feel like it so I wouldn't want to agree to go and then let her down/lose my money.

I'm very surprised that the airline would let you fly at that stage, very few do.
I wouldn't, not in a million, especially not to the US. You would need extensive insurance as regular travel insurance is unlikely to cover the cost of a birth in a US hospital, which would run to tens of thousands of dollars, as far as I know.

Then you have the much higher risk of DVT, blood pressure problems, god knows what else, not to mention just being totally uncomfortable on the flight, and exhausted after it.

Sorry, thats a bit pessimistic, but thats my feeling on it!

The airline might take you, but would you get travel insurance? That was the biggest issue for me - there is no way that I would risk no insurance in the USA - some friends of mine had a $500,000 bill for their delivery of their daughter (she was sick at first and needed to be in NICU - she's fine now ).

www.flighthealth.org/pregnancy.htm

The risk of DVT is greatly increased in pregnant women apparently.

I personally wouldn't fly at 36wks. I'd need a pee during take off or something! I would imagine getting medical insurance when so pregnant might be tricky too especially for America.

God I wouldn't. I'm 37 weeks pregnant and have massive ankles (need to stretch them out as often as possible and do rotation exercises - not easy on a plane), hideous back pain, hip pain, SPD and need to pee every 20 minutes.

Imagine all that and being stuck on a plane?

I type way too slow!

Have you also thought about the logistics if you do have the baby in the US? The baby would then be a US citizen, wouldn't it? So you'd need to get a US passport to bring the baby back to the UK. That would be an awful lot of hassle when you have just given birth and are up all night with a newborn, and even if you could fast-track everything I bet it would keep you over there for a few weeks.

I'd heard all the airlines would want a doctor's letter after 28 weeks (some said 32 weeks).

Most travel insurance policies will not cover beyond 28 weeks. You'd need special insurance, as has already been said, and it won't be cheap, if you can get it all!

My brother is getting married when I am 32 weeks (would be 33 on flying back), and because I'm classed as 'high risk' the consultant has already said I can't go. With the SPD being bad already at 23 weeks, I cannot even fathom subjecting myself to a long haul flight, or any flight for that matter.

Even if it was an uncomplicated pregnancy, I would definitely NOT go at 36 weeks. You're practically full term and could drop at any time! An expensive American hospital is the last place you'd want to be.

Make your excuses, I already have even though I'm pretty sad about it.

Hmmmm...Presuming you are not a US citizen, I would be VERY surprised if you were let through immigration control at 36 weeks pregnant even if the airline lets you travel. As any baby born in the US is automatically a US citizen they are very strict about letting people into the country who could possibly give birth during the duration of their tourist visa.

And I agree with all of the above regarding travel insurance etc.

I'm 36 weeks at the moment and tbh - I really really wouldn't!

First of all, babies are classed as full term at the end of 36 weeks - they don't all wait until 40 weeks to put in an appearance, as two of my NCT ladies have discovered this week (at 36+5 and 37+2)

Even people who feel relatively good at this stage are in my experience knackered, uncomfortable, you'll prob have heartburn, very disturbed sleep, achey back and all over, swollen limbs etc etc.

The most I would do at this stage in terms of travelling/socialising would be to be driven up to two hours (by DH) to a friends for a day, or possibly go away with DH for the weekend somewhere within about 2 hours drive.

There is no way I would fly anywhere, let alone long distance, and with a tiring occasion like a wedding at the end of it!

Do you want to take the risk of baby coming early in the US (or on the plane) at 36 weeks? And as some people mentioned, if you are not insured in US, giving birth there could cost you $15,000 to $20,000 at a minimum (my sister lives there and has given birth to 2 children there) - that's assuming uncomplicated delivery - and then you won't be able to return home to UK for a while. Not to mention how uncomfortable it will be (am 36 weeks now and couldn't stand the thought of getting on a plane now for 8 hours - find it hard to sit in a seat for even one hour straight at the moment). Would not even do 2-hour car trip at this stage (one hour max) as back and ribs get too painful from sitting in car that long...

Thank you so much everyone for your responses. I hadn't thought of not getting through immigration or of what happens in terms of getting baby back if he/she arrives early. I had wondered about insurance though. So thank you because I'm now convinced it's an absolutely crazy idea rather than just an optimistic plan.

The problem is not the long haul flight but what would happen if you gave birth.

We got married in Las Vegas and SIL was unable to fly there as she couldnt get travel insurance.

Most travel insurance allows you to fly up to 36 weeks, but unfortunately not if you are going to America. The cut off point for America seemed to be only 32 weeks and she would have been 32 weeks the day before she flew home.

If your willing to fly without insurance then you can risk it. However, my niece arrived shortly after we got back - 6 and a half weeks early!!

We were told that SIL could have a private policy underwritten for her but the quote was around £500. (This was in 2005) You might be able to get cheaper or employ a brooker to find something for you.

You have to decide if you are willing to risk flying without insurance to one of the countries with most expensive medical care.

I'm 36 weeks and I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than sit in a crammed plane seat for 9 hours.

Hopefully when you get to this stage, you will be more comfortable, but I wouldn't bet on it.

I'm 34 weeks and I have to say I'd go if I could fly business or first or something with a bed.

However, you presumably don't want to have the baby in the US and would need to do the return journey shortly afterwards, so I'd say no, it's not do-able.