Travelling at 20 weeks?

OrangeSmoke · February 2010

DH and I are absolutely sick of this long cold winter that we are having in the northeast and are planning a last hurrah to Aruba to escape the snow.

Anybody have experience with traveling at this stage? A 4 hour flight shouldn't be too bad for me, right? Also, should I be concerned about being in Aruba as opposed to the US?

Thanks!

energyzer · February 2010

My doctor would allow me to travel until 24 weeks but once I got to 22 weeks, I chose to stay home.

My doctor scared me with the scenario of if something happens and you need to be on bedrest, you can get stuck in the hospital where you are and may not come home until you deliver. That freaked me out and I decided not to risk it. Plus, I was sick and puking until 33-34 weeks so I didn't feel much like going anywhere!

SouthSeasBride · February 2010

I took a trip at 20 weeks but stayed in the US. Felt fine, had a great time etc. For me personally, I would be a little hesitant to go out of the country though.

Rose.9.6.03 · February 2010

I travelled to the UK at 19-20 weeks. I had a great time and had no problems. My main concern would be to make sure that you have acceptable high-risk medical care in Aruba, should you need it. But beyond that, I say go and have a good time.

anna2006 · February 2010

I'm struggling with this as well. The Peri says it's OK, but I worry about taking at cruise at 22 weeks. I guess you just have to be prepared to potentially not go on the trip if a complication arises between now and then. And buy travellers medical insurance - it is reasonably priced (you can buy it online or through AAA) and it will pay if for some reason you needed to be airlifted back to the US in a hurry.

OrangeSmoke · February 2010

anna2006:
I'm struggling with this as well. The Peri says it's OK, but I worry about taking at cruise at 22 weeks. I guess you just have to be prepared to potentially not go on the trip if a complication arises between now and then. And buy travellers medical insurance - it is reasonably priced (you can buy it online or through AAA) and it will pay if for some reason you needed to be airlifted back to the US in a hurry.

What a great idea - I'll definitely look into it.

atc282 · February 2010

I took a last "babymoon" trip at this stage during my pg and it was amazing! DH and I were still living in London and took a 3.5 hour flight to Madeira (Portugese island near N. Africa) and just lounged and relaxed for a week! My peri gave me a medical note to fly with saying I was "fit to travel" and I carried copies of my records just in case in a folder. DH doublechecked beforehand for drs/hospitals on the island. Our resort had a physician on call and their hospital wasn't a far distance from the resort.

I am so glad we took that last trip just as a couple. ***Suggestion: Buy bottled water to be on the safe side!!***I was glad I did as the water at this particular location wasn't exactly the best to drink (and you know how much we pg ladies drink water!!) Wink

HTH

Temp159135562506975 · February 2010

my OB didn't want me flying past 20w.

I personally would never fly out of the country, esp that far along... if anything happens you will be in the hospitals there, and could be stuck there for months if bedrest is in order...NOT something I'd be willing to risk. At least if you just went to FL and something happened to put you on bed rest you could rent a car and drive home laying in the back.

you get one chance to cook these kids... think long and hard before risking something just b/c of some crappy winter weather.

GSwans · February 2010

I wanted to take a long weekend trip at 20 weeks, and my Dr. was hesitant...so I didn't. ?My doctor tends to be really conservative about traveling while pg with multiples. ?

However, I did travel (3 hour flight) at 14 weeks, and even then, was uncomfortable! ?If you're going to do it, make sure you're prepared comfort-wise. ?My back really bothered me all through the flight, so maybe bring some sort of travel pillows that could help you out there.

Have fun!?

nygrl79 · February 2010

I was permitted to fly until about 24 weeks (early viability), but my MFM strongly urged that if it was international travel, that it would be to large metropolitan areas in Europe and no where else. I would think twice before going to Aruba at 20 weeks. I love Aruba, but I would NOT want to end up in a hospital on bed rest there. My DH's uncle and aunt used to live in Aruba and owned a business there, but promptly moved to Texas as soon as he started to experience health issues.

ellieklein · February 2010

My husband and I JUST got back from Jamaica and escaping the cold was amazing. I was 19/20 weeks when we went and didnt have any problems. The flight wasn't even as bad as I expected (direct from Boston - Montego Bay). I'm actually planning to fly in 5 weeks to Michigan as well, I'll be 26 weeks by then and as long as I'm not having any contractions/issues I got the ok to buy the ticket.

macchiatto · February 2010

I'd check with your OB. We traveled from SC to Orlando for a week when I was 22w pregnant. We went by car but my dr would have been fine with me flying. (It's maybe a 2-hr flight; not sure exactly.) If the medical care in Aruba is OK, I'd be OK with it, but honestly ideally I would prefer to go somewhere in the US where you know a good hospital is nearby.

Leigh71 · February 2010

I don't know about the travel part, but I have been begging my DH to take me back to Aruba before the little ones arrive. I want to lay around on the warm beach and look at the ocean! Smile

Hilarigh · February 2010

I flew coast to coast and back at 20 weeks no prob and again at 28 weeks no prob. I had a peri appt. where they checked my cervix length before my trip at 28 weeks and they cleared me to fly. If it had been short or funneling I she wouldn't have let me go.

A lot depends on how you feel and what's going on during your pg. If it's uncomplicated, then a trip at 20 weeks should be fine...as long as your doc's on board.

dtwmco · February 2010

Hilarigh:
I flew coast to coast and back at 20 weeks no prob and again at 28 weeks no prob. I had a peri appt. where they checked my cervix length before my trip at 28 weeks and they cleared me to fly. If it had been short or funneling I she wouldn't have let me go.

A lot depends on how you feel and what's going on during your pg. If it's uncomplicated, then a trip at 20 weeks should be fine...as long as your doc's on board.

OB checked me before our domestic trip at 20 weeks and I was cleared to go. Before we went, we were sure to know the location of the nearest hospital! Everything was fine, I was just slow and tired! BUT, I also want to say that my cervix seemed to change "suddenly" from one appointment to the next (25 to 27 weeks), and I feel very lucky that I wasn't out of town at that point in my pregnancy...

It was good to get away for our little vacation, but I'm not sure I'd do it again if I was carrying multiples... But do trust your doctor, and make the decision with the input from him/her.

mlkwmu · February 2010

My DH and I are definitely sick of the cold weather too. We plan on in the next month of so taking off to some warmer weather for a few days however we feel best staying within the US in case anything happens and I need medical attention.

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