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Babymoons are hot among celebs, but are they worth the risks for regular moms-to-be?

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Thinkstock

Uma Thurman jetted off to St. Barts when she was expecting, Kate Hudson “flaunted” her bump in Mexico according to the tabs, and the Duchess of Cambridge went to Mustique before giving birth to the future king of England.

Getting away for a little me time before your little one is born seems like a glamorous, relaxing adventure, but going on a babymoon can turn into a dangerous, stressful nightmare.

Recently, a New Jersey couple got stranded in Portugal just one week into their babymoon, according to 7online.com. Kim Kirzow Spratt was six months pregnant and says she had gotten the thumbs up from her doctor to travel. She went into labour 13 weeks early. She was carrying twins -- a boy and a girl. The boy has since died and the girl is still fighting for her life. The couple has set up a GoFundMe page to pay for their skyrocketing medical expenses while they wait for their one surviving baby to be healthy enough to be flown back to the U.S.

Not child’s play

While the story sounds dramatic, babymoons have gone really awry before. A Saskatchewan couple reportedly faced a $950,000 bill after going to Hawaii when the mother-to-be was six months pregnant, according to the National Post. Jennifer Huculak-Kimmel spent six weeks in Hawaii after her daughter was born by emergency caesarean section. She then found out her insurer denied her claim due to a pre-existing condition – which in this case was reportedly a bladder infection months before the babymoon.

While their little bundle of joy garnered international headlines and was nicknamed the "million-dollar baby" it’s not that surprising their claim was denied, said Will McAleer, vice president of the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada in a phone interview with Yahoo Canada. That’s because any pre-existing condition, even if it seems minor to you, might void your coverage.

And, even if your coverage is not voided it will usually only cover the mother’s care, not the newborns, adds McAleer.

Very popular

There are not many studies looking at the rise of babymoons but one survey done in 2005, on behalf of Liberty Travel and BabyCenter, found that 59 per cent of new parents had taken a babymoon, which included an overnight stay away from home.

These days, Dr. William Mundle, a fetal maternal specialist at Windsor Regional Hospital near the American-Canadian border, says expectant mothers do frequently ask about taking day or weekend trips over the border to Detroit.

A doctor weighs in

From a medical perspective, if a woman is having a healthy pregnancy a doctor will usually give the all clear for a short trip away from home. But, Dr. Mundle says he advises women to check that they will in fact be covered by their insurance before they go. He also has had women ask about going to places such as Mexico that might not have the same level of health care that is available here.

“I’m not going to say you should do this, or you should do that,” said Dr. Mundle. “I just say get educated first.”

That means women (and their partners, if they have one) should investigate their insurance and the health options available at their destination of choice before jetting off.

If you don’t happen to be a royal or a mega-celebrity with millions at your disposal if something goes wrong, it’s imperative to have all your ducks in a row before going on a babymoon.

Still ready to jet off? Here are three tips from the experts to make sure your babymoon doesn't turn into a nightmare:

1. Check with your doctor first. Do get clearance from your doctor before you go on a babymoon. Usually the second trimester is the best time to travel, as expectant mothers are feeling better after a first trimester of morning sickness. Keep in mind most insurers will not give you coverage in the third trimester, specifically in the nine week’s leading up to your expected due date, says McAleer.

2. Then check with your insurance company. But don’t expect that being "cleared" by your doctor means you’re in the clear with your insurance company. Be upfront about any, and all, health issues you’ve had while pregnant, even if they seem minor or inconsequential to you. Also, be honest about the type of physical risks you might be taking – for example insurers would not likely cover an expectant mom going scuba diving in the ocean, but might cover a pregnant woman who is just going to be lounging on a beach chair her whole trip looking out at the ocean.

3.Consider staying in the True North, strong and free. While relaxing in your bikini in the Caribbean sounds relaxing, relaxing at your family cottage might be much more practical. Though, Dr. Mundle points out if your cottage is four hours away from a decent hospital you must seriously consider that before heading up there. Also, while you and your child will generally be covered by our national health care system if you are going outside of your home province you might need to get extra coverage, so check with your insurer first.