Joyce is almost 28 weeks pregnant. Her husband has just surprised her with holiday plans for a getaway to the Canary Islands. She is having conflicted feelings about going.
“Bless my husband’s heart, he came home yesterday and surprised me with travel plans for a holiday in the Canary Islands starting next week. He lovingly told me he thought I needed to relax before the baby’s arrival and thought this would be the perfect spot (we had honeymooned here). He also enticed me further by reminding me that this might be the last time for a while that we’ll have some alone time together, as we are certain we’ll be much too busy after the baby is born. I have to admit, it is tempting!! As much as I know he is probably right and love him to pieces for being so thoughtful and considerate, I just don’t think we should go. Next week I will be 28 weeks along. I had never even considered flying this late in my pregnancy. I have to admit it makes me nervous just thinking about it. I also need to ask my doctor if flying is even safe for me and the baby. Entertaining the possibility of being able to go, I know we will have to consider many things before we make the trip. In addition to flying, since I don’t speak Spanish I am afraid if anything unexpected happens I won’t be able to communicate with the people there. I can just see me needing help and becoming an emotional wreck because nobody has a clue as to what I am saying. And if something does happen like an illness or a fall, do I really want to be so far away from my own doctor and hospital? I also have been drinking a lot of water during my pregnancy and I am unsure whether the water in the Canary Islands is going to be safe to drink. I suppose I could buy bottled water, but that’s an extra expense. I have also been on a healthy diet of only fruits, vegetable, proteins and whole grains so the thought of eating foods that are foreign to me is making me a little nauseous just thinking about it. I feel so torn, I don’t want to disappoint my husband, and really would like to get away, but if I am so worried about all these things already, am I really going to be able to relax and enjoy myself?”.
If you have taken a holiday close to the end of your pregnancy, or decided not to, please share your experience with us here. It would be helpful for Joyce to get all the facts before she makes a decision and to hear other mum’s thoughts and experiences might just make Joyce and other mum’s comfortable with the decisions they make for themselves.