Is It Best to Honeymoon Out of Country While 7 Months Pregnant ?

Updated on August 09, 2012
K.B. asks from Augusta, GA
24 answers

So my fiancee and I decided to have our wedding in Hawaii last year. Where everyone takes a cruise to Disney Resorts in Hawaii and takes the cruise back to the other 48 states. So Justin decided on taking a cruise to the Bahamas, Im up for It! But as you know, Im 7 months pregnant and HUGE!! Im kind of insecure about showing my humongous baby bump in public with a bikini (requested by my fiancee) Should I?

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So What Happened?

Haha! Thanks you guys for the advice I talked to my doctor about it he didnt recommend it but I really wanted to go the Bahamas! (Now we planned this last year before I found out I was pregnant) I think its a little to late to replan Hawaii one week until I leave to go.

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K..

answers from Phoenix on

Are you prepared to deal with an emergency, medical or otherwise, in a foreign country? I wouldn't chance it. I am not normally paranoid, but this is not something I would do.

And, I wouldn't wear a bikini with my huge 7 month belly just because SO requested. You should wear what you're comfy in. What is that all about, anyway?!

5 moms found this helpful

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J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

I wouldn't worry about the bump as much as the very real possiblity you could go early or have a medical emergency in a foreign country or at the very least, on board the ship or at a hospital you know nothing about nor have a doctor who knows your medical history.

I unexpectedly went into premature labor and lost a baby while on a trip. It was the most horrid experience ever. Strange backward hospital, bumbling and clueless doctors and nurses, I almost died. It took them a whole day of spinning their wheels to finally get a clue and have me sent to a better equipped hospital three hours away. The baby did die after a nightmarish delivery and several miserable hours in a crappy NICU. I regret the trip. It wasn't worth it. I truly believe if I were in my hometown with my own doctors and were able to go to the hospital where we planned to deliver the baby in the first place, we might not have lost the baby.

I always vote for staying close to home while pregnant. No one can predict the future or plan for those weird unexpected things that can go wrong.

If you can wait until after the baby is born for your Bahamas or Hawaii honeymoon, I would. I'd opt for a nice nearby bed and breakfast or honeymoon suite at a local posh hotel for now...go on the trip later. And when you do, get a will and life insurance for you and your spouse. If anything should happen, your baby (and surviving spouse) will be well cared for.

Sorry to be a downer but I think this is the wisest thing to do. If it's too late to cancel, sell your spot and try to recoup some money...put it aside for when you can go.

12 moms found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Bad idea.

It isn't about looking good in a bikini. (I'm sure you're gorgeous)... It's that babies can and do regularly get born at 7months. And 8.

7 months is VERY viable, if and only if, you are near immediate medical attention.

Will everything probably be fine?
Yes. You will probably deliver at 9 mo ths with no complications.

But for the 10's of thousands who have preemies every year... Even half an hour is crucial... Much less the 1-4 hours it takes a plane to land (over land or sea) in event of a medical emergency, and days to reach a hospital while on a cruise.

At 6 months, your baby would probably die, anyway. Which is harsh and brutal, but true. At 6 months some babies survive, but most don't. At 6 months, it's generally 'okay' to travel, because the options are essentially the same.

It's a rule of thumb with me: whenever one of the probabilities is my son's death, I go out of my way to avoid it. Car seats. No running near cliffs. That sort of thing. Which includes staying near medical attention / facilities when in my last trimester and he's viable IF I can get immediate medical attention.

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L.D.

answers from Dallas on

Show a baby bump in public? Sure!
Go out of the country when you are 7 months pregnant - no.

When I was seven months pregnant the doctor didnt want me to even go to Hurricane Harbor - worried the baby would get too hot and over heat...

If something happens, and you need a doctor - you are at the mercy of whatever doctors/medical practices are in that other country. Also - you will be at the mercy of your insurance company later.

10 moms found this helpful
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B.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

There is too much risk to take twins on a vacation at 7 months along. How would you feel if you lost them because you couldn't get to an adequate hospital in time.

I've been to the Bahamas and you don't want to deliver premature kids in a Bahamaian (sp?) Hospital.

As far as the bikini goes, . . . wear it or don't wear it. The choice is yours. Or only wear part of it or none of it, like the Europeans do. I always thought my wife was beautiful when she was pregnant.

