Traveling in 3rd tri

[rbp]

H and I both have a week of vacation in May, when I'll be at 28 weeks. We haven't made any plans yet. We have been talking about a Pacific Northwest (Portland/Seattle) trip for years, so we were thinking about that--though I'm not sure May is the best time of year to visit. I am also kind of craving a trip to a tropical island. We are in Atlanta, so this would be the Caribbean. 

Now I'm not sure how much fun I'll have at 28 weeks. How am I likely to feel? 

H said it's possible to move his vacation to my spring break in March, when I'd be 19 weeks. I feel like that would be a much better time for me to travel. Except that no way in hell will we go to the Caribbean during spring break, and the weather will be even worse in the PNW at that time. For his part, he said he'd prefer to go in May because he thinks he'll be much more in need of a break at that time. 

I know that my doctor will be fine with a flight at 28 weeks if my pregnancy is low-risk (and we'll buy travel insurance just in case), but am I going to feel like exploring and having an enjoyable vacation? Or maybe if we go with May, it would be better to plan a low-key beach vacation? Please share your expertise!

[Deleted]

I would go to the Pacific NW but not to the Caribbean at 28 weeks. Pacific NW would be a low key vacation imo and I prefer to stay in the continental US during 3rd tri just in case. Plus, the beach is just not as fun without alcohol!

[mcfelix]

My ob was good with me flying up to 36 weeks. Between 28 and 35 weeks, I flew to Mexico and Vegas from the east coast and made an 8 hour drive to visit family. I will say I had a pretty easy pregnancy so all of these trips were fine for me. I know of friends that would have been very uncomfortable traveling in 3rd tri.

Good luck deciding what to do!

Eta - our Mexico trip was awesome. We sat by the pool, enjoyed fruity drinks, and relaxed. Vegas was for work but was all networking stuff so I still had plenty of relaxation by the pool. So I am very much in favor of tropical trips while pregnant!

[CallingAllAngels]

I went to Vancouver, BC from the Southeast at 30 weeks, and felt great. I was finally past the puking every day point of pregnancy. I went to visit/help my SIL who was diagnosed with cancer, so it wasn't your typically touristy trip, but we still did a lot of touristy stuff - aquarium. Granville Island, etc. My midwife did advise me to take a copy of my medical records, but my pregnancy to that point was unremarkable.

[chicago]

I'm 29 weeks and I've felt absolutely great throughout my pregnancy, so I'd have no issues with traveling. I'd kill for a trip to the Caribbean right now, actually! We traveled to Iceland around 25 weeks and I was fine to be walking around and exploring. That said, I think I've had a really lucky pregnancy and friends of mine who are also pregnant have been a lot more uncomfortable than me. Totally depends on your pregnancy.

[timorousbeastie]

I went to Hawaii when I was 26/27 weeks pregnant. The flight was a bit more uncomfortable, but bearable. At that point, I still had a decent amount of energy and was fine walking around (now at 34 wks, I'm always tired, so I probably wouldn't have as much fun). The biggest downside of a beach vacation at that point (aside from the no awesome beachy drinks thing) was trying to get up from lying on the beach - it was definitely a struggle! (And at this point, I have a hard enough time getting up from the couch, let alone from a beach - I'd probably be stuck in the sand permanently if I tried that now!) But at 28 weeks, I would have been fine with either a beach or city vacation. I wasn't really uncomfortable until ~30 wks.

My biggest concern regarding deciding when/where to go would be the hospitals in either location - make sure you're comfortable with them should anything go wrong while you are there, and bring a copy of your medical records just in case. And, like you mentioned in your OP, get travel insurance just in case you have to cancel.

[browneyedgirl9]

At 28 weeks I still felt really good, and would have been up for a trip! I still had a good amount of energy at that time.

[Jalapeñomel]

I felt amazing at 28 weeks.

[runblondie26]

Both trips sound great. I think you'd still enjoy either one at 28 weeks. You may have to make some extra bathroom stops, but you'll still be in the relative comfort zone of pregnancy.

We went to Nice and Monaco when I was 31/32 weeks, and did some hiking in Bryce Canyon/Zion Natl Park right before I hit 36 weeks. I'm so glad I got to have those experiences, even if not 100% comfortable.

[lilles]

You might want to look into Puerto Rico. It is a short flight from ATL and they have great medical care if you need it.

[rbp]

Dec 26, 2013 15:48:51 GMT -5 lilles said:

You might want to look into Puerto Rico. It is a short flight from ATL and they have great medical care if you need it.

This is a really good idea, thanks!

Thanks for all the input, ladies. I feel more comfortable planning a trip in May. I think Seattle and Puerto Rico will be frontrunners. I mentioned to H that maybe an international destination wouldn't be a good idea (particularly to a developing country) in my third trimester, and he agreed.  

[Yankees21]

I agree with others that I'd stay in the country, but you should be feeling good at that time. I'm almost 28 weeks and have been in the car 10 hours the past two days and it's been fine except some minor back pain. A trip sounds amazing!

[loskadoodle]

We went on a cruise when I was 19 weeks and to the keys when I was 34 weeks. Both were fine. Assuming your pg is without issues I think you will be done with either.

[speckledfrog]

Ditto PPs, barring complications you will feel great at 28 weeks.