Would you travel across the world at 22 weeks?

[RosieL]

I'm barging in over here from the March 2012 DDC in hopes of some guidance and thought on travel. 

I'm a PhD student and a paper of mine (with a professor) was accepted at our discipline's big conference in December. It's in China. CHINA! I will be about 22 weeks at that point (GLWATCDR), and have no idea how I'll feel about going. Assuming a normal pregnancy, what would you guys do?

[Abraisme]

Yes, I would. I actually went to china when I was 7 months pregnant with my first. I really had no issues and personally think it's fine. Good luck.

[Jaimee]

As long as you're feeling fine and take general precautions while over there (food, water, etc.) I wouldn't see it as a problem.  My mom went to China a couple years ago and a lot of her travel companions ended up with food poisoning.  I would imagine you would need to take extra steps when you're pregnant, but I also imagine it could be done, especially at an international conference where they are likely to put you up at a nice hotel.

Congrats on getting your paper accepted and congrats on your pregnancy!  Good luck with your decision.

[RosieL]

My biggest problem is that I kinda of have to decide now. The earlier the better or else I won't be able to afford to go last-minute. So I won't know how I feel. But it sounds like from the two of you that (at least in a normal pregnancy) it should be fine? 

I have a chat with my midwife planned for today and I'll post up any detail she has for me to consider. 

[Jaimee]

There are the other normal airplane and travel considerations like making sure that you get up and walk around frequently, staying hydrated, eating properly, getting enough sleep, etc.  And then the fact that you'll be away from your normal care provider if anything should come up medically.  So having a plan in place for how to maximize your health while traveling and what you would do (like where you would go) if you needed medical attention, would be helpful and give you peace of mind.

Also from an emotional/career standpoint I would do a bit of soul searching about how important this particular conference is to you.  I know in my dh's academic field one of the major conferences is international every 4 years, but the other 3 years it is within the US.  The conference is really the same, they just pick an exotic location.  So he has opted not to spend the time and money on those and focus on the ones that are domestic.  But if this is THE conference and you feel like it's an opportunity of a lifetime (or of your career) then it's probably really worth planning and figuring out how to make it work.

[RosieL]

Yeah, this will be a tough decision. I'm in the early stages of my doctoral program. I should have gone to the conference last year, but didn't because it was too much fo DH (long story). This yeah I have a paper accepted, which is a big deal, and I need to start introducing myself to my future colleagues and hiring schools. This is the job market conference; it's THE conference for my field. 

However, reading the Harvard work-life article posted in the WOTH thread makes me think twice about being pregnant and showing the first time I meet my potential hiring schools. As much as I'd like to pretend it's not the case, I feel like I could put myself at a severe disadvantage by being visibly pregnant at the first impression.  

[Jaimee]

It's unfortunately true that it would be to your disadvantage to appear visibly pregnant at a job interview (even though they technically cannot discriminate against you), but you're not interviewing for a job at this point, you're networking.  I wouldn't think that would be as big an issue.  Plus, is this your first?  You may not even be visibly pregnant at 22 weeks.  You might have just a tiny bump that could be easily concealed and/or played off as just how you look.  What field are you in?

[TalkToMeNow]

Originally Posted by Jaimee 

It's unfortunately true that it would be to your disadvantage to appear visibly pregnant at a job interview (even though they technically cannot discriminate against you), but you're not interviewing for a job at this point, you're networking.  I wouldn't think that would be as big an issue.  Plus, is this your first?  You may not even be visibly pregnant at 22 weeks.  You might have just a tiny bump that could be easily concealed and/or played off as just how you look.  What field are you in?

So true! With my first, I was barely showing at 22 weeks. Not that you need to hide it if you don't want to, but wearing dark colors and maybe a nice, long scarf might be all you need. 

[RosieL]

The possibility of not showing is very encouraging! I'm in a business field, mostly economics-based.

[Eternal_Howl]

Originally Posted by RosieL 

I'm barging in over here from the March 2012 DDC in hopes of some guidance and thought on travel. 

I'm a PhD student and a paper of mine (with a professor) was accepted at our discipline's big conference in December. It's in China. CHINA! I will be about 22 weeks at that point (GLWATCDR), and have no idea how I'll feel about going. Assuming a normal pregnancy, what would you guys do?

