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Pregnancy

4 hour journey at 36 weeks?

12 replies

3littlebadgers · 23/01/2015 14:03

My best most lovely friend has her son's christening when I am 36 weeks. I am the god mother and very excited. My god son is a beautiful little squidge of a baby. She lives 4 hours away by car, motorways all the way, I'll be driving as DH has to work and I will be taking 3dc with me. I was perfectly happy with this but EVERYONE including DH, family and friends are being quite negative about it and now I am staring to worry. I have to go there and back in a day as dc have school the next day. I am quite huge (4th and I'm short) and I am uncomfortable but she and the baby are very important to me. Should I go?

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ApplesTheHare · 23/01/2015 14:06

Go as long as you'd be happy to have the baby in a random hospital. Might not happen but if you're totally against that idea just don't go. I had dd early and it was a complete shock, didn't events know I was in labour, so it can happen! Good luck whatever you choose

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steppeinginto2015 · 23/01/2015 14:11

Take your notes and have a back up plan for someone to take dcs if you go into labour.

but more important, were you early or late with the others?

(mine were all late, so I would have travelled until 39.5 weeks!)

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grassroots · 23/01/2015 14:12

Well if it used to take you four hours I should imagine it will take at least five by the time you have stopped for the loo half a dozen times….But maybe that was just my pregnancy! I do think that going there and back in a day will probably feel like a bad idea at the end of the day - you will be exhausted. Quite aside from having to deal with the long journey, you have the three DC to take care of…which might be a bit difficult if you are planning on them spending at least 8 hrs in the car that day. I honestly would change the plan. Can you all stay the night (travelodge?) and then get up earlyish to drive back the next morning? Even if they are an hour or two late for school I would think it would be a preferable option.

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Happilymarried155 · 23/01/2015 14:27

I travelled for 6 hours in the car when I was 36 weeks pregnant and I was fine. I too had some negative reactions but it was fine, just factor in the toilet stops and snack breaks! X

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WhispersOfWickedness · 23/01/2015 14:32

If you think you will be fine (and if you already have 3dc, I'm sure you'll know what you can manage at that stage), then you probably will be
I struggled with a 30 min journey with someone else driving at that stage, but we're all different!
As a pp says, just make sure you take your notes with you and an emergency plan for the DC

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3littlebadgers · 23/01/2015 14:47

My big worry now (thanks to dh and a lovely friend in the school playground) is if I end up going into labour on the way there or back, what will I do with my dc's? I don't want it to stressful for them but then are the chances of that actually happening small? I was late with the others. I don't want to let my friend down either though and I'll kick myself if I don't go and then don't go into labour that day! Any one got a crystal ball?

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gluenotsoup · 23/01/2015 18:12

No , sorry ! If you go you will need a hospital bag, your notes, a back up and knowledge of local hospitals. And plenty of rest breaks and car games for the kids. Only you know how you will feel about it, and it's not like it's your first .

However. ... I felt the same as you and at 37 weeks with my second, we decided to go on a short few days away in a cabin in the lake district with my sister and bil. I did what I have recommended you do, took everything with me, decided the chances of me going into labour were minimal as dd was 11 days late, and off we went. Needless to say, I went into labour on the second evening, and decided I didn't want to give birth in the local hospital, but wanted to go back to where I knew and had planned. We left dd sleeping, with my sister to care for her and began the 3 hour motorway drive back. We didn't speak a word the whole way, I was concentrating on the contractions, and by the time we arrived at the hospital I was 7 cm dilated and dh was white and bug eyed with the stress. Dd 2 was born shortly after, but I am now pg with dc 3, and will be staying close to home this time.

Good luck with whatever you decide, do what feels right for you, but at the same time don't take it for granted like we did...

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3littlebadgers · 23/01/2015 18:31

Wow thank you, that must have been stressful for the both of you! I have a midwife visiting me this week (home birth planned) so I will ask her opinion and do as she recommends. Thanks for the honesty ladies

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Seriouslyffs · 23/01/2015 18:34

It would be silly to travel alone.

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newtonupontheheath · 23/01/2015 19:23

We travelled to a wedding 5 hours away at 38 weeks. We stayed 2 nights and took notes, names and numbers of local hospitals. I didn't but a car seat til we got back but had the money to in case we needed one to travel back up.

In the end dd was 8 days late (also a home birth)

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JennyBlueWren · 23/01/2015 19:38

I don't have children yet and I would be on public transport as I don't drive but I'm 36 weeks tomorrow and I'd do it.

Plan to do it but with a warning that someone else might have to stand in if you don't feel up to it.