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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Planning a holiday at 7 months pregnant - am I mad?

35 replies

Kyuri · 01/03/2010 20:44

Hello

I'm new to mumsnet, and new to the concept of being a mum having recently found out that I'm pregnant for the first time (yay!).

In parallel, husband and I are planning our summer holiday in France, and convenience/cost is pointing to dates which would have us away during my 30th and 31st week of pregnancy.

Having never been pregnant before, I have no idea if this is just crazy talk, or if a holiday at this stage of pregnancy would be a viable option. I know that some airlines may have some restrictions on travel but what I'm really missing is the experience of knowing how hot/tired/grumpy/uncomfortable I might be and whether being away in lovely France would be a welcome distraction or in fact make it worse!

Any advice from lovely ladies who have gone through pregnancy before would be much appreciated!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Blomkvist · 01/03/2010 20:54

Hmm, it's a very personal thing I think. I went to New York when I was just 4 months pregnant and I whinged for a lot of it. Not being able to drink wine with everybody, feet getting sore walking around, not being able to drink wine - you get the drift.

I suppose it will depend on whether you enjoy being pregnant and do that blooming thing, or if it makes you grumpy and tired (like me). By 30 weeks I had swollen feet, sausage fingers and SPD so I would have hated being away from home.

Blomkvist · 01/03/2010 20:54

Oh, and don't listen to me. I'm grumpy. Congratulations!

EldonAve · 01/03/2010 20:55

most regular travel insurance doesn't cover you past 26/28 weeks

Sidge · 01/03/2010 20:58

Congratulations on your pregnancy

I think as long as you plan properly, a holiday at that stage of pregnancy is fine.

In the height of summer you will probably want air conditioning or fans, and comfy accommodation (no camping!).

Limit car trips (I would fly if able, hours in a car at that stage is no fun) and make sure you have good insurance and carry your notes with you, preferably with a French/English medical dictionary!

Shame you won't be able to enjoy the wine and pate but I'm sure a relaxing week in the sun would be lovely.

Sidge · 01/03/2010 21:00

I had no problem getting insurance up to 32 weeks by the way.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 01/03/2010 21:04

DH and I went to Turkey for a week when I was 7m with DS1.

It was lovely and I had no problem at all, although an airport man sidled up to me on the way back and asked me on the quiet if I was pregnant and would I follow him to the desk please.
So I did while everyone stared at me and he looked at my passport then that was it, I had to get back in the queue and board as normal.

The locals were very touchy feely indeed and all felt the need to man-handle my bump and insist on 'feeling' whiich sex it was.

seimum · 01/03/2010 21:05

Kyuri

Difficult to say, as you don't know yet how you'll get on with your pregnancy. Also depends a lot on what you like doing on holiday. I would say at 30 weeks that serious sightseeing is out, but a relaxing break somewhere not too hot & with a pool might be just the thing.

During my first pregnancy I went flotilla sailing off Corsica at 25/26 weeks and that was fine.

I then went on a short break to northern France when I was approx 35 weeks weith DD2 - to pick up DD1 who was on holiday there with Granny. That was OK too , except for the return journey on the Seacat when both I and DD1 were horribly seasick.

So:

think hard about how you will get there/back
don't plan anything ambitious
enjoy it

(And the French health service is very good, should you need it - remember your EHIC card)

HeadFairy · 01/03/2010 21:06

I would say go... I went skiing when I was 15 weeks with ds and went to the south of france when I was 35 weeks pg... we drove because I couldn't fly any more, and apart from being really hot in the car drive, I had no problems at all. It's really worth enjoying a holiday while you don't have babies or children with you, because you won't be able to lie around on a sun lounger on holiday for a good many years to come!

Congratulations by the way

cinnamongreyhound · 01/03/2010 21:07

I am planning a holiday when I will be 27 weeks as otherwise I won't have a holiday this year (needs to be in school holidays). This will be in England and I am looking forward to it.

I was fine first time around, worked until 38 weeks and didn't feel exceptionally tired.

The trouble is you can't leave it until you know how your pregnancy is progressing. I was told at booking appointment that all airlines require a letter from midwife after 28 weeks. Can you not travel by eurostar?

I think it depends what you are planning too, if there will be a variety of choices for you while you're there so you can just relax if that's what you feel like then I think you'll be fine. Also depends how much you like your home comforts too!!

whomovedmychocolate · 01/03/2010 21:07

Go by ferry - I went at 31 weeks - was fab. Vomited all the way naturallement on the ferry but aside from that it was great. Works out fine, you are completely knackered, but lots of cafes to sit and rest at. Ice cream quite good too.

Original poster

Kyuri · 01/03/2010 21:10

V useful feedback thanks everyone. We are planning to stay in an apartment and don't plan on doing much more than relaxing and reading lots of books so hopefully that would be OK....

OP posts:

MumNWLondon · 01/03/2010 21:14

Should be fine, although don't plan anything very strenous - at that stage relaxing holiday is best...airlines require letter from 28 weeks, so might be safer to go by eurostar / ferry? Should be able to find insurance until 32/34 weeks but might need to shop around - less of a problem in the EU though as medical is covered anyway.

jenduff · 01/03/2010 21:17

I would say go and enjoy your last few weeks just as a couple but don't expect too much of yourself.