Take the trip in 18 months. Good luck to you and yours.

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A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

Besides the other suggestions (which were good) I would check with the cruise line too.

I have some vague idea in the back of my mind that they won't take women who are so far along in their pregnancies (?). I'm not totally sure about that, though, so double check.

Personally I would not do it. Too close for comfort . . .

8 moms found this helpful

M.L.

answers from Houston on

No you should not, well I wouldn't anyways. Not b/c of being huge in a bikini (that's cute!), but b/c of sea sickness, complications that could happen with no immediate medical care, early labor.... Anyways, you won't be able to fly on the plane without Dr's written permission, I believe.. and the pressure on the cabin can cause early labor even if they did let you board. Also... a lot of insurances won't cover out of country if something were to happen, so you would need to make sure your insurance would provide coverage.

Edit: you are having TWINS... which usually come early. No way should you be going! :)

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B.

answers from Augusta on

I would absolutely not travel at 7 months. Especially THAT far. Especially with twins, they tend to come early.
You will be miserable. And what happens if you go into preterm labor?
Go with what your Dr recommends.
And it's only too late to cancel the trip if you're on the plane.
And cruses might not even allow you on, you'd have to call the travel agent or cruise line.

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R.M.

answers from Houston on

Your doctor has said that the babies will proably come early, according to an earlier post. You'll be in an area with unknown medical care, and in transit with no medical care. The way I read it you are willing to risk your children's lives for a good time.

Regarding the bikini issue, do what you are comfortable with. Not what your fiance is comfortable with, but what you are. Just remember that any pictures that anyone takes will be posted online somewhere and the world will be able to see them forever.

I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but your post sounds very flip about these babies you are carrying. They are not mere inconveniences. They are human lives you are charged with protecting.

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C.G.

answers from Augusta on

You can certainly fly while pregnant- it is not dangerous, the only concern is if you went into labor and had your baby on the plane. Most airlines list on their website that women showing signs of labor will not be allowed to board. There are no dangers to your pregnancy from flying.

Cruise lines generally do not allow pregnant women to board after 24 weeks in their pregnancy. This is because if you went into labor on the ship you would be too far away from medical assistance.

I am a nurse midwife so I deal with this a lot for my patients. You may want to get a note from your health care provider for your flight stating when your due date is and that your health is stable. Most cruise lines make you fill out a paper that says you will be less than 24 weeks when you fly.

If you are comfortable in a bikini, go for it! I would certainly be happy to travel overseas while pregnant, women have babies in other countries every day--- and most countries have better maternity outcomes than we do! Just hand carry a copy of your records from your provider just in case.

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K.P.

answers from Seattle on

I would say no, it's just not worth the life of your precious baby. No trip would convince me otherwise.

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S.W.

answers from Amarillo on

Stay home!!!!

If you have the baby bump you describe you won't be allowed to board a plane much less a cruise ship.

Just because you "feel" up to it now does not mean you will stay that way with twins. Good lord do you really want to risk the lives of your kids just to go on a boat and travel 48 states? Think clearly about how you would feel if you lost them at sea because of your just having to take this trip now? Yes I sound harsh but let us think practical and rational and you are not.

Make a plan for the first or second year to take the vacation of a life time when you are not preggo and feeling like the elephant in the room and having people starring at you like you lost your mind and moving away from you like you have the plague. Not a pretty scene to experience.

But do as you wish and be preapare to own up to any consequences of your actions.

The other S.

PS The bikini woiuld be the last thing I would worry about. I would probably wear a mumu to cover up everything.

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K.P.

answers from New York on

ETA: If you have already made all of the plans, why are you asking? Was this question really about the bikini? In which case, wear what you want!

I do not believe that you will be allowed to leave the country at that point in your pregnancy, nor do you want to experience any complications with your doctor so far away. When I flew from NY to FL during my 7th month, I had to have a letter from my doctor saying that it was OK to fly. When I asked my doctor about it (not a "reactive" type of person at all), he only agreed to write the letter IF I had a reputable OBGYN in FL as an emergency contact.

Why can't you go somewhere in FL or to Savannah for your honeymoon? You can always go to the islands for an anniversary trip when you are feeling/looking great and can enjoy a cocktail with a little umbrella in it!

