Xmas away from home with new baby

[Whenwillwe3meetagain]

I'm due with DC1 on 20/11 and my mum dropped into conversation that it would be nice if DH and I brought new baby down to hers for Xmas. This would involve a 2 hour train journey as we don't have a car. We were planning on staying at home and people could come to see us if they wanted.

I'd really like to not travel far for a few weeks but am I being precious?

I wouldn't commit to anything as you don't know how you're going to feel.

My first baby arrived around the same time that yours is due but she was actually due a couple of weeks before Christmas. I was adamant I wasn't going anywhere with such a young baby but, as she was actually a few weeks early, we went and it was fine. However, you will not know how you're going to feel until little one arrives.

I've just remembered I was hooked up to the electric breast pump in the car with the in car charger on the way to the in laws. I'd forgotten all about that!

We did find that we went out loads with our babies, tiny ones are very portable. But don't underestimate the tiredness of lack of sleep and running around after a new baby and how much stuff you'll have to take with you if you dm won't store stuff like a travel cot at hers.

We had to take a double buggy, two travel cots, toys, baby cups, bottles etc for a couple of years when visiting the in laws as they werent at all keen on keeping anything at theirs even though we were visiting every couple of months.

....and a bl**dy steam steriliser with us (staying in a hotel). Don't know how we got it all in the car!!

YANBU.

If you don't want to go, then it's perfectly reasonable to say no.

Whether spending Christmas at your mum's (or other relatives) is a good idea depends entirely on your relationship with them, rather than the travelling time, IMO.

Personally, we have stayed at home for Christmas since DS1 was born, because we felt that would be more relaxing for us and fun for DC than travelling between both sets of grandparents.

Stay home and invite her to come to you.

OP I would say definitely plan to stay at home!

Your LO will barely be a month old if that, stay in your own home with your OH.

It will be much more comfortable being in your own surroundings, dealing with leaky nipples, bleeding, crying baby etc

I was due on 24/11 and DD didn't make an appearance until 10/12. If you go over your due date, you may only have a 2.5 week old at Christmas. Don't plan to do anything except stay in your dressing gown on your own sofa!

If you want to stay at home, stay at home. That goes for any day, any year. You are the mistress of your own destiny and if that's what you want to do then make it so.

OP I'm slightly hijacking the point of your thread but I had my dd in March and she has bilateral talipes. She was in her first cast at 2 weeks old and changed every week after. She then had her tenotomy at 6 weeks old and you def don't want to be anywhere but at home then!

It will be good to be near the hospital as you never know what questions or problems will arise. Also travelling with a casted baby on public transport could give rise to unwarranted stares/advice/Qs! Although tbh most people are lovely if starey.

Def ask your mum to come and cook you dinner! V cheeky but always worth a try.

I say all this as someone who always travels for Xmas but my parents really look after me, dh & dd and still live in my childhood home with plenty of room.

I'm sitting here with my 2 week old PFB DS on my lap.
There is no way I would do a 2 hour train journey with him, just no.

My DM has already started hinting about Xmas at hers, I've firmly told her that we will be spending DS's first Christmas at home, she is welcome to drop in but we're having dinner here and that's not changing.

She sulked for a bit but got over it

now she's trying to get me to agree to a sleepover at nannys house, he's 2 weeks old, NO!!!!

Absolutely no way in hell would I go on a train at Christmas with all the baby stuff etc. you would be mad. Stay home.

Good Lord and medical needs too?! Stay put. Rest as much as possible. Go easy on yourself and say no.

ShoRou thanks for your thoughts -I agree, with the added complications that talipes brings they have hardened me to not going anywhere far until the tenotomy has been performed and all is well.

I think she did ask out of kindness but didn't really think about what the implications would be for me and pfb if I didn't have the smoothest of births. I have encouraged her to pick up some 2nd hand baby items so in the future when I do stay I don't have to lug everything with me.

Thanks everyone for all your thoughts - I'll certainly refer back to this post when I am being given a bad time for staying put!