International Travel (long sorry!)

ShePersisted

So I am afraid but it looks like I will need to make a trip to India with LO in the next few months and I am petrified.

I unfortunately need to travel due to a medical condition which cannot be resolved easily here and need to try alternative Ayurvedic treatment. I have issues with inflammation of my colon. It's very important I go soon as the treatment takes 2-3 months and I need to take advantage of my maternity leave.

I will be discussing with his pedi and if indeed he advices against it I will wait but the pain I have is excruciating and is really adding to my PPD and my time with LO. I was supposed to go last summer but could not due to being pregnant but was really hopeful surgery would help me after I delivered but my surgeon still won't agree without cautioning significant risk to my control. Plus surgery will make me bed ridden for a while.

My mom and DH are a little upset I want to go and don't want to put K through such long travel and humid conditions. It's like 100 f in the months of May/ June. I understand where they come from but I feel I'm getting worse day by day as a result I'm getting very crabby and impatient with everything. Sometimes I cannot even get through a feeding due to pain and discomfort. I want to weigh the risks and make a decision but their reactions are making me feel so guilty. Of course for them if I endured it for a year then another year is NBD.

I just need to put this here as a sounding board. Has anyone traveled with infants internationally? What age? Did you go to a developing country? My issue is not so much the flight travel but the weather and mosquitoes and hygiene. Of course I will take full precaution but I cannot protect him from every single mosquito out there. Am I over thinking? What would you do? I am so confused what the right thing is. I will tell you though that I would not really think about going unless I was really suffering which I do everyday. I also have done a ton of research on alternative therapy which has a lot if success rate without risking surgery.

Just need to hear some perspectives from your experience if any?

MoxyByProxy

I don't have any advice but I hope you get what you need so that you start to feel better. I know it can't be easy dealing with a new LO and a chronic illness.

capeterson1

I traveled to Chile with my son about four years ago when he was four months old. It is a developed country and I spoke with the pediatrician about it. We were there for 40 days and had a great visit- my husbands family is from there. I was formula feeding/ breastfeeding DS so I made sure to buy water, obviously no tap water for either of us. I think the CDC is a good resource to check out what they say about India. Also, the actual 12 travel hours were easy- I had a sleeping baby the whole way and nursed when necessary.
I know your situation and location is totally different than mine but I wish you the best with whatever you decide and also your painful condition

ShePersisted

@TyrannosaurusLex‌ these are good questions. Perhaps an objective pro and con is a good idea.

-if the treatment worked so well, why isnt it available here? Because Ayurvedic medicine like homeopathy is not recognized by the FDA but is a widely practiced ancient healing therapy available in India. I need a surgeon and there are no Ayurvedic surgeons available or rather allowed to legally practice in the US.

- if the treatment didn't work for you, and LO got sick how would you feel about that? This is the fundamental.I don't think I could forgive myself. I feel bad enough that I had to opt for a c-sec for the same reason.

- if the treatment did work and LO got sick, would you be able to live with that? Nope. However, my logic was my friends in India have had their babies there and they are healthy and just fine so if I took enough precaution would that be ok. My moms concern is when your born there the child immunity adapts while he has never been exposed to the environment hence the risk.

- if a health concern arose for LO, do you feel his needs could be met by the health care system available to him there? Yes. I have confidence in the quality of medical care. I grew up there and there are very good quality drs and hospital facilities.

- are there personal safety risks involved in the area you're going to? Not really. I'll be with family.

- would you DH be missing out on 2-3 months of his child's infancy? He will come along for some time. DH can work remote considerably on his job.

I think it sounds like a lot of risk for a chancy payoff, but I have a major western bias to contend with. - I actually have more confidence in Ayurvedic treatment for my situation because I grew up using it and seen it work. But understandable - My surgeon had the same reaction when I told him.

ShePersisted

@Sakura0019‌ I could not possibly leave LO for 2-3 months. If go insane with worry. If it was 15-20 days is consider it but 2-3 months just defeats the purpose of why I even want to go in the first place.

emm57

@Hg45 ygpm

MissDemeanor

Is it possible the treatment could be available here in Canada? I live in Vancouver, where there is a very large Indian population. I was just thinking it could be worth looking at?

ShePersisted

MissDemeanor said:

Is it possible the treatment could be available here in Canada? I live in Vancouver, where there is a very large Indian population. I was just thinking it could be worth looking at?

I checked. There are drs who know the treatment but Canadian law will not allow them to practice unfortunately. That was one of the first things I did after I realized US would not work.

ShePersisted

Polio is actually eradicated in India as of 2013 I think. Yes vaccination will be a concern but I can keep LO on schedule through pedis there. I think hygiene wise too I can control it as LO will be home with my MIL and mom and I don't intent traveling with him anywhere. We get bottled water for all his needs including bath water which could be boiled before use. My only concern is Mosquitos which can be deadly and heat. Both have solutions like mosquito net at night as replanted all over the house. Also hear is combated through sit conditioning.

I know I am justifying me going in my response so if you think I am pushing my luck do tell me. I honestly need a reality check.

sdlaura

Is it possible to manage your pain through meds until LO is older/fully vaccinated/it is not quite as hot in India? I would think waiting to do it and having to miss work for medical reasons would be preferable to the risks to baby. Are there any other countries without the risks to LO that have these treatments?

Flyingtoast

I also have a difficult to manage illness (skeletal). While I have understanding given my own personal experiences. I would personally try to find a solution closer to home. Just because the US doesn't approve of your desires treatment, there are many more open minded medical professionals in more developed countries (Europe for example).

I understand your in constant pain daily. The question you need to ask yourself is can you put your child's needs above your own until it's safe for LO to travel? Can you realize the pain is going to be part if your life, do what you can for comfort now, and see in the distance it will get better.

I personally had to decide the pain was not going to get better, and continue me life. I had a choice. Pick focusing on the pain and miss living my life, or focus on life , with some adjustments for the pain. Was it easy? Hell no. But once I committed myself to it, things became easier mentally. I'm not saying everyone can do this, it look years for me to fully accept it. BUT if you can accept it for at least the short term, it gives your LO a chance to get vaccinated enough for traveling, and you more time to see if their are more options for you. Your rushes timeline doesn't give you many options, or time to accept your reoccurring illness.

ShePersisted

Thanks ladies. I think I see most responses leaning towards waiting till LO is older. I think I'll prepare for that. I will chat with his pedi and figure out what he suggests as a good timeline.