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Zika virus and babymoon

  1. MrsSCB

    pomelo / 5257 posts

    @peachykeen: That's a good point. They were also talking a lot last summer about chikungunya spreading in the U.S. (another mosquito-borne tropical disease) and that didn't really happen. Hopefully zika is similarly kept at bay. Although the unfortunate thing is researchers are currently working on developing a vaccine for zika, but if pharmaceutical companies don't feel there will be a big market for it, they'll be more hesitant to invest a lot of money into it. Which would be bad for the countries currently suffering from zika that could really use a vaccine.

  2. dcw6411

    apricot / 382 posts

    @MrsBeluga: I hope it doesn't spread to CA. I live here too and bugs love me. I am the only person in my family who gets bit everytime I walk outside. Yuck!

  3. Mrs.KMM

    grapefruit / 4355 posts

    Personally, I would still go to the Caribbean or central America! But I have a trip booked to the Dominican Republic in May and another trip to Bonaire in July and I'm not at all concerned.

  4. PawPrints

    pomegranate / 3658 posts

    You could go to a really fancy resort in Palm Springs or Scottsdale and I'd be willing to bet you'd have a pretty comparable experience to a similar level of resort in the Caribbean or Central America. Really all you need is warm weather, a gorgeous pool, and somebody bringing you umbrella drinks, right?

    ...Alternatively, you could do what we did (long before zika virus was in the news) and just skip the babymoon in favor of a family vacation once LO is 3 months old. My reasoning was that I wanted to be able to drink, if I'm going to pay to travel somewhere. It was challenging at times, but a lot of fun! I'm really glad we did it.

  5. agold

    grapefruit / 4045 posts

    @LCTBQE: I heard that even though Jamaica isn't affected yet, their health minister advised its women to delay getting pregnant for the next 12 months because Jamaica expects it will be hit with the virus soon since its already in Haiti.

    @dcw6411: I'm also praying that the virus doesn't come to California! This is such a horrible thing to have going around.

  6. agold

    grapefruit / 4045 posts

    @PawPrints: I second Palm Springs or Scottsdale. I'd find a hotel with a lazy river pool!

  7. JoJoGirl

    cantaloupe / 6206 posts

    @PawPrints: I would, but our older LO will ruin any chance of relaxing

    @Mrs.KMM: Even while pregnant?

  8. PawPrints

    pomegranate / 3658 posts

    @JoJoGirl: Your parents could still babysit! Right? Unless you'd feel guilty taking LO2 along and leaving LO1 behind.

  9. LCTBQE

    nectarine / 2461 posts

    @agold: oh woof. Okay, California it is

  10. agold

    grapefruit / 4045 posts

    @LCTBQE: Yep. I'd consider California, Arizona, and maybe still Hawaii. I'm not sure. Maybe I'd avoid the big island.

  11. skipper2010

    kiwi / 597 posts

    I second Bermuda! I love it there and it's a super quick flight from MA. DH and I had gone late May one year and the weather was nice. High 70's-low 80's with chilly mornings and evenings.

  12. 2littlepumpkins

    grapefruit / 4455 posts

    @JoJoGirl: didn't read the comments but I know the case in Hawaii was for someone who had travelled! It's not an issue there; they're advising women there not to travel to the affected areas.

  13. 2littlepumpkins

    grapefruit / 4455 posts

    Oops just read the comments. That's a pretty far trip. Hope you figure something out!

  14. LovelyPlum

    eggplant / 11408 posts

    This is the first time I've heard of Zika virus. Yuck!! I'm sorry it is putting a wrench in your travel plans. Scary!

    Is somewhere in Europe in the budget?

  15. Mrs.KMM

    grapefruit / 4355 posts

    @JoJoGirl: Yes. The risk is very low and almost everywhere in the world you could travel there are illnesses and diseases different from those in the US. I'm not going to limit my travel based on that.

    To me, it isn't any different than choosing to eat deli meat while pregnant or continue to play tennis my whole pregnancy. The chance of harm is very low.

  16. PawPrints

    pomegranate / 3658 posts

    @Mrs.KMM: Generally I agree with this sentiment, but the zika virus is unique at this moment in time because of important unknowns. Scientists and public health officials are only just beginning to learn about the link between zika and microcephaly and potentially other significant life-altering health impacts, and warning that the list of places affected is likely to grow very soon. And, the geographic reach of the virus is spreading very quickly. Unlike deli meat, where research has been conducted for many years and there is a general consensus of risk.

  17. JoJoGirl

    cantaloupe / 6206 posts

    @Mrs.KMM: @PawPrints: Yes, this. I've traveled extensively through the developing world (a year in Brazil, summer in Bangladesh, much of central America, India) so I'm definitely not an alarmist when it comes to freaking out about diseases while abroad. We went to Barbados last year even though there was a state dept warning about chikungunya. My concern is Zika is different in it's much higher risk and is more serious for the *baby* than some other diseases would be for mom. I guess being pregnant I don't want to disregard warnings that "seem" real.

    As an update, I used to work in infectious disease epi, so yesterday I reached out to my former boss to ask her opinion on this one (as well as the state vet and state medical epi). Apparently she WOULD caution her pregnant daughter against travel to much of the region. She said maybe somewhere like Aruba where high winds prevent mosquitoes from gathering would be okay, but waiting for their official recommendation. WHAT A BUMMER!

