Want to get pregnant, but travelling to the Philipines in January
June 4, 2016 11:32 PM Subscribe
My boyfriend and I want to start trying for a baby. But we have a 2,5 week trip to Hong Kong and the Philipines planned for January. How should we proceed, considering zika and (possibly) travelling when pregnant?
My boyfriend and I are getting married next month after living together for seven years. I'm 28 and he's 30. We have both been talking about having a baby for a long time, and now we'd like to start trying after the wedding. But we have a 18-day trip planned around New Year's where we're going to visit family who's living in the the Philipines, and flying in and out of Hong Kong.
Now I'm unsure of how to proceed. On one hand, I know that there is a risk of zika in the Philipines – however, there only seem to have been a few cases reported. If I wanted to be absolutely sure, I would wait 8 weeks after getting home.
On the other hand, we have already waited a while to start trying because of the wedding. And, most importantly, I keep thinking that it's very likely for it to take a year or more of trying until we get pregnant, so better to start earlier. If I were pregnant, it could be a nice last vacation as a couple only.
So what do you think I should do, considering the zika risk? If we wait until after the vacation, how seriously should we take the 8 week waiting period?
And also, if I do get pregnant, I would probably be in my first or second trimester – is it even safe to travel to a place like this then?
My boyfriend and I are getting married next month after living together for seven years. I'm 28 and he's 30. We have both been talking about having a baby for a long time, and now we'd like to start trying after the wedding. But we have a 18-day trip planned around New Year's where we're going to visit family who's living in the the Philipines, and flying in and out of Hong Kong.
Now I'm unsure of how to proceed. On one hand, I know that there is a risk of zika in the Philipines – however, there only seem to have been a few cases reported. If I wanted to be absolutely sure, I would wait 8 weeks after getting home.
On the other hand, we have already waited a while to start trying because of the wedding. And, most importantly, I keep thinking that it's very likely for it to take a year or more of trying until we get pregnant, so better to start earlier. If I were pregnant, it could be a nice last vacation as a couple only.
So what do you think I should do, considering the zika risk? If we wait until after the vacation, how seriously should we take the 8 week waiting period?
And also, if I do get pregnant, I would probably be in my first or second trimester – is it even safe to travel to a place like this then?
Don't know about the zika aspect of this, since the amount of cases in each country is different, and bound to go up a bit during the summer. On the aspect of travel and pregnancy though, I'd be more scared of travelling in the 7-12 weeks timeframe, in case you get really bad nausea/vomitting. Travelling in itself is ok (according to my OB, in healthy pregnancies) almost whenever, as long as you don't get too close to the final weeks in the third trimester.
I've been pregnant 3 times and travelled during all of them, but had to cancel one trip during week 13 due to hyperemesis gravidarum.
Can you plan your pregnancy around that period?
posted by CrazyLemonade at 2:21 AM on June 5, 2016
I've been pregnant 3 times and travelled during all of them, but had to cancel one trip during week 13 due to hyperemesis gravidarum.
Can you plan your pregnancy around that period?
posted by CrazyLemonade at 2:21 AM on June 5, 2016
If you drive, you are more likely to get into a car crash then of your baby contracting microcephaly (which I assume is your real concern, not Zika per se). It is statistically irrational for you to avoid warm humid countries with no serious Zika outbreaks, than for you to get in a car. Would you spend the next 9 months avoiding cars? I assume not.
Read this: http://ask.metafilter.com/296111/I-want-to-get-pregnant-but-Zika#4289914
And this: http://ask.metafilter.com/295033/If-you-could-move-anywhere-for-6-months-to-a-year-where-would-you-go#4273819
posted by moiraine at 8:23 AM on June 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Read this: http://ask.metafilter.com/296111/I-want-to-get-pregnant-but-Zika#4289914
And this: http://ask.metafilter.com/295033/If-you-could-move-anywhere-for-6-months-to-a-year-where-would-you-go#4273819
posted by moiraine at 8:23 AM on June 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Do you have any reason to think it will take you more than a year to get pregnant? I ask this as I think it is common for women to think it will takes ages (because we are bombarded with stories about decreasing fertility blahblah) but actually, if everything is in working order, you could get pregnant the first month you try.
posted by Dorothea_in_Rome at 12:54 PM on June 5, 2016
posted by Dorothea_in_Rome at 12:54 PM on June 5, 2016
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It could take a year of trying, but it could also take a month. I have gotten pregnant on the first month of trying twice now. Don't assume it'll take a long time, any more than you should assume it'll take a short time. You just can't know.
If I were you, I'd try to get refundable plane tickets, and keep watching the zika news. Things could be very different in several months.
posted by town of cats at 12:01 AM on June 5, 2016