To attend a work conference at 36 weeks three hours from home?

Absolutely not. No way, I could barely move by 36 weeks though. Also someone from my work came to a conference around 36 weeks from Manchester to London, got Covid and was really ill.

If you feel up to it do it
My first, from 38 weeks I had really strong Braxton hicks and I worked 45 mins away down country roads with no signal 🤣 I went on maternity but was gutted as I wanted to wait till last minute
This time baby came at 40+11 and I worked up till about 4 hours before I went to the hospital 🤣
You know what you can do.

I couldn't have sat in a car that long. My back was really sore by that point.

My second labour was 3 and half hours from first contraction, waters broke in between. Would you be comfortable giving birth away from home? Being driven 3 hours whilst in labour probably wouldn't be a good idea even if it's not a quick labour (which you won't be able to predict, the midwives were shocked at how quick mine was) You could end up stuck in a traffic jam. I personally wouldn't risk it.

For me it depends on where it is. I travelled 4 hours from home to the south coast at 37 weeks with my second without any concerns having delivered my first at 37 weeks. Where I was travelling had 2 major teaching hospitals within a 30 min radius and as I pointed out to my midwife they manage to deliver babies just as well there as they do at my local hospital. I did decline a visit to the Isle of Wight though, not wanting to be disparaging of the health care on the island but I didn't fancy being flown to Southampton if something was very wrong. My second didn't arrive until 40+6......I'd have gone stir crazy sitting around for weeks just waiting! Trust your gut

I did last year when pregnant with my daughter, I was 37 weeks, it was a train rather than car so I could stretch my legs etc and stayed overnight but it was fine! I hated the idea of just sitting at home waiting so wanted to keep working and I actually enjoyed the change of scenery!

What if you start labour and need an emergency CS?

I did it and it was fine. Pregnancy was pretty straightforward and I felt good (huge, but good!). I was also up a ladder painting hours before dc1 was born.
As long you're physically able to and want to go.

I also worked right up to 38/39 weeks, couldn't think of anything worse than being sat around waiting. DH was already pleading with me to stop with the house projects 😂

I wouldn’t want to do it. I felt fine at 36 weeks the first time but I had to go on sick leave the next time, I was just sooo big and sooo heavy and incredibly uncomfortable. There is no way I would have sat in a car that long. You’ll need to go to the loo constantly and I got hardly any warning for my loo runs.

I worked until 38 weeks with my first and went to a 4 day conference at 35 weeks. I was tired and the sitting still was a bit uncomfortable some of the time but totally fine. I wanted to work as late as possible to keep busy and to maximise time off afterwards.

Take your notes, go take it easy and enjoy seeing everyone before you go off.

ps. Congratulations and good luck it’s a wonderful but tiring!

Is it your first baby? I did a 7 hour drive for a wedding at 38 weeks but it was my third so I knew she was unlikely to come early.

If you're feeling good and don't have any conditions that might indicate going early you might be ok. How useful/interesting is the conference?
I might have hesitated with the first as there are many unknowns but would have gone without thinking with the second assuming I would still have another six weeks to go due to my earlier experience.

@pleaseguveadvicenotattack sorry but why would you still be working at 36 weeks pregnant anyway???

It would be a no from me. All very nice taking your bag and your notes but what about your birth partner if they don’t make the 3 hour drive in time?

It completely depends on you and how you're coping.
I'd have been fine as had easy pregnancies and was very overdue for my first birth. Elective section for second but no sign of early labour at 39 weeks for that. But as other posters have said, they definitely wouldn't.
Is this your first? How are you feeling generally?

I was doing similar at that stage, train to Glasgow from Leeds . Never thought anything about it as I’d not been around many pregnant women. Someone at work said to me why are you still travelling you are at risk of having the baby miles from home. Never even occurred to me, I just thought you work until your last day and suck it up. Daft when I think back but if you’ve no one to advise you you just do it.

It's a no from me. I went into labour at 36wks with my first, total surprise, barely made it to our local hospital, very quick labour. Giving birth IS a big deal and I wouldn't have wanted to do it far from home without my partner and then have had a long drive afterwards.

I can't believe the amount of no responses! Are we supposed to wrap ourselves in cotton wool and lock ourselves away in the last month of pregnancy?! What a crock of shit. I'd go without a second thought. You've thought of what you'll need and seem sensible so don't see the issue.

Your odds of going into labour on one particular day when you're 36 weeks pregnant are 0,5%. And most of these women have preconditions that make it more likely/predictable.

I had an emergency csection at a hospital that wasn't my planned hospital. The only issue was they needed to do my bloods when I arrived.

I couldn't have done that journey at 36 weeks. I would havevhad to stop every two minutes to wee.

It might be worth taking towels or a few incontinence pads for the seat of the car your traveling in just in case your waters break.

No, no, no. You’ll be heavily pregnant, which means your immune system is lower than it would be if you were not, and your heart and lungs and all organs are working overtime.

this is not the time to go to an unnecessary and massive indoor event where Covid will be endemic and also lots of other random viruses.

Gurl, it’s a no from me.

It would not have occurred to me to not go, and I had no doctor's indications at all that those types of things would be inappropriate. If you want to, do!

I'd probably do it, we went to a wedding a 7 hour drive away at 38 weeks with my toddler. Took the hospital bag and car seat just in case. He came at 40+2!