Would you go on a seven hour flight when 33 weeks pregnant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This past summer, during my second pregnancy, I took a flight to Dallas. On the way back, we got stuck on the tarmac for hours waiting to take off, and then when we arrived in DC, there wasn’t a gate ready so we sat for another 45 minutes, each time without any access to water on a hot day. I was incredibly uncomfortable and started having Braxton Hicks so close together I almost took a cab straight from the flight to the hospital. Luckily, with lots of water, I got the contractions to slow down by the next day and didn’t go into early labor. But, I immediately cancelled the trip I was supposed to take the next week (33 weeks), which was supposed to be my last trip. So I would say avoid if possible because you could be extra miserable if something goes wrong during the flights.

I don't understand these posts about not having access to water. That seems easy to avoid by bringing some empty water bottles through security and filling them before you get on the plane.

[Anonymous]

No but not because of the length of the flight but because I wouldn’t want to risk delivering that far away from home.

[Anonymous]

I don't think so. It's not just the hours in-flight but it is the jet lag on both ends that would add to the misery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I would, the medical care you would get in Europe, if necessary, would be as god as you would get here.

I don't want to argue with you but have you ever been in a hospital in a foreign country because of a medical emergency? I have. I don't recommend it and I got the best quality of care possible. It is upsetting enough to be having a medical emergency but then to complicate it with potential language barriers, cultural barriers, procedural barriers, etc., it is too much.

In my case I didn't have a choice because I was in an accident caused by a drunk driver. There is no way that I would purposefully choose to put myself into a potential emergency situation in a foreign country when I was 33 or 34 weeks pregnant.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand these posts about not having access to water. That seems easy to avoid by bringing some empty water bottles through security and filling them before you get on the plane.

Have you ever been pregnant? What goes in, must come out. And, sooner, rather than later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I would, the medical care you would get in Europe, if necessary, would be as god as you would get here.

I don't want to argue with you but have you ever been in a hospital in a foreign country because of a medical emergency? I have. I don't recommend it and I got the best quality of care possible. It is upsetting enough to be having a medical emergency but then to complicate it with potential language barriers, cultural barriers, procedural barriers, etc., it is too much.

In my case I didn't have a choice because I was in an accident caused by a drunk driver. There is no way that I would purposefully choose to put myself into a potential emergency situation in a foreign country when I was 33 or 34 weeks pregnant.

Or, not being allowed to fly home because of complications and having to stay to give birth.
Or, worse, premature birth requiring weeks of hospitalization for new baby. And, additional weeks of staying and paying to stay in a foreign country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I would, the medical care you would get in Europe, if necessary, would be as god as you would get here.

I don't want to argue with you but have you ever been in a hospital in a foreign country because of a medical emergency? I have. I don't recommend it and I got the best quality of care possible. It is upsetting enough to be having a medical emergency but then to complicate it with potential language barriers, cultural barriers, procedural barriers, etc., it is too much.

In my case I didn't have a choice because I was in an accident caused by a drunk driver. There is no way that I would purposefully choose to put myself into a potential emergency situation in a foreign country when I was 33 or 34 weeks pregnant.

Op is going to Europe with extended family, she will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Reading this, I get the sense many on dcum are pretty much afraid to leave their house,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading this, I get the sense many on dcum are pretty much afraid to leave their house,

Actually, I think the DCUM set are pretty well traveled; however, most of us seem fairly prudent when it comes to travel while being 33 and 34 weeks pregnant. There is no "undo" button when you're pregnant and what you do can make a pretty big impact on what you get. In most cases it probably will be fine but can OP and DH live with themselves if it isn't, especially for something as trivial as a trip?

[Anonymous]

I just took a 17 hour flight at 30'weeks pregnant and it was so miserable. My legs swelled and were so painful to stand on every time I tried to move. I've never had my legs swell other than on planes. By the end of the flight I was just dying to get off. Maybe it would be different if I was first class and had my legs stretched out and raised. I did wear compression stockings and walked every hour.

Additionally the dry air on the plane drove my nose crazy. I couldn't breathe and everything was just one hard booger. Pregnancy messes with your sinuses so I know this was related.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This past summer, during my second pregnancy, I took a flight to Dallas. On the way back, we got stuck on the tarmac for hours waiting to take off, and then when we arrived in DC, there wasn’t a gate ready so we sat for another 45 minutes, each time without any access to water on a hot day. I was incredibly uncomfortable and started having Braxton Hicks so close together I almost took a cab straight from the flight to the hospital. Luckily, with lots of water, I got the contractions to slow down by the next day and didn’t go into early labor. But, I immediately cancelled the trip I was supposed to take the next week (33 weeks), which was supposed to be my last trip. So I would say avoid if possible because you could be extra miserable if something goes wrong during the flights.

I don't understand these posts about not having access to water. That seems easy to avoid by bringing some empty water bottles through security and filling them before you get on the plane.

Only the US has water fountains to refill water bottles. I tried to find them in 3rd world countries like African airports and they didn't exist. I also couldn't find them in European stops too when I changed planes. I get so thirsty on planes! One time I remember drinking from the bathroom tap because I couldn't get any more water

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading this, I get the sense many on dcum are pretty much afraid to leave their house,

No, its just that some of us did leave the house and took risks that didn't turn out so well. So we offer our experience as food for thought as OP weighs her personal decision.

[Anonymous]

No, I would not at that point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I would, the medical care you would get in Europe, if necessary, would be as god as you would get here.

I don't want to argue with you but have you ever been in a hospital in a foreign country because of a medical emergency? I have. I don't recommend it and I got the best quality of care possible. It is upsetting enough to be having a medical emergency but then to complicate it with potential language barriers, cultural barriers, procedural barriers, etc., it is too much.

In my case I didn't have a choice because I was in an accident caused by a drunk driver. There is no way that I would purposefully choose to put myself into a potential emergency situation in a foreign country when I was 33 or 34 weeks pregnant.

Or, not being allowed to fly home because of complications and having to stay to give birth.
Or, worse, premature birth requiring weeks of hospitalization for new baby. And, additional weeks of staying and paying to stay in a foreign country.

That's a fair point. Every once in a while you will hear a story about someone giving birth early overseas and drama and cost with having to stay before you can fly back with baby can be staggering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I would, the medical care you would get in Europe, if necessary, would be as god as you would get here.

Nope. The medical care over there is nowhere near as good as what you would get here (assuming OP has good health insurance here).