Hi all,

My husband and I had planned a trip to the BI at the end of January. It now turns out that I am pregnant and I am wondering whether to cancel the Volcano portion of our trip.

I had read on the VNP web site that volcanic emissions are dangerous for pregnant women. We had booked two nights at the Volcano lodge and then 5 nights on the Kohala coast. I am now wondering whether we should spend those two days in Hilo instead. My husband could always take a day trip by himself to the volcano.

Does anyone know anything more about going near the volcano? would it be too close to even stay at the lodge? are there sulphuric gases everywhere in the park?

Hate to be neurotic but I do want to take the necessary precautions....

thanks.

Have you thought about asking your doctor? I would certainly take his word over a bunch of strangers on Fodor's!

jacolis, you would probably want to talk to your ob/gyn about this. Also, go to Health.com.

I know volcanos can spew toxic gas but I can't imagine someone building a hotel nearby.

We smelled sulphur only when we were within a few feet of the sulfur vents! The breezes would dissipate these fumes unless you were hanging right over them, or perhaps right downwind. The active part of the volcano isn't close enough to the lodge to affect its air quality. Go and have fun.

The web site says: "Fumes are hazardous to your health. Visitors with heart or breathing problems and infants, young children, and pregnant women are especially at risk and should avoid Halema`uma`u Crater, Sulfur Banks and other areas where volcanic fumes are present." That just means don't breathe the fumes, avoid those specific locations, it doesn't mean you can't visit the park!

I would take the volcano anyday versus the air here in Houston.

Congratulations!

Congratulations!! Probably a day (or even) two aren't going to be a problem unless you spend the entire time breathing the fumes.

I don't blame you about being cautious though, especially the first 3 months. You could just do a day trip rather than 2 days as well.

Joy!

congrats! ask your obgyn...please.

The sulphur smell didn't seem bad when we were there this summer. If you are pregnant, I wouldn't attempt the hike over the lava rock to see the current lava flow(which isn't much right now).
But ask your Dr. and also check with the rangers the day you visit to see the current air quality. The park is huge and there is much to see. Well worth the trip.

The signs do warn you, but you'd probably notice anyway - I found that I was a bit short of breath standing too close to the steam vents. Having said that: you have to be quite close in order to be affected by the fumes. The hotel is fine, and most of the surrounding area is perfectly OK. There's lots to see there, and it would be a shame to miss it. Congratulations on your impending Blessed Event!

Hello all,

Thank you for all of your advice. I DID ask my o/b but she said they didn't "learn about the effects of volcanic emissions in medical school up here in Canada". lol!

I guess I was more wondering if the fumes were EVERYWHERE in the park, etc.

We are leaning towards spending those two nights in Hilo and either: 1)doing a helicopter ride over the volcano; or 2) just driving up for an afternoon but staying away from the vents.

Given that we won't really be hiking around, I question whether there would still be enough to do in the park for two days... (I know there is a museum though).

thanks all.

I would advise against the helicopter ride. When we were there a few years ago the driver who took us to the summit of Mauna Kea told us that those helicopters crash too often - not always fatally, for sure, but a crash is still a crash. More recently some people have posted here with similar information. The gases from the volcano can interfere with the internal combustion engines on the helicopters. I'd suggest you go with Plan B - go for the day, but stay away from the vents. Have a fantastic trip - I'm jealous! We'd love to go back some day soon.

I think anon and meesthare have given you good advice. It's the motion sickness that might get you on a helicopter....It affected me when I was one month pregnant on a Kauai heli ride.

I'd reduce it to a one night stay at Volcano, and stay away from the steam vents, definitely.

Best wishes and congratulations!

OK, I'm an ob/gyn and have been to Volcano NP too, so here's your answer--I think going to the park is fine--the air is for the most part is perfectly fine and better than in most cities. However, I would stay away from the steam vents and not do the hike across the crater floor or the hike out in the lava fields. Breathing those sulferous fumes made me feel bad at times, and I wasn't pregnant. I would also skip the helicopter ride--I can definitely vouch that it can be nausea inducing.
I think two nights at Volcano lodge is fine--there is lots to see without having to breath fumes and it is really pretty up there, also very different from the rest of the island.

This reminds me of when we planned a tour of the California wine country--and I found out I was pregnant 2 weeks prior to going. I was a great designated driver.

Which is worse - asking for medical advice on a forum or giving medical advice on a forum ?

They are both equally bad!

Can you believe how idiotic these people are.

Duh....worried about harming your baby...DON'T GO!

This is not difficult unless you are a histrionic, neurotic, moron who can't make a decision between potentially harmng a baby or seeing a volcano.

HELLO...are you like brain dead?

You ask strangers on a travel board about a medical condition...oh yeah...real smart.

The future looks bright with people like you reproducing.

The question is perfectly reasonable and most medical professionals will not have much experience with VNP or volcanic gas emissions. In fact, I would have to think that the posters who have been there and the local rangers would likely know more about local conditions. My personal experience would be that unless you are very close to a vent, the air in L.A. is more dangerous any day. By the way, ever wonder how many unknowing first trimester honeymooners visit this place?

By the way Barney, aren't there a lot of volcanos in Bedrock? Are people still reproducing there, or is it just the dinosaurs?

Rusty and Barney, did you get lumps of coal in your stockings, or what? If not, you should have.

Barney really likes to use the word "histrionic". He used it under another screen-name on the Europe board and got his ears pinned back. I wonder if he first discovered it written in his own medical chart?