Travelling on the motorway

[mumof1littlebun]

I am currently 36 weeks pregnant and hoping my mum will be able to travel down to us to look after my ds while I have the baby. She is very anxious about this and we cannot find anywhere that says this is ok (although it does seem to be ok for somebody to care for a child) it’s the travelling that we are not sure of as she is over 3 hours away and worried about getting stopped

It's a very specific circumstance. Even if she did get pulled over and she explained, no police officer is going to fine her if there's no one else to look after your child. Don't worry, it'll be fine. And good luck!!

It's travelling to care for someone. So should be fine.

I've been driving on the motorway network most days
its bliss out there
I carry proof of why I'm travelling and set the cruise control
I see police vehicles every trip and none of them have paid me the least bit of attention

I wish your mum a safe journey and you a safe delivery

Thank you for the replies 😊

@listeningquietly I think she would feel better if there was some sort of document she could carry but doesn’t seem to be anything for this circumstance!

Its fine for her to travel, maybe send a copy of your MatB1 form?

That’s a good idea, thanks!

Yup, your MatB1 would probably get her an escort
But seriously
I have seen unmarked cars pulling people
I've seen meat wagons with cameras in the back
you name it
and I sail past them (at 76 miles an hour)

Print this off and quote reg. 6.
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/made

The list given in the regs. isn't exclusive. It says "reasonable excuse" can include those listed but they can be others.

Yup, 6f covers me day in day out

@MrFaceyRomford thank you, that seems a good document to have!

Tbh, I think in this scenario, you giving birth alone is safer all round.

Solo - she’s asking her mum to look after her kid whilst she gives birth ?

@SoloMummy midwives are saying they'd rather you have a birth partner if possible as they believe the mental benefit is very important

Well fortunately you aren’t making the rules solo

I don’t think it’s considered appropriate for small children to be with their mothers when they give birth @SoloMummy. Of course things may have changed since my day.

@mumof1littlebun good luck with the birth of little bun 2! Hope everything goes well for you.

I have travelled 30 junctions up and down the M6 - twice - these past two weeks so that my children can see their father. No one cared - we even had a police van pull up beside us for a mutual pee stop at the services and nothing was said.

Please report back once the baby is born!

Thank you for the kind replies

@SoloMummy not that I really need to justify myself to you but my last birth was extremely traumatic. As it is I’ve had to move hospitals as my local one has closed so I really do think I need my husband with me

Learn when to back of Solo! You’ve stated your opinion. It is not the same as the law or guidelines.

It is up to the hospital to advise OP on her birth partner and up to the government/police to issue guidelines for her Mothers travel.

Since what the OP wants to do is permitted by both her hospital and the police why don’t you stop with your nasty and alarmist posts?

The OP, like all of us has to weigh up every decision at the moment and it is perfectly reasonable for her to come to a different decision to you.

Thanks for all the advice, I’ll be leaving this thread now as I’ve enough to worry about and only trying to do the best for everyone but finding @SoloMummys comments a bit much

I’m not surprised you are OP that’s why I was moved to post. Rest assured the vast majority here understand. Take care and good luck with the new arrival.

Of course it’s OK. People who have no good reason to travel are staying at home so there is less risk to the small proportion of people that need to, like you and you mum.

♟for Solo.

Stop whatiffering a 36 week pregnant mother who has a more than reasonable need for childcare in order to give birth.