How to accommodate visit after baby born?

[AprilRae91]

Minor problem but my pregnant brain keeps circling on it and I can’t figure out a practical solution.

We are expecting our first baby in a few weeks. My family all live within half an hour and can get themselves to our house so visits will be straightforward. My partners Mum is older and has some health and mobility issues. She lives 1.5hrs away and only drives locally, doesn’t use public transport. I know she is keen to see her grandchild as soon as possible after the birth, but she has no way of getting to us in her own. She doesn’t have any other family able to drive her.

From conversations so far I think she expects my partner to go pick her up and bring her to see the baby a couple of days after birth but that’s a 3hr round trip and I would prefer it if he was able to stay home as much as possible, he has so little time off anyway. Also we don’t have room for her to stay so it would only be a few hours unless she stays in a hotel locally.

Should we suggest a taxi or is that rude/ uncaring? Suck up him having to collect her and suggest a hotel stay so she gets more time?

What about passenger assist? Where people help her navigate the station onto the train and help with bags and any changes she needs to make? Dp then collects from station.

Or she manages a taxi and one train and if there are multiple changes dp picks her up from one of those halving the drive etc.

Ive seen a grandparent who didnt speak the language and had never used public transport before 'practice' before the birth of her first grandchild so she could visit. So you never know.

Also, be very very wary of creating a precedent that you will then be expected to facilitate all future visits till 18 every few weeks and it will do your head in.

She may not be expecting to be chauffeur driven at all. Honestly its her problem to
Solve and not yours.

@mondaytosunday I don’t want to take my baby on a long journey in their first week, I don’t think they’re meant to be in the car for that long?

@magaluf1999 passenger assist is a great idea I will suggest it. The status quo is always my partner driving her and I’m not happy about the burden on him when w have a baby too. Next week he’s going to pick her up to bring to my baby shower then take her all the way home again!

I think this is the best option.