5 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

K.:

I personally would NOT travel out of the country or even too far from home if I am 7 months pregnant (but I also didn't carry to term so that is a HUGE factor for me).

Did the Dr recommend travel from GA to HI??? That's a LONG flight!! I hope you have cleared that with him...I would also check with the airline you are flying with. And it's NOT good to stay seated that long while you are pregnant. That's MY take.

Talk it over with your doctor/OB/GYN and see what they say. I personally wouldn't do it and see if I could change the date to AFTER the baby is born and go then....so much less could happen.

Congratulations and good luck!

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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

Nope I wouldn't you won't be able to fly I think you'll have to have Drs orders to fly it would be a liability on the air line not sure but I have heard no flying for preggos at a certain time never flewn in my life but need to ask you OB on this one your babys health is more importatnt than flying why risk getting blood clots

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☼.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Leaving the country or donning a bikini during pregnancy is something I wouldn't do personally. I would have needed a crane to get out of my beach chair, anyway :)

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E.M.

answers from Phoenix on

I flew from Nairobi, Kenya back to Phoenix (Nairobi to Amsterdam to LA to Phoenix) when I was 6 months pregnant with my first son. The flight was NOT fun. My feet and ankles were so swollen, my back was so sore, and I was just a mess. For me, the trip was absolutely worth it. I was going to study in Kenya for 3 months, my entire second trimester. It was the last time in the foreseeable future that I could do that. I studied my options very carefully and chose to go, even though my doctors said that they would prefer that I not go. So I absolutely think that there are circumstances where you can decide to take an educated risk in exchange for something that you really, really want. The things that would make me consider not going in your sitaution are the higher risk of pre-term labor with twins, the miserable plane ride made worse with TWO babies on board, and the inherent isolation of a cruise ship. I purchased additional insurance that would allow a private plane to transport me from the field to Nairobi for medical care, and I investigated the hospital and doctor that would care for me. If you are going to the Bahamas, I would do a little research. At the end of the day, I would probably say yes to the trip, if you can manage the discomfort of the flight, and no to the cruise portion unless you are always within a short flight of a hospital and have access to such a flight.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

Yeah, I don't think you can do this 7 months pregnant. Have you even checked into that? I'm pretty sure no plane will allow you to fly, and I would NEVER want to get stuck on a cruise pregnant. You don't have immediate medical care for your pregnancy, the Dr's on board are just general practitioners, and often from the country you're traveling to.

So...it's not the bikini that would concern me. Have you even talked to your own Dr. about this? I'm willing to bet, they would be none to happy about the idea.

I don't think I'd want to be stuck in the Bahamas, with a medical emergency. It sure is pretty and steadying and growing, but still extremely poor.

ETA: Good lord, you're pregnant with TWINS?? That makes this a HUGE risk.

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❤.I.

answers from Albuquerque on

Well the big issue is not about wearing a bikini. As the other posters mentioned ALONG with your doctor, it's not a good idea to travel out of the country, especially on a cruise. You're pregnant with twins! Not a good idea so far along, not worth it, sorry.

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M.O.

answers from New York on

I wouldn't worry about the bikini either way. That's a personal decision, and it doesn't really affect anyone.

I WOULD, however, worry about going into premature labor on the open sea. See if you can convince him to honeymoon somewhere stateside.

Congrats twice over :)

Mira

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P.K.

answers from New York on

Cruise line will not allow you to sail.

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D.C.

answers from Pittsburgh on

If your question is really about whether or not you should wear a bikini in public - that is totally up to you. Many women do and good for them. However, that wasn't for me - I would have been totally self-conscious. When pregnant on the beach, I went with a very cute maternity tankini.

ADDED - wait a minute, you are pregnant with twins??? You are likely to go early. Will you ever forgive yourself if you go into labor on the cruise and lose those babies? It is not worth it.

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J.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

I'd leave this one up to your doctor.
My friends who have had twins almost all had their babies at least a few weeks early.
I'd be worried if I were in your shoes.

BUT - if you do go, wear the bikini :)

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Y.W.

answers from Athens on

I have seen countless pregnant stars on the cover of magazines wearing a bikini with huge baby bumps. Enjoy your vacation while you can. Once the twins come, your life wil be chaos for the next 5 years!!

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