Planning

[teamrigby]

I'm 32 weeks now and am starting to get a little hesitate to putting things in the diary nearer our due date?

Has anyone else found this? or am I just being crazy?! Its our first and I'm a little concerned about what will happen if I'm like an hour away from our hospital and baby comes earlier...

[lemon101]

Hi,
I'm 33 weeks and was really planning on keeping November clear of big trips for the same reason but somehow have a weekend away and a 5 hour drive up to my parents scheduled in there too! . I'm due the first week in December and I will not be planning anything out of town in the second half of the month....

So no - I do not think you are crazy (unless maybe I am too)! I'm going to have the carseat with me and my hospital bag and will know where the local hospital is before I do either of my last out of town trips!

[Junosmum]

I'm not due until January, but have put an embargo on my diary from Christmas onwards - I don't think your mad.

Tired, grumpy, and, you never know, in labour!

[teamrigby]

Thanks ladies - glad its not just me then lol xx

[bikingintherain]

For what it's worth the last few weeks of pregnancy really drag.

I wouldn't book loads of manic weekends away or anything, but I would put lots of other things in the diary. Maternity leave can leave you feeling a bit lost (unless you have other DC to look after) and it's really nice to have other things to look forward to. And no one is going to be begrudge you cancelling if you go into labour!

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

What Biking said!

Also bear in mind that few first babies rarely come so suddenly that an hour would be a problem . Particularly if there are other hospitals nearby.

[BriocheBriocheBrioche]

I'm the opposite... 37,5 weeks and filling the diary so that 'sods law' comes into play and and I have to cancel due to being in labour!!!

[teamrigby]

I am starting mat leave 2 weeks before due date, but I think my reservation stems from the fact that I was a first born and was three weeks early :(

[poocatcherchampion]

Three weeks early is term and so not totally unexpected.

I'm due mid November, I'm not sleeping elsewhere from now on but mostly because I am sleeping so badly I want to be at home. From November onwards I'll take that car seat and possibly hospital bag on long ish trips.

My dd2 came at 37 so that puts us at the end of next week.

But I feel very relaxed about my birth arrangements.

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

I think OP you are possibly over estimating the likely drama of a first birth. Sure, you get people who give birth in 20 minutes (when getting to your hospital from home will still be drama). But most likely getting home will be no issue. It isn't so much the date you have the baby as that an hour isn't far.

[Runningupthathill82]

I was the opposite - filled the diary with stuff to do. You can always cancel nearer the time, you have a good excuse!

The last weeks of pregnancy can really drag, so keeping occupied is a good idea IME. The day before my due date I was at a family event two hours from home. Had the hospital bag in the boot, just in case. Nothing happened of course!

It's also far easier to travel now than it is with a newborn who's latched on all day, so late pregnancy is a good time to see friends, go to the cinema, go out to dinner and generally do all the stuff that will soon go out of the window.

[CityDweller]

There's no right or wrong on this. Do what makes you feel comfortable... I went on a daytrip 1.5 hrs from home at 40 + 3. I took my notes, my bag and knew where the nearest birthing centre/ hospital was. As it was, I went into labour about 8 hrs after we got home. But even though it was DC2 labour lasted 7 hrs. So I would have had time to get home had I gone into labour while we were on our daytrip.