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Childbirth

Wwyd - wedding 1 hr 40ish minutes away when 6 days overdue?

21 replies

dycey · 28/07/2011 11:05

it's my cousins wedding on saturday. I was due last Sunday and am waiting! I really wanted to go to this wedding, of course. If I haven't had the baby by then I will be 6 days overdue.

This is my second pregnancy and my son was induced at ten days overdue (he took 51 hour from the pessary being inserted - so in no way was it a quick labour!).

I know second labours can be quick.

My mum has 4 children and we were All late. Not sure if that is a salient fact.

If I have had no show or contractions do you think it would be crazy to drive 1 hr 40 mins ( according to google maps estimate) to an afternoon wedding? We wouldn't stay beyond 8 oclock - my toddler would go to bed in the car on the way home.

Hearing crazily quick second labour stories I just wonder if it is a silly risk. But then again some people plan for hospitals that are 1 hours drive away!

It would just really be a bit depressing to miss it and not go into labour but spend the day at home.... (we have had to miss two planned holidays in this pregnancy because I had placenta praevia which thankfully has moved but I feel we have missed out on quit a bit already and we are not going a way this summer obviously because of having a newborn. Moan moan)

What would you do?????

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LoveBeingAtHomeOnMyOwn · 28/07/2011 11:06

As long as your not driving, if you feel up to it then go.

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Tangle · 28/07/2011 11:21

Is there a maternity unit near the wedding that you'd be happy to go to if necessary? Are you comfy in a car for that long (twice)?

If it were me I think I'd go IF:

  • I felt OK on the day
  • I was being driven
  • Everyone was happy I might leave in a hurry
  • I knew where the local maternity unit was (and had it all printed out for quick reference)
  • I had my notes
  • I had a hospital bag


The chances of you having a baby within an hour of the first sign of labour is a little unlikely (not impossible - but unlikely), but will you be any further from a hospital at the wedding than if you were at home? "Quick" is a very relative term!

Hope your LO arrives soon and things work out well - whatever happens :)
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Nospringflower · 28/07/2011 11:23

I'd go as long as I felt ok beforehand and wouldnt be in the middle of nowhere if things did happen.

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BertieBasset · 28/07/2011 11:25

Having just had a much quicker second birth there is not a chance I would go tbh. While it took 6 hours start to finish the contractions were painful very quickly and I would not have wanted to be away from home, or my bath, or in anything but an old t shirt.

But I do like my home comforts Smile

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nulgirl · 28/07/2011 11:28

I went to my cousins wedding and stayed overnight in a hotel when I was 4 days overdue with dc2 and everything was fine. I made sure that I took my hospital bag and notes with me in the car. It was about an hours drive away from home/ hospital. In the end DS didn't make an appearance until 40+10 so it wasn't an issue.

Just make sure that your dh doesn't drink at the wedding in case you need to go directly to the hospital

Enjoy the wedding

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dycey · 28/07/2011 11:31

Thanks all - i would rather give birth in a hospital that I know tbh. Good suggestions from all. Maybe I should see how I feel on Sunday morning?

Bertiebasset - what was your first labour like? Quick as well? Mine was so blimmin long that I could have taken the eurostar and back a few times without worrying.

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BertieBasset · 28/07/2011 11:40

First labour, fairly long. My waters broke on the Monday morning 3am, dd1 born 8pm on the Tuesday, with contractions from the Monday evening. I had syntocin (sp) in the end to get everything moving a bit quicker.

Second labour totally different. However I did have very quick pushing stages in both, just a long latent stage on the first one.

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dycey · 29/07/2011 17:15

Just bumping this up... Wedding is tomorrow and no signs of baby coming!

Wonder if anyone else has a view on it?

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Isthreetoomany · 29/07/2011 17:22

I personally wouldn't, but only based on my own experience. First labour started slowly, relatively long (18 hrs). Second labour was 6 hours start to finish, and the contractions seemed to come on stronger much faster. I wasn't comfortable during the 20 mins drive to the hospital, don't think I would have coped well with a longer journey!

