Hi everyone

I am lucky enough to have found myself pregnant and I wanted to thank you for your help and encouraging words while I was trying. I have a question... I was due to travel to Australia in a month's time for 10 days and I'll only be 8 weeks pregnant; 2 long flights out there and THREE on the way home. I have spoken to my doctor and physically there is no reason not to go, but I am worried as having got this far, the thought of a miscarriage simply because of a pre-arranged holiday would be devastating. I know it's natural to panic and I'm sure it won't be the last time I get paranoid, but if anyone has any experience in this, I would be so grateful.
It's not the money that's the issue as I already know I would not get any payment back, the issue is that my brother lives out there and I haven't seen him for 5 years and I've never met my 2 year old nephew. I know my brother would be sad, although he would understand. I just don't know if I would get so stressed out by the thought of the flight, that I would do mine and the baby's health some harm that way.

I think this is a great time to fly as long as you aren't having trouble with morning sickness. You almost don't even know you're pregnant this early, though you are physically more tired than you used to be. You'll probably sleep most of the way! You could bring nice, calming music to listen to and a good book to lose yourself in and it really will be fine.

Once you get past the point you can't fly anymore, you're too uncomfortable to do it anyway, and then you will likely never see your brother and nephew unless they come to you, because travling with an infant is a complete pain.

I say go. I would think at this stage there is very, very little risk in flying. Take what you need to so that you're comfortable.

If you take your rational mind and think this through, you will realize there is absolutely no reason not to fly during early pregnancy. They only recommend against flying in late pregnancy because they don't want you going into labor on a flight, not because being in the air is dangerous.

Jan

Thank you, I'm slowly feeling more comfortable about going and you're right, when will I next get a chance. I think I had some notion that the pressure would affect my uterus. I figured if the pressure affects my pouch and makes me need the toilet more, that it could do something to my uterus too, but I'm sure that's not the case.

With regards to feeling comfortable, I'm flying on my own, it will be my birthday and I'll be pregnant, I might make a play to get myself upgraded! :0)

I was just researching the same question myself. I just found out I am pregnant and the end of march I will be traveling all over Europe for two weeks. The vacation of a life time that I have been dreaming of taking and is finally possible now that I have no symptoms and medications!!!! I am scared of morning sickness ruining my trip but I think that is the only real concern. Just talk with your OB about your trip and make sure you know where to find emergency medical care for IBD or pregnancy if you should need it. Have fun! Australia sounds like lots of fun.

Hiya, thanks everyone... as it happens, I had to cancel due to severe morning sickness day and night. I'm obviously over the moon to be pregnant, but my goodness, after trips to the hospital and constant sickness, it gets you down sometimes. I'm looking forward to feeling well enough to enjoy this bundle of fun. Docs say it's a good sign so I'm keeping those words in my head :0) My brother was obviously understanding that I couldn't come to see him, we'll just somehow have to manage another trip some other time! x

Sorry to hear about the m/s. Do you have a trader joe's near you? Their ginger snaps have real pieces of ginger in them and are great tummy settlers. I also recommend the Sea-Band motion sickness wristbands avaialble at most drugstores. I got mine at walgreens. They help a lot.

Hi, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I live in London and we don't have Trader Joe's, but ginger is off the cards anyway as I throw it up! I've had acupuncture, tried the motion sickness bands and loads of other things, but ended up having to go on medication to try and control the vomiting and allow me to eat at least something without being sick. The acupuncturist also said that I should try peppermint now as I'd had so much ginger at one point that I overheated and the hotter I am, the worse the sickness. I can only eat ice cream (it's lovely and cold), the odd chunk of chocolate, toast and tiny amounts of water with ice cubes otherwise I throw up! The doctor keeps saying that as long as I'm not dehydrated I'm not hurting the baby, but clearly this diet's not good. I hope I only have about 3 weeks left of this, I couldn't bear feeling like this into the 2nd trimester too, it's so exhausting if nothing else and I haven't been able to get into work for nearly three weeks now. Surprisingly I occasionally feel like a curry, but not surprisingly the one time I gave in to that, I was sick all night and all the following day 10 fold. x