Hi RosieL,

I will be about 27 weeks along when I leave the US and return to New Zealand. I've lived here for a couple of years, so it hasn't been a vacation. Allegedly, my pregnancy is high risk, but I think that's more professional concern for me than the baby. (Everything's fine.) People keep saying "some airlines won't let you fly too late in pregnancy (yeah at around 36 weeks!). As long as you feel fine, stay hydrated and move around the cabin on the plane, I would think you'd be okay to fly. Just note that you may not get travel insurance, or at the very least you will have your pregnancy excluded from any possible claim. 

[Sasha's Mama]

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

So true! With my first, I was barely showing at 22 weeks. Not that you need to hide it if you don't want to, but wearing dark colors and maybe a nice, long scarf might be all you need. 

Same here.  I just looked thick around the middle and lost my waistline at about that time. With a blazer and a scarf or dark shirt underneath, you probably wouldn't have even noticed. Second pregnancy, not so much! :)

[justamama]

Yep, a nice jacket or blazer could have easily concealed my first pregnancy at 22 weeks, and I thought I'd popped at that point! Even on baby number 4, at 23 weeks people are still at the tail end of the "ummm, are you pregnant" stage.

I say go, but I have traveled during each of my pregnancies. Never internationally, but travel nonetheless.

[Motivated Mama]

I would absolutely travel and I wouldn't worry about my pregnancy affecting my future career. In fact, I am pregnant with my fourth and I start an internship next week. I told them that I need to have my project wrapped up by November 1st, but other than that, I have not indicated to my preceptor or advisor that my children or pregnancy could be a hindrance. If something happens, I'll deal with it then, but I'm not going to fail to complete my masters because I am pregnant. I think that your dedication and talent will show if that is what you want. Of course, I'm not traveling, but I would if I had to.

[RosieL]

Thanks MM! I'm leaning toward going. I am going to confer with my co-author once she's back in town. She happens to be a native of the conference city. It looks like I"m going to China though! I'm excited.

[SilverFish]

not pregnant right now, but yes i would go, and i wouldn't assume you'd look pregnant either. i was hired for a job around then with my first and i just wore a loose dress and no one knew. Depending on where the conference is (and i'm assuming it's in a major town or city) there wouldn't be any extra safety precautions you'd have to take either. rural china, yeah, drink bottled water and watch out for fresh produce and pre-prepared foods, but where you're probably going, it's as healthy and safe as any town or city in north america. make sure to get travel insurance, and maybe ask your co-author for help getting the contact number of a OBGYN or women's hospital (just in case something happens to go wrong, it's good to know where to go or who to call), especially if it's a longer trip. 

[KeanusMomma]

When I read the title of this thread, I imagined a multi-continent backpacking trek and thought "no way!" But flying to China for a very important career opportunity sounds totally doable, as long as you factor in precautions as pps said. In the movies pregnant women can't fly in 3rd tri, so look into that, and while I have no personal experience, I know i'd be very uncomfortable pregnant in a plane seat.

OTOH, I think it's important to note that this won't be any easier with a baby or multiple children, and you certainly wouldn't want to wait til they are teenagers to do this. I think it's way cool you are getting your doctorate! Congrats on that and pregnancy!

[RosieL]

Oh man, a multi-continent backpacking trek sounds incredible!

Thanks for the congrats. This conference will be every year, and it's likely I will need to attend every year. It is international every other year and 2013 is in New Zealand! I imagine I will take along any little one(s) we have at that time with DH, or my mom. 

[ernverry]

I am now 37 weeks pregnant and 2 weeks ago I flew from New Zealand to Portland, Oregon to attend my sister's wedding. I looked extremely pregnant, but nobody gave me any hassles about getting on the plane. I think it depends on the airline, though. All in all, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. If I could do it when I am this far along, you could def do it.

[karmamamaa]

Go for it! 22 weeks you'll be fine...rarely do airlines actually ever ask for documentation but I find some international carriers have stricter policies (usually due to long distances over water traveled, etc) and I would just get a note from your OB or midwife just in case. Most domestic airlines are 36 weeks, some asian carriers can go as "low" as 32 weeks for requiring documentation, but again appearance is rather subjective so you're unlikely to be asked.

Other than that, that sounds like quite an opportunity. Good luck!

[RosieL]

Um, wow. This thread made a Mothering e-mail. How odd. I forget how public the internet is sometimes.