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motherinferior · 29/07/2011 17:22

I'm not Mumsnet's biggest wedding fan Grin but they might be justifiably a bit upstaged if you went into labour during the wedding/reception...and you do know you're going to be surrounded by all sorts of maddening people saying helpful things like 'haven't you had it yet?' and 'my you're big, aren't you!' and 'ooh, look like you're going to pop any moment...'

My first labour could have accommodated a trip to Istanbul. My train. My second took five hours from the first, dramatic gush of my waters (ooh, and there's another thing...'

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harrygracejessica · 29/07/2011 17:35

I would and only thing I would be worried about would be waters breaking lol. Just pack all your hospital stuff, have a list of hospitals through the journey and go and enjoy it

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eaglewings · 29/07/2011 17:42

Went to my Grandmother's 90th when I was a week over but my dh drove. It was 90 minutes away.
Made it half way there when my waters broke but still went for the first 2 hours before returning to the hospital.
So glad I went, but had packed the car with everything I needed.

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themildmanneredjanitor · 29/07/2011 17:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KittyBump · 29/07/2011 17:51

hi dycey, i did exactly this, i was due 12.12.10 and my friends wedding was on the 17th, just over an hour and a half journey away. We decided to go as I had had no twinges or any signs at all and, like you, I thought it would be sod's law that I'd miss the wedding and there would still be no baby.
So we went and we were all sat down ready for the bride - all get told to stand for the bride's entrance and I stood up and my water's went (my story is on the Dec 2010 babies thread). I told DH and he thought I was joking, the waters weren't gushing (sorry if tmi) so I waited a few minutes till an opportune moment and made my exit, called the hospital and they were very relaxed and as I wasn't having any contractions yet they said it would be a while, though this was my first.
So we had lunch then headed back to the hospital, by then it was snowing a lot too. The hospital confirmed my water's had gone and sent me home for a bit then I eventually had DD in the early hours of the 18th.
so, in hindsight it wasn't a brilliant idea to go to the wedding - especially with the weather forecast but I'd have been gutted to miss my friend's wedding and my labour took a while so it was all ok. I think on balance I would do it again!
My friend didn't mind being upstaged (she really wasn't upstaged at all, I was originally meant to be a bridesmaid - that may have been more awkward!) but it was odd having 100 odd guests asking about my waters breaking Blush
Good luck whatever you decide :)

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MadameAdelaide · 29/07/2011 17:59

My second labour was much much quicker than the first, a totally different experience. Personally I wouldn't go, but I hate long car journeys at the best of times let alone when 6 days overdue so maybe thats just me! Just warning you that second labours can start to get going fairly quickly even if you had a long labour first time.

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nannyl · 29/07/2011 18:20

I have 2 weddings 5 days after my due date:
My cousin and OH's cousin both getting married the same day...

One is 4 hours away, the other is 5 hours away.
We didnt think twice about declining both invites.... and should baby decide to come then there will be no family at all around, and both sides of our family will be at the respective weddings!

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dycey · 29/07/2011 20:20

Ah thank you all. Well my parents have decided to stay with us for the weekend so if we go they go and if we don't they don't so feeling a bit responsible!

Thank you all for your stories and advice. Just don't know what to do. Not having gone into labour before just males me' think it won't happen to me! (I am really expecting another induction).

I will sleep on it and inform the kind mumsnetters idly decision tomorrow!

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PrincessJenga · 30/07/2011 09:25

Well... Are you all dressed up & ready to go? Are you hanging out in your PJs for the day? Or are you all tucked up with a newborn?

Hope you have a good day whatever you decide.

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dycey · 30/07/2011 10:37

Staying at home! Got a but more tired and thankfully my husband has made my decision by working til the wee small hours and is too knackered to drive!

Trying not to think about missing out.

Next thread to start is how to avoid being induced for a second time! Thank you ALL

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PrincessJenga · 30/07/2011 23:08

Ah, well I hope you had a good day anyway!
As for avoiding induction, no idea. I've tried curry, pineapple, raspberry leaf, sex, reflexology... Nada!
As everyone keeps telling me: "Baby will come when he's ready"

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dycey · 01/08/2011 12:01

Ah well baby has got til weds at 8am to make an appearance before induction, I think my babies like to be ready after the hospital wants them out...

What's your baby up to PrincessJenga?

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