Doug

My wife and I are contemplating a 6-day trip to Havana, Cuba this fall (with a US gov't approved tour group). My wife will be 5 months pregnant (and carrying twins). Should we think of going somewhere else instead? Any thoughts are appreciated.<BR><BR>Doug<BR>New York City

John

You should be OK. Cuba has more doctors per capita than any other country in the world except Israel.

?

Why would you go to a place that is non americanized when your wife is pregnant? It is NOT part of the United States and does not have the same standards....

Whaaa?

Doug,<BR>If you have to ask, you know the answer is not to go.<BR>Why take your wife who's pregnant with twins to a 3rd world country?<BR>I'm sure walking around in 100 degree heat with morning sickness eating food she's not accustomed to is not her idea of fun is it?

tweedy

I would have to agree, medical care is going to be different there, and if there is a problem your insurance will not pay for anything there.<BR><BR>I would go somewhere else in the states and save the trip for after the twins arrive and you NEED a vacation and can leave the twins with grandma.<BR><BR>How about Key West? Or Macinaw Island in Michigan for romantic sites or Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard.<BR><BR>Have a great trip.

Steve

I would speak with her physician also as they may not want her to travel that far during the pregnancy.

Wendy

Doug, definately ask your wife's Dr. about their thoughts on this. <BR><BR>also do you mind if I ask how you are getting to be apart of an approved tour? My friend just came back from Cuba on an educational tour.<BR><BR>to ?, what the heck is "americanized"??? What are countries besides the US would be americanized?? Too funny!

lol

On the upside, if you were going to Cuba, and by chance you had to stay, and the twins were born there, they would probably have both nationlities.<BR>That would be interesting. lol

Sue W

Doug, this ? should be addressed and answered by your wife's OBGYN. He/She is the expert in your wife's prenatal care, not us. Even if she is having a text-book pregnancy, carrying multiples falls into the high-risk category. If complications arise, she'll want to be with near her own doctor and hospital. <BR><BR>I am the mother of twins who delivered 8 weeks early. During my pregnancy, I knew the risks involved, yet I was convinced I would carry them to term. NOT!!! I wasn't mentally OR physically prepared for their early arrival or the complications that arose soon after their birth. Unfortunately, multiples are notorious for arriving early. Believe me, there's nothing more comforting than being on familiar grounds. <BR><BR>Good luck to all of you<BR>

Tanya

I too had wanted to travel while carrying twins but my doctor said a big NO! She is a "High risk" pregnancy. You should check with airlines as well. They may not want her travelling - ie insurance may not cover. Even travelling within the US really is not an option. Don't jeopardize the babies (and your wife) by travelling. Anything can trigger premature delivery and most definitely it is more likely to happen in multiple births!!<BR><BR>

Doug

Everyone:<BR><BR>Many thanks for your responses, which pretty much played out the conversation I was having in my head. All of your thoughts are helpful to us. Clearly. the conservative thing to do here is to go somewhere more modernized and with easier access to our home in NYC. (For those of you who are interested, our doctor is fine with us traveling at that time.) Our original plan was to spend a week or so in Bermuda. Then, when we saw that there was space available on my college's alumni educational tour of Cuba--one of the places on our "hit list"--it was hard to resist. I think we are going back to Plan A, unless someone can convince me that going to Bermuda (not even 2 hours by plane from NYC) would be a "dense" thing to do. Thanks again.<BR><BR>Doug<BR>New York City

Brian

Doug, I think we are all happy to hear that you have come to your senses. And, we would like to wish you and your wife a very relaxing & enjoyable vacation. Congratulations, and best wishes on your future bundles of joy.

ramjet

Doug the answer is a simple no. Going to Cuba in any way is a completely different procedure, plus with wife being 5 months pregnant any medical need would not be covered by majority of carriers. (Wendy I think thats what ? was trying to get across maybe?), medical coverage is usually only available in America. Twins, huh? They will bring majic to your lives.

gail

Was your MD OK with travel, or OK with travel to Cuba? Obviously, before you go to Bermuda, your wife should check with MD just before departure. Check out travel insurance and make sure it will cover pregnancy, especially medical evacuation if necessary. Just imagine your wife going into premature labor, being sent to hospital - and kept there or on bedrest for duration of pregnancy. Medical evacuation or staying in Bermuda for another 3-4 months could get real expensive.<BR><BR>The other thing you did not mention is how your wife feels about this. As our hormones change during pregnancy we tend to become a little crazy - so make sure everything is refundable if she changes her mind.<BR><BR>I flew for 4 hours when 4 months pregnant with one kid. My feet swelled up, the guy in front of me smoked a cigar and made me nauseous (this was many years ago when cigarette smoking was OK in sections of planes - he just decided to bend the rules), I had a craving for pears and tried to bring some into Bahamas and they were confiscated.<BR><BR>But we had a great 6 days, and did not regret going for a moment.

Coconut

Wherever you go, make sure to check with the airlines and see if they require you to bring a note from your wife's doctor "clearing" her to travel. My 6-month pregnant friend recently found out that several of the major carriers won't allow you on the plane if they can tell you are pregnant and you don't have a note.

John

I don't know if you will find the medical facilities much better in Bermuda than in Cuba.

xxx

Most if not all airlines will not allow you to travel from 26 weeks pregnant, any time before that you are very strongly advised to travel with a medical certificate.

x

Hey, Doug:<BR><BR>I am preggo myself and was just researching med facilities in Bermuda. Bottom line: not that great. They do have an ultrasound machine at the hospital, which your wife will need if she runs into problems. The hospital can also airlift more critical cases to Johns Hopkins or ??(forgot the other hospital).<BR><BR>Personally, there can be a lot of unforeseen issues with multiples and I would not risk a trip outside the US. My friend just ended up in intensive care (6 months pregnant) for a few days and she is carrying multiples.<BR><BR>We ended up going to FL rather than Bermuda.<BR><BR>Good luck!

x

Either you are a crazy person by even CONSIDERING travelling to a third world country with her or this is a troll post.

cuban

of course its a troll! An AMERICAN travelling to Cuba??????