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 ?!?

I "get" it op. Atm you are feeling tired and hemmed in by your pregnancy. I remember that slightly claustrophobic feeling when I felt like a whale, like I couldn't breathe properly and could only sleep sitting up! It wasn't pleasant.

But I reckon you will be feeling completely different post birth. What would feel great now, will feel completely the opposite (probably!) post C-section.

I'd personally book the trip for the summer holidays if you can.

I wouldn't go. It sounds like hell. But then I like my home comforts. My luggage allowance would probably be taken up just with my own pillows 12 days after giving birth.

There are so many reasons not to...

It doesn’t really sound sensible or even doable, sorry.

No way would I do this. Hygiene for baby in heat at early age etc.

Good grief, no.

My third was with an 8-year gap between her and the second, I had a fast birth and walked home with her in the sling 4 hours after giving birth, felt fit as a fiddle afterwards but I wouldn't have even contemplated this.

If your dh has the time to go on holiday, he does absolutely everything at home for that period and you rest there. You don't need to get 'away' to recover.

If you do book it and have an amazing time, please come back and update us

I think all previous posters have covered the long list of cons to this idea so I’ll just share with you that having a newborn and another child is notably easier than those last few weeks of pregnancy. Someone said this to me who had another baby shortly before I did and I was sceptical but she was right. The tiredness is a different kind, your older child will be so excited by the baby and the weather is looking up. You’ll be able to make the most of the UK and gentle days out and then have a holiday in the summer, look at booking that but not the 12 days after.

And with Ryanair that means hand luggage only which you'll carry all the way to the gate, just to have it put in the hold and have to wait at baggage claim. Long long queues on the tarmac etc. Holding 3x suitcases and the baby. Clambering up rickety metal steps etc. 8/9yo will be bored and getting silly. Security also will be a nightmare.

Full sized pushchair because baby will be too little for a stroller. Lugging that around too.

It will be sweltering at half term too and crammed. Not so relaxing on the beach.

Just read thst most doctors advise waiting 3 to 4 weeks after c section surgery.

What about babies injections? Not sure I'd take an unvaccinated baby on a plane.

12 days after c-section??? Not a chance in hell I’d be getting on a plane.

I’m normally gung ho about this stuff but I can’t see how it would work with such a small baby.

There could be complications from the section, you’d still be establishing bfing, the baby’s still very vulnerable. There’s no way I’d want to be negotiating a plane in those circumstances.

Could you book something for 3/4 months in instead?

You are bringing a new life into the world who needs the best support you can give them (and for yourself too!) You need to face it that no-one is going to be having much 'fun' in the traditional sense as you will likely be up all night, dealing with feeding, hormones, post-surgery pain. There is no way on God's green earth I would consider this! Wait a few weeks or months!
Also Ryanair is unlikely to be conducive to a relaxing holiday...

I really wouldn't. You could have complications from the c section and travel insurance wouldn't pay out if you couldn't go.
What if you picked up an infection and the wound came open and they refused to let you fly home. C section wound and a sweaty sandy beach!??? Doesn't sound the best combination.
What happens if baby gets ill whilst away, I wouldn't want a new born in a hotel cot either. Also I went away with a 8 month old last year and we all picked up d&v bug on the plane, everyone was fine after 2 days except the baby had it the whole week. A 12 day old might not be able to cope with that.

I went away when my dc2 was a week old and it was a amazing - no unexpected visitors popping in, no housework. But it was a U.K. holiday. It’s a hell no to an abroad holiday at that age from me! There are so many germs on a plane for a baby that age plus the radiation. So many reasons why not tbh, I really really would just wait a couple of months.

No way I would book that, for all the reasons mentioned above. Not least, exposing your unvaccinated new-born to heaven knows what on the flight.

I remember it being a hot summer the year my dd was born.I spent a lot of it inside as it was too hot for her as a baby so a hot beach is not going to work.

I wouldn't. My 1st planned section was a dream I would def been able to do this and it would have been awesome. However.....my 2nd planned section was horrible and it look me months to recover. No way I could have managed it. I personally therefore wouldn't take the risk of losing all the money and book something later on in the year.

What ever you decide best wishes and good luck.

In our borough you can to wait about 10 days for an appointment to register a birth.

I can tell you want something to look forward to and it sounds like you’re struggling atm. I’m not sure how much fun being abroad in the heat and sand would be with a c section would, sore boobs and still bleeding. How about booking a cottage or somewhere in this country - we’re having lovely weather atm. You’ll still have something to look forward to or book something in the summer holidays if that’s doable. Congratulations by the way!

Chilling on the beach = sand in the wound. Ouch!

You are completely bonkers if you are genuinely thinking about this for all the reasons people have said.

On the plus side, it really does seem to prove the point that it's possible to forget the horrors of giving birth and life with a newborn.

If you took the baby out of the equation you’re actually planning to go on holiday after major surgery. Based on that fact only would you be planning on flying and travelling in those circumstances? The blood clot risks alone would make it inadvisable for anyone who had just had open abdominal surgery.

It’s a good plan for a couple of months down the line I think.

As a digression I do think women are fed the line that pregnancy and birth are not ‘illnesses’ to the point that they take unnecessary risks. It’s all well and good if you feel up to it at the time but actually, biologically, your body has been through and will continue to go through a hell of a lot. Remove the baby from the scenario and any other medical condition with the same stresses on the body would probably land you in hospital for a week with rehabilitation courses afterwards!

You won’t be able to fly after a c section that quickly. Your body expands in the air when flying, so any stitches/wound would possibly split. Not great.

As someone who's had 2 csections- one emergency and one planned, I wouldn't contemplate doing this.

I thought I was ok at around day 12 but then I did too much and really set my recovery back the first time.

Chilling on the beach? More like struggling to move around/carry anything, bleeding and leaking, sleep deprived and trying to establish feeding.

Sorry but I think you've forgotten what newborns AND c-section scars are like for the first few weeks.

Yes go! I’ve always taken mine on holiday tiny it’s a lovely way to recover!