During my pregnancy last year we had the rare opportunity to visit Turkey inbetween waves of COVID19 lockdowns.
Qatar has generously gifted myself, along 100 000 other healthcare workers, return airline tickets as part of their #Thankyourheroes campaign.
The stars aligned and we were fortunate to use ours, jetting in and out of Isthanbul.
Given, this took a lot of very careful planning, as Turkey also had their own form of lockdown (affecting tourists less than citizens)
It’s a risky move - traveling out of country with your babybump, but it could be the most rewarding much needed bonding time before the baby comes. And as I haven‘t attempted an international trip with our newborn yet, I can only imagine traveling after your delivery would have its own set of issues.
Here are a few steps to keep in mind when planning your lockdown international babymoon.
Airline flight pregnancy policy
This is the first thing to look out for - you can plan your dream holiday without being able to board your flight. Every airline differs, but generally most of them are off limits by the time you’re midway into your 3rd trimester. Luckily I was well into my 2nd trimester meaning I’m good to go, but the babybump was evident, so expect some hassles.
2. Your gynae’s ‘safe to fly’ letter
Schedule an additional checkup closer to your flight. This is your gynae’s last chance to make sure everything is safe and in order for you to remain low risk during your 2 week babymoon abroad. This is also the opportunity to write you an original formal Doctor‘s letter confirming you are a low risk pregnancy and safe to board your flight. Make certified copies of these and keep them handy in all your carry-on luggage.
3. Border control Xrays
Please don’t mindlessly wander through the xray scanners as you go through border control. As a pregnant woman you are entitled to deny due to the health risks imposed on your baby. This is also the time to have your Doctor’s letter ready confirming your pregnancy.
4. Deep venous thrombus Prophylaxis
During pregnancy your risk for bloodclots increases, making you high risk mid-air when you are sitting for hours on end.
My gynae prescribed us Clexane, which is an injection you can administer yourself to prevent clots from forming. We took one the morning of the flight and 2days afterwards just to be safe. Also get a hold of medical grade prevention stockings. They are so uncomfortable but so necessary.
5. Get vaccinated
This one didn’t apply to us when we traveled as the current vaccine trail at that stage did not include pregnant women. However I trust you’ll struggle to cross borders these days without proof of being vaccinated.
6. Top up your medical aid
Check in with your financial advisor to ensure you’re covered for pregnancy related complications abroad. Turkey had a special insurance for tourists getting COVID while in Turkey, so we opted to take that as well.
7. Research where to get tested outbound and inbound
The international airport you’re passing through should have testing stations set up by now - but make sure.
For Isthanbul we had to travel to the airport the day before to test and wait anxiously for our results. Which ultimately meant a wasted day where we could be exploring the city.
8. On arrival, phone the museums, arena’s, castles you plan to visit.
Visiting hours differ with stages of lockdown, and they are not updated online.
More than once we made our way to a big historical site only to be told they’re not opening today. What a letdown right?
Ok now for the fun part - the perks of traveling internationally during a lockdown.
We’ve done out fair share of international trips, both work and leisure related, over the past 10years - but this was by far the most authentic experience.
The tourist industry is hungry for tourists, which means you are treated like royalty everywhere you go.
More than once we were the only residents in the whole hotel. We ever got bumped up to the honeymoon suite and one of the lodges.
Historical sites usually flooded by busloads are yours to wander empty galleries, walkways and ancient ruins. Kilometers of empty palace corridors as if it were your own…
Prices are so affordable, we could stay in instaready hotels we could only dream of being able to afford during Tourist high- season.
We emerged ourselves in the art surrounding Turkish Carpets, went to several Carpet houses before acquiring 2 masterpieces currently displayed in iur apartment. These came about at a fraction of the price they’d normally go for in Turkey, or in South Africa.
Two experiences that stood out was the ancient city Ephesus, there were practically more guards on duty than tourists in the whole 4km excavated strip. The famous Library was ours alone for more than an hour.
The second experience I’d always cherish was the hot airballoon ride over Cappadocia.
Here, with the sunset, I promised our unborn daughter that we’d raise her to be mindful and aware of the world. We want her to experience the world with us, even if she might be too young to grasp all of its complexity.
In conclusion, if your sanity requires one last carefree exploration without prams and diaperbags before the baby comes, take the leap of faith. It will be risky, but it might also be one of the most authentic experiences. Plus, you get to tell your newborn how she was also in Turkey on an airballoon once. What a great story for the memory books.
I hope this helps your journey
Love
Surgeon Mommy
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