Traveling with LO vs. Traveling pregnant

brij2006 · October 2013

So I want to get some opinions on this from other ladies, because I feel like I'm going crazy trying to figure out the logistics.

My BFF is stationed in San Diego, and I fly wherever they're stationed once a year to visit her and her family. My original plan was that I was going to fly out there in January or February to visit (while it's cold here). Now that I'm pregnant, I'm not sure if my employer will allow me to take vacation time in the same year as my maternity leave (since I will be using vac time to get some pay during ML). Am I completely nutso in thinking that maybe I will fly out to see her after the baby is born? This would only happen if I get 3 months of ML, and I would probably go when the baby is 2-2.5 months old. The baby would be coming with me, and it is a 4 hour flight.

H says that if I feel comfortable with it, then he's fine with us going. Mostly because he knows that this won't be the first and last time we travel with an infant. Or should I just try to push the issue with my boss, and use the vacation time while I'm pregnant and fly out there then. I will likely go when I'm 5-6 months pregnant, if I choose to go then.

AshleyMatt1215 · October 2013

I've obviously never traveled with an infant, but I do work with someone who traveled from PA to Minnesota with her son when he was between 2 and 3 months old. She didn't mind it at all, but she was also going to see family and knew a ton of help was waiting for here there. He's just over a year old now and she flies with him quite frequently to visit family.

I've traveled by car a lot this pregnancy, but I've never flown and I won't have a chance to fly before LO arrives. The biggest concern I would have would be swelling and blood clots... but if it's not a really long flight that shouldn't be an issue.

tdmd09 · October 2013

Personally I wouldn't want to take my baby on a plane that young since planes are a cesspool of germs and 2 month olds will only have one round of shots. It would be infinitely easier to travel while pregnant, and at 5-6 months you'd be relatively comfortable. I flew at 18 weeks and felt fine. I know some people have flown with babies that young but I personally wouldn't feel comfortable doing it.

I don't see why it would be an issue for you to use vacation time. If that's the only way you get paid for mat leave, and you are willing to take some unpaid time to stay home longer, you'd really only be shorting yourself the money, so I don't get why your employer would have a problem with it. Or maybe I'm not understanding anything.

alexisanna44 · October 2013

We travelled with Lucy to WI (from TX) when she was 10 weeks old. It was awesome. I wore her in the airport and she slept most of the plane ride. Her ears didn't bother her at all and it worked out great for us.

bobcee · October 2013

We just flew with DS when he was 8 weeks on a 4 hr flight and its pretty easy when they're that young. Just make sure they are nursing or sucking on take off and landing. They sleep a lot during that time and with the noise and vibration of the plane, my LOs always just conked out at that age. It becomes harder when they become mobile and interactive to keep them still and entertained so take advantage while you can.

That being said, the amount of stuff you'll need to bring for an infant will obviously make the trip harder. Also it may limit you in what you are able to do while you're there. You may still have a really screwed up sleep schedule depending on your LO and so I would take factors like that into consideration.

Also if you have vacation time you earned to use, I don't see how maternity leave (especially if you're covered under FMLA) should interfere with that.

LittleLady77 · October 2013

A friend of mine flew from CA to Hawaii and back with a 3 month old and didn't have any problems. She told me it was MUCH easier to travel with her then than it is now (she's 10 months now).

brij2006 · October 2013

The only part about the vacation time and ML is that my employer has expressed that he will give us 3 months of paid ML, if we do not take vacation time during that year. So that's where I'm stuck. I will have 4 weeks of vacation time built up (that will have to be used during ML), but if I take vacation time beforehand then it isn't fair to the other girl that had to cash out all of her vacation time in order to get a fully paid ML.

bobcee · October 2013

brij2006 said:
The only part about the vacation time and ML is that my employer has expressed that he will give us 3 months of paid ML, if we do not take vacation time during that year. So that's where I'm stuck. I will have 4 weeks of vacation time built up (that will have to be used during ML), but if I take vacation time beforehand then it isn't fair to the other girl that had to cash out all of her vacation time in order to get a fully paid ML.

Ok in that case if they're willing to pay for all that ML barring you don't take any other vacation for the year, I would wait.

AshleyMatt1215 · October 2013

ML issues give me a headache. My company is ridiculous too... I'm sorry it's so complicated.

brij2006 · October 2013

@ashleymatt1215 I agree! I'm a salaried position, so technically I should still get paid through ML. When I asked about it last year at my review, I got told that it is on a case by case basis. There is also only 1 other person in our office that is of child bearing age, and she had her son 4 years ago and doesn't want another one. She got 3 months paid for, but had to cash out all of her vacation time.

Part of me thinks that I should just fly out and see her within the next 6 weeks. Before I even tell my bosses that I'm pregnant.

wiggyslilsis · October 2013

I flew across the country with Ava Nichol at 10 1/2 months. There were quite a few babies. I think the germs thing would make me a little hesitant. Honestly when we went I kept thinking it would be so much Easier if we had gone earlier before LO wasmobile and awake most of the time. Yeah I would have had to pack more stuff and been more tired but the trip totally threw off her good sleep schedule and it was so difficult making her stay still.

ream02 · October 2013

I started flying with DD when she was 5 months and every year until she was 8 and I traveled while I was pregnant with her. She travels well. Taking the extra stuff wasn't a big deal to me. I packed a bigger suitcase for her and I to share and I took a carry on shared that had stuff that I might need in flight for her.

I can't even take a 2 hour car drive with DS before he is throwing a fit to get out of his car seat. Unfortunately I think it depends on the child and you have to do what you think you can handle.

Emeraldeyed315 · October 2013

I'm going to travel with LO for the first time when she is 4 months old. Everyone has told me its a great age to travel (newborn age.) On the plus side, then your BFF will get to meet your LO!

Traveling with LO vs. Traveling pregnant

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