Hi there ladies, I need some advice if anyone can help me. I'm 11 weeks pregnant with twins, and we are living in Germany. We're pretty desperate to get home to Adelaide for good before the babies are born, but the earliest we could probably leave (so DH can finish his contract) is at 30 weeks.

Barring unforeseen complications, does anyone see any dramas in such a long flight at 30 weeks with a twin pregnancy? I'm prepared to be a bit uncomfortable, and my OB has said she is happy to write a letter confirming I can fly (assuming that this is true at the time) but I'm worried that the airlines will refuse to let me fly at the last minute. I really, really don't want to be stuck in Germany for the birth! I would rather leave DH here and head home alone a bit earlier, although that is obviously not a great solution either.

Has anyone had any trouble along these lines? Is there a particular airline that is more lenient than others?

Any advice appreciated! Thanks very much!

Narelle 29
DH Craig 30
and little ones (yes, pg with twins!)

Are you serious! Sorry, but I dont think they will recommend it, as it is a very long flight and getting to 30 weeks is even a challenge, isnt it.

I wasnt even allowed by my OB to fly interstate at that time of my pregnancy, I think the second trimester is the only "SAFE" time, but with twins I think it would be pretty rough going.

I really hope that you can work something out to enable you to back in Aust. for the birth of your babies and congrats on your pregnancy.

ME 24
DH 24
DD 10/99 Autistic
DS 06/02
Baby 3 Due 2 August 04
[img]http://preg.fertilityfriend.com/pregticker/3985f[/img]

Hello Narelle,

Congratulations on your twin pg !

Sorry, but I also have to say it would be unwise in the extreme to travel that length of time at 30 wks! This board is chocka of twins born at and before 30 wks.

I actually found it quite incredible that your ob even offered you a cover letter to travel, my ob hospitalised me not long after 30 wks because he didn't want me travelling ONE hour to see him or the hospital!

I would recommend travelling as soon as possible!

I hope your pg runs smoothly for you!

Janelle3
mum to Brooklyn Rose 13/05/99
Twin boys
Ethan Thomas and Asher Lee 15/03/02

i am pregnant with twins too. My ob won't let me fly 4 hours to NZ or 1 hour to Townsville. - at any stage of my pregnancy. He said to me 'this is your family, and you need to look after them. You don't want to risk it and I don't want you delivering 24 weekers!'
Needless to say I have cancelled my travel plans.


Me 28
DH 34
TTC #1 sept 2001
IVF OCT 2003 - No luck
ICSI Feb 2004 - BFP!!!
Hewie 1 and Hewie 2 due November 15th 2004
[img]http://lilypie.com/days/041115/0/1/0[/img]

Thanks ladies, appreciate your thoughts - you have scared me a little, but on reflection I think we will stick with our current plan.

We had another u/s this morning at a different clinic, so I had a chance to ask for a second opinion of a different OB. Once again, she said there is no reason not to fly (except for discomfort), and that she would be prepared to issue a med certificate. Maybe European doctors have a different attitude to flying than Aust ones. Perhaps I'll ring an Australian OB and see what they say. The airlines say 32 weeks for twins is their cutoff.

So, at this stage, I think we will plan to come home at 30 weeks, and when/if complications or whatever arise, I'll get home as soon as I can. If there is an indication close to the time that flying is risky, then I won't do it and we will have our twins here.

Maybe we'll splash out on business class!

Thanks again,

Narelle


Narelle 29
DH Craig 30
and little ones (yes, pg with twins!)

I just wanted to say that I am now at week 30 and extremely uncomfortable. It is more like being full term now for a singleton.
Hopping on a plane for 24 hours could be unbearable for you. I am having trouble sitting for long periods of time on the sofa!
Any way hope you work it out and good luck.
Camilla.

Hi

I think it's a big move flying at 30wks pg with twins. I was in hospital from 29 wks (had the twins at 37wks) with placenta praevia, that just came out of nowhere. To me I'd rather fly earlier and be safe, then getting to 30wks, plans in order, and not being able to go.

Glad to see your moving to Adelaide. I had my twins in Canberra, and saw the light and had to move back to Adelaide. Sure is nice to be home.

If you think of moving back earlier, and need somewhere to stay give us a yell. We have a huge house with heaps of room, and the girls off EB can vouch I'm not a nutter. I even had Justine (Jussy) and her twin girls stay with me in Canberra.