If you go by car / ferry you can always come back if you're not feeling great

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 01/03/2010 21:20

Check how many weeks you will be on your journey home as some airlines refuse to carry heavily pregnant women. You may also need to take a note from your GP stating that you are fit to fly. Having said that I went on holiday to the south of France in 2008 to go white water rafting at 6 months and had a great time! Good luck!

Sarahlou8 · 01/03/2010 21:54

Hi, I posted something similar a couple of weeks back, I'm going to Rhodes in July/August, I'll be 29 weeks on the return journey. We booked the holiday before I was pg and was shocked when I worked the weeks out as I'm not due till October! Thought I had loads of time!

I had some lovely replies though, and have decided there's no way we're not going, so I'm going to take it very easy and enjoy what will probably be our last relaxing break for a long time!

I'm sure you'll be fine in France, its a short journey and not too hot when you get there. Enjoy yourself!

Murtette · 01/03/2010 22:42

We went to France last year when I was 34 weeks pregnant and then moved house the week I got back! I wasn't covered by insurance but I had an EHIC card and was having a straightforward pregnancy. I did take all of my antenatal notes with me and I had checked where the hospitals were in case I needed them.
We found that I couldn't fly or go on the ferry at that stage. We got the Channel Tunnel but I think Eurostar is also OK.
You'll notice French rules about what you can and can't eat are different to English ones. In one restaurant they brought me a plate of pate (when I thought I'd ordered something entirely different) but wouldn't bring me a glass of wine!
It was lovely having a holiday at that stage as we knew that that really was the last holiday of just being us.

hololilo · 17/03/2010 14:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SkaterGrrrrl · 17/03/2010 14:53

Welcome Kyuri!

Just plan ahead wisely. If its your first child, enjoy that last alone holiday with your partner or husband!

(Im 16 weeks and am flying to Australia soon - that's 25 hours in the air )

doggiesayswoof · 17/03/2010 15:01

It's a very individual thing.

I went to Italy when I was about 25 weeks and it was great. We walked loads and I had tons of energy. (I wouldn't have been so keen on all the walking if it had been much later.)

For me the real tiredness didn't kick in until the last 6 weeks or so.

Agree with the others, good planning is the key!

MrsJohnDeere · 17/03/2010 15:14

I went on holiday when 7 months pg with ds1. It was lovely. It was the last holiday with dh as a couple and was really relaxing. Far, far better than holidays since with the dcs. We did a bit of sightseeing, and lots of eating out at nice restuarants, and just lying around reading.

allibaba · 17/03/2010 15:31

Kyuri - Myself and DH went on a 4 day trip to Paris when I was 28 weeks. We had an amazing time, ate loads of beautiful French pastries!

The only problem as the amount of walking we did (as in fairness we did go over board on the sight seeing) was that I got the worst cramp I have ever had!

As a lot of other people have said, it completely depends on how you feel at the time and what you think you can manage. As long as you don't over do it it could be a really relaxing time for you to spend with your DH / DP before your lives change forever...

themacsmum · 17/03/2010 19:15

Hi Kyuri

Had a great holiday at EuroDisney at half term when I was 30 weeks. It was great to have a last special holiday with DS (now 4) before baby sister arrives. We just took it really easy - no planned itineraries and came back to the accomodation for a rest in the late afternoon. I took my hospital bag and notes but just for reassurance really. Sailed with P & O who were fine about me sailing without a doctors note.

Enjoy your holiday - can't see any reason not to

pregnantpeppa · 17/03/2010 19:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chesterado · 18/03/2010 14:32

Hi Kyuri, I'm currently 27 weeks and a week on Thursday I will be heading to New York for a long weekend before flying to San Diego for a week on the beach. I'll be 31 weeks the day we fly back. Funnily enough we booked this before I knew I was pregnant, but as I have been travelling regularly around Europe up until now for work and haven't had any issues we've decided to give it a go - will let you know how I get on! (incidentally the only airline who've even commented on me being pregnant was Easyjet - the checkin lady in Geneva asked how far along I was and seemed happy enough when I said 25 weeks)

Re flights and insurance, as others have said you need to check the exact policy with the airline as rule of many require a medical note after 28 weeks, however quite a few don't including Delta and I think BA. I've got insurance through World First that covers both me and the baby all the way through so that in the unlikely event anything does happen we're covered for everything from a quick check up to months of neonatal intensive care, as this would not come cheap in the US!

Enjoy your holiday!

IssyStark · 18/03/2010 14:46

Congrats!

When I was pregnant with our son, the spouse and I did a touring holiday of Essex (of all places!) when I was 26-28w. It was during one of the summer heatwaves we had in 2006 but we kept to the coast for much of the time so i didn't feel the heat too much. We walked loads, ate well and I loved it! The only horrid time was visiting the in-laws and their airless house.

Have a great time and really enjoy it as your last proper holiday together for quite some time

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