To stay or go- traveling while pregnant.

[Hayley2]

Hey guys!

I'm currently 5 weeks pregnant and we're deciding if we want to start traveling now or wait until after baby. I've been with my current hospital for 10 years so fmla is locked in. We've been wanting to travel since last spring but have needed to wait as my sister is battling end stage cancer. I honestly don't think another 8-12 months is that big of a deal to wait, especially since I'll benefit from some time grieving with my family. On the other hand it's been our dream to hit the road for sometime now and I'm a bit skeptical of how I'll feel about my hometown after my sister passes away.

I also have a 4 year old and we've been living in our fifth wheel since we sold our house almost a year ago. The living situation is completely fine, we've become quite the minimalists but we have such an itch to get up and GO after 3+ years of sadness that is watching someone you love pass.

My husband will be a stay at home Dad in our traveling home with the two tiny ones while I work and he's completely ready to peace out.

Are there really no travel companies that offer any sort of maternity leave or is COBRA/private insurance the only option? Is patience worth it? What would you guys do?

Also, I would LOVE to hear recommendations for travel companies whenever the time comes! I'm currently on L&D and have experiences in trauma, OR, neuro and med/surg but would like to stay on L&D!

Thanks so much!

[Argo]

Id stay staff given the known future. You have benefits and paid time off. When the baby is born and you're both doing good then go for it.

[RN/WI, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

If I were you, working staff on an L&D unit with FMLA... I would stay staff, go to OBGYN and hospital that I am familiar with, take my leave and find an assignment at that time. Why not take your leave and recover then start a travel assignment? Just my opinion.

[perfexion, ASN, RN]

I started traveling right before I found out I was 5 weeks pregnant with my third baby. I did 3 back to back assignments, and then went out on leave at 7 months. I had private short term disability insurance though and my contracts were at crisis rates so i could afford to stay out a while. But I don't know if I would've started traveling if I knew I was already pregnant. But then again I had been putting it off for so long. There's always going to be something stopping you from traveling. The time will never be right. A part of me says just take the plunge. Things have a way of working themselves out. Just make sure you have some money in the bank before your first assignment. I did tons of OT before I quit my staff job.

P.S. Talk to the STD company if you have it through your job. Some policies are portable and you can take them with you when you leave. You can pay directly through bank draft.