Dear OP,

We've done Maui from DC two times, and we built in every kind of 'make it less stressful on the body.' (I wasn't pregnant but have some chronic illnesses that make traveling hard and that flare things 'weirdly'). Even with that (spending the night in Portland on the way out to avoid jet lag, most comfortable seats possible on best airline [Alaska, INHO[, etc.,. it was awful and took my body two days to recover, meaning I had to do multiple brief rests, longer sleep at night, etc.,.

I've also seen two recent news stories about pregnant women getting 'stuck' in Hawaii because the flight out caused complications and they had to deliver there. I am not trying to scare you, but rather am making sure you know that any concerns you have and the comments you're seeing here are very, very real in terms of caution.

Your friend will understand, and if she doesn't get it now, she will when she is in her 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

And if you do cancel or SKYPE, remember, you're not making that choice because of yourself or your friend or even your toddler, you're making it for your new baby, who needs the downtime more than the havoc of long flights .

Good luck!

OP I travel a lot internationally for work and pleasure. No way in hell would I make that trip at 6 months pregnant. Your friend is asking way too much of you. Politely decline, it's ok.

Op,

Even if you can do this, the question is should you? There are two of you to consider--and I am not talking about the bride. That is a brutal trip. If it were necessary, that puts a different spin. However, for a wedding..............

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I flew to Hawaii at 6 months pregnant. The flight was terrible. I have a good comparison because I had been to Hawaii twice prior to the pregnancy and also to Australia. I had no blood pressure issues or any other complications and I swelled up big time on the plane. It was incredibly uncomfortable but more practically, to the extent that you can build in extra time, build it in at the beginning of the trip, so you aren't all swollen and jet lagged at the wedding.

Sorry to hear about your experience - but at least everything was OK with your baby (I assume

Don't want to scare OP (and we really don't know her situation - maybe she works as a flight attendant and flights half way around the world are nothing to her, maybe she has stamina and endurance of an Ironman competitor,) but as a person who lived in Hawaii for many years I view the combination of being 6+months pregnant + flying from the East Coast + supershort stay in HI as a hmmm... trying to be delicate here... not a very good idea. And unfortunately I'm speaking from experience...

The title of the thread is extremely misleading (I wonder if it is an indication of OP's thinking or what) - sure there are many people who fly from CA to HI for just a couple of days but spending all this time flying and money for a plane trip from DC while being 6+ months pregnant for a quick turnaround just boggles my mind...

OP here, do you mind sharing what happened to you when you did this trip?

OP here: thanks all for the feedback. I will be 6 months at the time of travel. I haven't spoken to my OB about this trip yet, just the NP at the office. She didn't seem like it was a big deal but I'm second guessing it myself.... Guess I ought to decide and tell her soon!

If your friend is a good friend, she will graciously accept your declining the wedding. It's the only thing to do. When people have destination weddings (I'm assuming this is), they have to accept a lot of people wn't be able to make it. Particularly pregnant people with toddlers.

I know you can get from Chicago to Honolulu in one shot, maybe there is something from there (and yes I know, it is long) to get into Maui.

90% of the time, it is red eyes coming back. Speaking from experience, took a 11 PM flight from Kona, landed in Phoenix around 7 AM, and landed at National around 4 PM.

Anonymous wrote:Did op say she'll be 6 months?

She didn't - but she is pregnant already and the wedding is in September...

Can you Skype in? No way I would go for that short of time in that condition. However, if you do, I would do the stop in California. Ten hours on a plane is not great under any circumstance--but especially not pregnant. This way, you would at least get to walk around in the airport. Healthier choice.

Anonymous wrote:a short trip to Maui sounds like hell to me, especially if you have are pregnant and coming home to a toddler which means you can't even come home and rest for a few days.

don't go, OP! Good grief. Too far, too expensive, when pregnant and with toddler at home. Any good friend will understand. I often think people hold these far-away weddings hoping that most people won't come!

I wouldn't go. I'm sure your friend will understand. I'm sure she thought of situations like these when she decided to get married in Maui. Or at least I hope she did.

Did op say she'll be 6 months?

Anonymous wrote:I flew to Hawaii at 6 months pregnant. The flight was terrible. I have a good comparison because I had been to Hawaii twice prior to the pregnancy and also to Australia. I had no blood pressure issues or any other complications and I swelled up big time on the plane. It was incredibly uncomfortable but more practically, to the extent that you can build in extra time, build it in at the beginning of the trip, so you aren't all swollen and jet lagged at the wedding.

Sorry to hear about your experience - but at least everything was OK with your baby (I assume

Don't want to scare OP (and we really don't know her situation - maybe she works as a flight attendant and flights half way around the world are nothing to her, maybe she has stamina and endurance of an Ironman competitor,) but as a person who lived in Hawaii for many years I view the combination of being 6+months pregnant + flying from the East Coast + supershort stay in HI as a hmmm... trying to be delicate here... not a very good idea. And unfortunately I'm speaking from experience...

The title of the thread is extremely misleading (I wonder if it is an indication of OP's thinking or what) - sure there are many people who fly from CA to HI for just a couple of days but spending all this time flying and money for a plane trip from DC while being 6+ months pregnant for a quick turnaround just boggles my mind...

I flew to Hawaii at 6 months pregnant. The flight was terrible. I have a good comparison because I had been to Hawaii twice prior to the pregnancy and also to Australia. I had no blood pressure issues or any other complications and I swelled up big time on the plane. It was incredibly uncomfortable but more practically, to the extent that you can build in extra time, build it in at the beginning of the trip, so you aren't all swollen and jet lagged at the wedding.