  18. JoJoGirl

    cantaloupe / 6206 posts

    @LovelyPlum: No, definitely not Nice idea, though!! My DH has never been to Italy so that would be freaking amazing. And nice weather in May. Hmm. Now my wheels are turning....

  19. lawbee11

    GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts

    @JoJoGirl: I had another idea...what about Vegas? No beach but you could just stay at one of the fancy hotels and lounge by the pool, go to the spa, eat at some of the really nice restaurants?

  20. JoJoGirl

    cantaloupe / 6206 posts

    @lawbee11: My DH *hates* Vegas. We're more nature people than resort people, if that makes sense? I'd say let's do the grand canyon instead buuttt the whole babymoon thing may make that tough, haha

    Thanks for all the ideas, you guys!! My wheels are turning for sure.

  21. Mrs. Lemon-Lime

    wonderful pea / 17279 posts

    @JoJoGirl: how far along will you be during your babymoon? At 25 weeks I did an eco tour that included kayaking and hiking almost waist deep in a swamp. It wasn't bad at all, but I did have to use the great outdoors for a bathroom.

  22. JoJoGirl

    cantaloupe / 6206 posts

    @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Probably about 27/28? Id be game for that!

  23. avivoca

    watermelon / 14467 posts

    @JoJoGirl: Have you thought about visiting some of the national forests or state resort parks in the US? Lots of nature, lots of time to just be the two of you.

  24. MrsSCB

    pomelo / 5257 posts

    @JoJoGirl: @Mrs.KMM: FWIW, in terms of the seriousness of the warning, the medical center I work at has two institutions with leading tropical disease experts (like they're being interviewed by national media about this). I spoke with one for work, and he said absolutely firmly he thinks pregnant women need to stay away for the time being. I know the media tends to get hyped up about things that aren't that big a deal, but this one seems like it is, unfortunately

    @JoJoGirl: are you on the east coast? What about something like Savannah? Great food, and so pretty. Or if you're looking for lots of relaxing I love the outer banks and charleston (also great food there). We also stayed at a really nice b&b in the Hamptons once!

  25. JoJoGirl

    cantaloupe / 6206 posts

    @MrsSCB: Yep - that the same thing i've heard from the experts I know in this area

    @MrsSCB: Yes we should be more open to considering options like this! We tend to like to leave the US whenever we can for vacations, but considering Zika is basically EVERWHERE within flying distance of the northeast, may need to change our criteria

  26. LovelyPlum

    eggplant / 11408 posts

    @JoJoGirl: I know it's not a resort, but if you're in the NE you should look into Ireland. It's crazy cheap to fly there from Boston!

  27. Mrs. Lemon-Lime

    wonderful pea / 17279 posts

    @JoJoGirl: it was so much fun...in that case take your babymoon in the Florida Keys. We went for NYE and there are ton of fun things to do that are outdoors and nature inspired. We saw dolphins by chance on our morning walk on the Seven Mile bridge, which used to be the railroad to connect the keys.

  28. JoJoGirl

    cantaloupe / 6206 posts

    @LovelyPlum: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Awesome ideas!

  29. Smurfette

    GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts

    Charleston

  30. peachykeen

    pear / 1648 posts

    @JoJoGirl: If you are really interested in Europe and don't mind the time on the plane (I know you said Hawaii was probably too far), there are some pretty cheap discount airlines flying transatlantic these days! You would probably have to fly out of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, DC, or Miami, but we've done that, connecting to the flight with a cheap Southwest fare. Check out WOW, Norwegian, plus some other random ones (we flew JetAirFly, a TUI airline, to Brussels last summer for $400).

    Also, fellow former ID epi here! Now working in maternal/child epi, so Zika is definitely on my radar...

  31. JoJoGirl

    cantaloupe / 6206 posts

    @peachykeen: SHUT UP! You're kidding! Rarely come across other ID epis online Love it!!

    We fly out of Boston anyway, so I'll definitely look! If we could find a way to afford Europe that would be pretty kick-ass.

  32. jlm22

    apricot / 343 posts

    I forget... Are you from MA? If so, what about Nantucket? It's quiet and cozy in the winter

  33. Shantuck

    pear / 1767 posts

    @winniebee: I'm in the same boat. TTC after the December miscarriage and have a trip to Mexico planned for the last week of March. I can't bring myself to cancel it without confirmation that I will actually be pregnant then but it's terribly depressing that if I get that good news, then the trip is off.

  34. daniellemybelle

    cantaloupe / 6669 posts

    I just bumped another thread about this but I am going on a trip to Spain with a friend in May and I am starting to worry it will spread there. We are going to TTC right when we get back. @JoJoGirl: What did you decide?

  35. Modern Daisy

    grapefruit / 4187 posts

    @JoJoGirl: I have a babymoon planned in Aruba at the end of February.. Really hoping we don't have to cancel it. Thankfully we are flying aa and they are one of the carriers who came forward and agreed to refund flights so if it does get put on the warning list at least we'll get that back.

  36. Modern Daisy

    grapefruit / 4187 posts

    @JoJoGirl: oh and we also haven't been on vacation in over 3 years and I am also flying my mil out to watch DS so I'm going to be really pissed if we can't go!! Lol.

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