Taking a 12 day old baby on holiday ?

[Jencottage]

Desperate to get away as feel like I've been exhausted all third trimester, have a 8 year old daughter who would love a holiday, hubby coming along too. I've found an amazing deal in Sardinia, 7 nights at half term, full board and kids club for the 9 year old and golf for hubby. Me and baby could be on the beach all day chilling ! It's a 3.5 hour flight, shall I book it or is baby too young ? What would you do ?!?

But if she really wanted to go she would simply tell them she had “delivered without any complications or surgery” as per your quote above, wouldn’t she?

So? I'm not here to impress you, I would rather find evidence to back up what I already know to be true (y'know coz i organise getting these forms to folk) rather than talk out my arse

No, because she would still require a fit to fly form which would detail how she gave birth.

If that's what you really want, and you think you will be up to it and you can get travel insurance why not.
Don't skimp on the holiday insurance .
We have to pay a fair bit owing to medical conditions, but see it as part of the holiday.
The post office and jet 2 are both good for holiday insurance.

I've had two c sections with the last being in December and I know I couldn't have flown abroad 12 days later. I was still very sore and DD2 was still being visited by midwives and health visitors at that point as she was slow to gain weight. Understand that you need a break but I'd wait for 2 months personally. You'll be really ready by then. Price will probably be the same in term time and maybe your DD's school will agree if you pay a fine. Things can go wrong too - wounds can get infected for example.

The OP has decided to leave it until October, when the baby will be a few months old. Leave her be, I am sure many of us have had the cabin fever itchy feet of late pregnancy.

Have fun in October! Maybe treat yourself to a tea/coffee out with a friend for an hour baby free on day 12 on baby's life. You can laugh about what you might have done!!

I would wait for the summer holidays, baby will be older and had first jabs most likely and you will be able to swim with them and it would be lovely and more enjoyable

I had a lovely holiday when my dd2 was 11 weeks. Stressful packing but she was more laidback than at home..We did aquarium and boat trips , beaches, walks and lots of lunches. Plus my older dd was delighted

I think October is a much better idea OP.

Going on holiday with a 12 day old is one of those things that could be okay, but there's a lot that could go wrong. A few people I know who have had C-sections have had infections and stuff in the wound afterwards, so wouldn't have been fit to fly.

And the chances are you won't really be "chilling" on the beach with a 12 day old. You'll be exhausted and sore and would be better off getting some naps in than taking a flight. Maybe suggest to your 8 year old you do a couple of nice day trips in half term instead.

As desperate as I'm sure u are I would not consider it even for a second. It really is madness. Sounds like uve made ur mind up though.

If baby gets unwell I'm not sure if u wld get the same care as you would here and I'd just be a bit worried with them being so small.

What if baby is unwell and has to stay in hospital a bit longer or yourself. How long do you expect to be in after a section is it not usually about 3 days. Where would baby sleep when u go away? Would you have to take a load of stuff with u including a proper pram, a car seat. It's just not worth the hassle. Can't you wait a few more months or even weeks.

I was in 6 days 5 nights with mine as we were both on antibiotics. I was hunched over walking back to the car, was in absolute agony. I got an infection in my wound that took months to heal up. You wouldn't be able to go in the pool because if your wound.

Can you imagine packing just a few days after your home for a holiday. Surely you will just want to rest. If you cld click ur fingers and be abroad that wld be fab but it doesn't work like that.

Oh make sure I've got excellent travel
Insurance!

You even!

We took a 10 day old to Spain. So easy coz they just fed and slept

I took a 10 week old baby travelling in Turkey and it was alll fine. Go fo it!

If second section, beware, they really can be a lot worse to recover from than the first

And un immunised child & raging wound infections & other post op complications not uncommon after c sections. I’d be wary tbh

Do it! I took both my children away when one was 3 weeks old and the other was 5 weeks old, we went for 11 days each time and we had a lovely time, and I’d had c sections with both my babies xx

I took a 5 week old and a toddler long-haul (8 hrs + 2 connecting flights) for a family wedding that we dearly wanted to go to. I had an OK vaginal birth. There was wall-to-wall family help available as soon as we got there.

My advice is DON'T DO IT!

I don't think babies are allowed to fly until they are 14 days of age as their ears are too immature to cope with the changes in pressure.

The rules may have changed now, and they may even have been US specific, but I once sat next to a woman on a plane with a 15 day old baby who said she'd had to wait until 14 days to be allowed to fly (domestic US).

She was travelling to visit a sick relative with not long left though, not at all sure I'd do it for just a holiday.

I personally couldn't imagine anything worse than being abroad with a newborn. So many risks running through my mind (but I am a worrier). Just so many possible problems you could encounter. However you sound confident and some people find motherhood easier than others. I haven't yet travelled abroad with my young children. Partly due to money and partly due to a difficult toddler but I have loads of friends who travel with their young children and have amazing holidays.

You need to check with your travel insurance to see if they will cover you after major surgery and also will they cover a baby that’s so young?
I had to have major surgery and was meant to be flying out for a holiday 2 weeks later, firstly the consultant refused to say I was fit to fly, secondly Because I couldn’t prove it my insurers definitely turned me down.

I think you are just feeling like this right now - wanting your life to return to normal but unfortunately it won't for a little while.
Do you really want to be on a beach with a tiny baby, miles away from home after a long flight ( which to be honest the baby will either sleep throughout or be an absolute nightmare) it will be hot and uncomfortable give yourself a little time to adjust to being a family of 4 and go on holiday when your ready and you can all enjoy it.
If you look on insta they show you pictures of celebs going away straight after birth what they don't show you is the support they have, the nannies, the top rated hotels etc etc. You will still be exhausted-and emotional - a bit of sunshine and a holiday club isn't going to change that.

Madness

Not a great idea, you need to be at home setting in with the baby. What if the baby gets ill or you get an infection.... I had a planned section with my second following an emergency section, I was in a tremendous amount of pain due to all the scar tissue from the previous section. I got an infection and baby was in PICU for 10 days.