WWYD? Wedding 8 days before EDD

[Bippidee]

Obviously not my own! It's the wedding of a really good friend and I would love to go but for the tricksy date.

There's no telling how I'll feel by then.

Do I accept and haul my hospital bag etc with me, or do I decline and feel miserable when I don't dramatically give birth early?

[ZolaBuddleia]

Go to the wedding, MW told me that only 5% of first babies arrive by due date. Is it your first?

[Bippidee]

It is our first, yes. I was late (I'm a dd3!) and my DH was on time.

[BumbleBee2011]

I've just been to one 4 hours away at 38 weeks, it will be fine (I would've gone this weekend at 39 weeks if that had been the date!)

Just make sure you take your notes with you! Wear comfy shoes and put your feet up at the end of the night, wedding days are long, my feet were swelling by the time everyone was dancing, and I called it a night at 10:30pm while DH carried on til 3am!

On the plus side I was then able to laugh at all the hungover people at the breakfast buffet!

[TinkyPeet]

Say you will go unless you go into labour, which I'm sure your friend will understand, If you have to cancel at the last minute then that's life and everything will be fine

[k2togm1]

Go and even have a drink!

[Bippidee]

Thank you all. I shall accept ... once I find out where all my other friends are staying!

[BumbleBee2011]

I would definitely recommend staying as close to the reception venue as possible - worth the extra cost to be able to just go to bed once you've had enough!

[sanityawol]

What sort of travelling is involved and what time of year?

Both of mine were two weeks late, but in the week or so before my due date I reached the 'just get it out' stage. Whilst I was fine in myself, I was uncomfortable and a bit bad tempered (especially during very hot weather with August born DD).

If it's close to home then in your situation I would plan to go, but make sure your friend is aware that babies do sometimes turn up early.

If it's a long journey then I would probably decline.

Just steel yourself for everyone to comment on / touch your bump and tell you long and graphic stories of their horrific birth experience.

[BlueStringPudding]

I went to my friend's hen night 9 days before I was due (although didn't stay late) - and her wedding was 3 days before my due date - and it was lovely to have the distraction of the wedding. DD was 2 weeks late in the end. The wedding was only 10 minutes away though - going far probably would have made me think a bit more about it.

How far away is the wedding?

[LomboDePorco]

I agree with tinky. You've got one of the few valid excuses for not showing up despite accepting a wedding invitation. Plus if you've not had your baby by then you're likely to be fed up and bored so a wedding could cheer you up

[Bippidee]

The wedding is about 1.5-2 hours away. I've tried to get a room in the hotel, but it's tiny so no free rooms.

Fortunately there are loads of alternative hotels so not all bad news.

Thanks for the advice, I shall definitely take my notes and work out where the hospital is just in case! I may even have a full glass of bubbles too!

[QuietNinjaTardis]

I went to my sisters wedding 180 miles away from where I live a week and a half before I was due. I went into labour a week later when I was back home. It was fine though I did leave early to go to bed and all my aunts/uncles/cousins kept telling me how huge I was, like I didn't already know

[sparkle12mar08]

My ds1 came 2 weeks and two days early! And with ds2 I was the size of a whale and could hardly walk except with sticks, even though he came on time. So I wouldn't have made a wedding 8 days before my EDD in either case!

[beginnings]

Take your notes, take the car seat (you don't want your poor DP/H struggling to find a stocked Mothercare) and your hospital bag and enjoy! We went away for four days three weeks before DD arrived, a five hour drive, and had a lovely time. I also went out for my birthday ten days before my due date and hauled a very tipsy DH home from a pub in Soho at midnight :) my friends were all very impressed and I had a lovely time!

And definitely have the bubbles!!

[BoysRule]

I went to a wedding when I was exactly 38 weeks with DS2 and my waters broke on the way! We were 10 minutes from the church and about 1 and a half hours from home. We had a hotel booked for the night and my parents were at home looking after DS1.

DH freaked out, turned the car round and drove like a lunatic all the way home shouting "I can't deliver the baby - I don't know how!". Fortunately we made it to the hospital in time and apparently they had a toast to DSs arrival at the wedding. My DH was supposed to be an usher and they are good friends.

Fortunately I had everything with me - baby car seat, tens machine, notes, hospital bag etc. DS1 was a week early and I didn't want to risk it.

I didn't go to my mum's 60th birthday party when I was 37 weeks pg with DS1 as they lived 3 hours away. I regretted it to be honest as I could have gone.

I say go. Make sure you find a seat and plonk yourself down and laugh at how drunk everyone gets!

[pumpkinsweetie]

Go to the wedding, only %5 of babys arrive on time. All 4 of my dc were late

Agree to go, keep the hospital bag in the car or have money ready for taxi home to retrieve it. But labours take a while, even if you go into labour you will have plenty of time to get to the hospital if it's your first baby.

[JimbosJetSet]

The last wedding I went to was on my due date - I found it a good ice breaker when trying to make small talk with random relatives, I'm usually rubbish at that so it was nice to have something to discuss! I went 4 days over in the end.

[AhoyAhoy]

I have been invited to a wedding 9 days before my due date... was gutted at the thought of missing it, but all your positive stories make me think I should accept, and go and have a good time.... provided I can still walk that is!

[MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic]

I went to one when I was a day overdue with DS2. It was a hour/half or so from home (other side of London) and I was driving. I just made sure we knew where the nearest hospital was and had my notes and hospital bag in the boot. It was a nice day out, better than waiting at home for something to happen I was pretty confident nothing would happen though, DS1 was 8 days late and I actually ended up being induced at 40+10.

I should say that we did run it past the bride and groom first; they knew when we accepted that I might not make it if he turned up on time (DH would have popped up for the evening do without me). They were quite chuffed we came, and I quite liked freaking people out when they asked my EDD...

[MirandaWest]

If I'd gone to a wedding 8 days before my EDD I'd have had a 3 day old DS :) I was also in and out of hospital for three weeks before he was born which rather scuppered any plans I had at all....

[miffybun73]

I nearly went to a wedding when I was 36+5. I gave birth at 37 weeks exactly so i would have been ok, but you never know (that was with my 1st - went to bed at 10pm feeling totally normal, waters broke at midnight, baby born 6 hours later)

[PunkyPod]

I went to one at 38+2 where DP was best man! And another at 39+3. DD arrived on her EDD :)

[Rockchick1984]

Zola it's 5% arrive on due date, plenty arrive before due date!

OP I'd say accept but warn friend that if you aren't up to it you may have to miss it on the day :)

[ZolaBuddleia]

Oh dear, looks my MW's eccentricities extended to her understanding of dates too!

[rowtunda]

Go - I'm going to a wedding in France when I'm 36weeks pregnant. DC1 came at 38weeks, so I'm hoping it is going to be ok!! I just know that if I didn't go I'd end up being overdue!