Good luck.

Where in Adelaide are you planning on moving to?

Kerry<BR>
Mummy to Twins
Amy & Corey
13/2/02



http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/m/mcpack/

Yep, Kerry is not a nutter!!! LMAO. Wish I could visit.

Cheers

Justine
DH Nick

Blake 17.7.99 (premmie)
Haylee & Tianna 17.3.02 (premmies)

[img]http://www.geocities.com/jussy227/0021.txt[/img]

Hi Narelle,

I'm no expert but can tell you that when I lived in the UK and was in the process of moving back to Adelaide I was told I would not be allowed to fly by my chosen airline after 26 weeks, and that was when I was pg with a singleton. I flew at 23 weeks and it was a long, horribly uncomfortable flight even though we had a seat with extra leg room! My DH stayed two weeks and then flew back to the UK to pack up our house and finish out his month's notice at his work, he was gone for 6 weeks. There is no way i could have flown back later than I did.
I have since had twins 4 months ago and I know that even at 30 weeks that this trip will be too much for you even if you are in great health. Is there anyway you could come out on your own earlier?
I know that is not ideal but please think really hard about flying at 30 weeks.

All the best and goodluck with your pregnancy and your move

Jo

Consider a stopover along the way - Singapore or similar.

I flew a 7 hour trip at 32 weeks (not twins) - it wasn't comfortable (walking those aisles) but I will do it again and know several other mothers who've done it at that stage in PG (but again not twins).

A thought on complications - wouldn't it then be too late to fly back to Oz once complications are known? I can't imagine a Dr saying - Oh, you've got these risks so jump on a long haul flight as soon as you can!?!! (Especially from a country with a medical record comparable to Australia's.)

Kylie

I was booked to go to USA at around 18-20 weeks but
cancelled and DH went to compete in a softball tournament
alone. At the time I researched and found different airlines
have different rules, but most won't let you fly past around 30
weeks, even with a letter. Also found average twin gestation
in my area was just 32 weeks, but personally knew 3 Mums
who gave birth between 29 and 32 weeks while I was pg.
Have later met dozens who have given birth from 24 weeks
on.

Awfully glad I cancelled when the boys decided it was time at
24 weeks 5 days while away for the weekend 3 hours from
home. We ended up away from home for 10 weeks because
it all happened so fast they couldn't transfer me before birth
and the boys were not stable enough to transfer after birth.
There is no way you could get home in a situation like mine.
They were born just 15 hours after my waters broke with no
warning.

See the photos in my sig with photo at 24 weeks exactly. I
was huge and constantly being asked how many days I had
to go!

Jannette

Jet #39 DH #37
Twin boys 17-11-02 EDD 3-3-03
Shea Phoenix 740g - 1 already!
Tainn Hunter 620g - left us 8-1-
03
[img]http://sc.groups.msn.com/tn/
28/A2/JannettesPhotos/6/
140.jpg[/img]
http://groups.msn.com/
JannettesPhotos/shoebox.msnw

I can't help you on the twins angle, but most travel insurers will not insure you beyond 26 weeks. I travelled twice for work at 27, 28 weeks (to Los Angeles and Singapore) and work had to pay $1000 US for 2 days of coverage each. I was actually quite comfortable doing it (but I was only pregnant with a singleton, and I was travelling business class).

Given a lot can happen in 24 hours, I would be seriously worried about travelling with no insurance coverage at 30 weeks.

Jennifer
Callum 13.09.01
Declan 09.05.03

www.predavec.com

Dear Narelle,

were you finally flying with 30 weeks? Please share your experience....

thanks

martha

This thread is 6 years old - I don't know if the original poster is still around to answer your question!

Not sure what she did about the light, but she had the twins 7 weeks early (yes I went back and checked out her posts LOL) so would have been cutting it pretty fine!

My sleuthing has discovered a post of hers saying yes she did make it:

Just realised it is old.

Hello congrats with the twins.
I do not think it is a good idea or i don't think the hospital will allow you to fly especailly that late in your pregnancy..
My twins were born at 32 wks.
The labour was a natural labour. The end of the pregnancy was hard, especailly while running after my older 2.
I think if you were going to move back to Australia you would want to do it sooner...