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 ?!?

It's not an each to their own @poppymatilda, she won't be fit to fly at 12 days post C-section and won't be allowed on the plane! It's a lovely idea but totally impossible.

There's so many "what ifs". What if your section gets pushed back, what if you have an infection, what if the baby has trouble feeding, what if you can't register them in time (it was a 5 week wait here when our baby was born), what if it's too hot, what if you're ill, what if you run out of pads and can't ask for any in Italian, what if the baby doesn't sleep and everyone hates you.

It's a no from me.

Sounds like a DVT emergency just waiting to happen.

It’s another no from me OP, I’m afraid.

Chill out with baby in the comfort of your own home, ensure DP caters for your every need and let 9 yo watch crap telly all day like normal people.

Can you spend a bit more money and go in summer instead?

Definately don't book unless you can cancel. There will be plenty of cheap packages later. Check medical insurance. See how you and baby are after s/he is born. Get the passports after you register birth. See how it goes. Dorset is nice, the weather here may be good. It will be a relief not to be pregnant, your own home or local park may seem more attractive. Spend money on help.

The point about being able to adopt the brace position is a good one - even if specific airlines say you can fly (which many won't) the most basic safety position in case of an emergency during those 7-8 hrs of flying is one you'll struggle to adopt!

Also the planned c section may get pushed nearer the time... Emergencies etc take priority. At my local hospital you may end up getting bumped to 2-4 days later (they do planned sections on specific days of the week, ofc emergencies bump them slightly) OR if you were really struggling but not quite an emergency they would offer an alternative further away hospital, not sure how your section would be handled or if an alt medic team/facility could be viable. Again, another massive unknown.

It would be madness!

For all the reasons mentioned above.

And what if you have to formula feed? That's just another complication to add to the mix.

In which universe is taking babies away classed as a holiday?

Baby has a planned csection date and yes I could get passport in time

How? You know that the one day passport service can't be used for children?

Tapasfortwo has summarised the main cons up thread. I'd put Ryanair further up the list but I'm in agreement that its probably not wise.

How would you feel if you had to cancel (you are unlikely to get insurance to cover cancellation)? Can you look at spending the same money on a UK break for a few days where at least no flights are involved and the temperature is unlikely to reach Sardinian levels?

@IceRebel We didn't need passports, it was a half hour flight home from hospital within the UK. It was either the half hour flight or 3+ hours in a car.

No way would I go 12 days post c section. Your insurance will be massive, you never know how your recovery will be and you don't know how baby will be.
Plus the passport issue and exposing a new born to all those airplane germs so early on

I would not even consider it, madness after major surgery and to travel with a newborn.

We made the mistake by booking a holiday when our youngest was 6wks old, never forgot how hard that was, couldn’t wait to get home.

Good luck with what you decide.

This is total madness for many, many reasons.

Admittedly, I may have a case of cabin fever right now as unable to get out and about as much.... Fairly certain due to hubbys line of work that we'd be able to sort out passport fairly quickly. We would have a bungalow (so no immediate neighbours through thin walls at the resort). Reception / concierge speak perfect English (better than in some hotels here in the UK!) in case of emergency. We'd be saving a little bit by going to a luxury resort in the UK tbh. Ryanair, booked correctly, with smallish airports to navigate, fast track thru security, priority boarding, booked luggage and extra legroom is actually just as good (if not better) than BA for short haul these days. BUT I think the collective Mumsnet wisdom re possible medical complications has swayed me. I've put a request in for the same resort, just in October - fingers crossed ! Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts !

I dont think that you would get insurance to cover you if anything happened whist you were away.

I flew long haul when DC was 11 days. No issue with passport, flight or insurance. All deliveries are different and it was absolutely fine for me.

A holiday with a new born sounds like the least relaxing week ever. What if you need any medical attention? Won’t you miss visits from your health visitor?

How are you planning on feeding the baby? If you’re breastfeeding then that will be easy enough but preparing formula whilst on a beach holiday sounds like a bit of a pain.

Wise decision Jen. Best of luck to you.

Definitely the right decision!

Good luck with the birth and enjoy your newborn

I think october will be perfect. We always go to tuscany in october and usually get some sunshine. Sardinia is so much further south i think it could be pretty much guaranteed - a last sunny hurrah before the winter!

Lockheart, it IS each to their own. As someone 5 d PP after a planned section, I feel physically upto it now. I'm mobile, minimal pain, no leaking, pretty much finished bleeding. Baby is easy and sleeps a lot, and providing I was with my husband too carry the bags and toddler, I am certainly fit to fly. Oh, and I've just tested and no problems adopting the brace position! And the OP will be further on from the birth than me.

That being said, I think it would be better to wait, and there's the germs issue, but whether it is wise to go is a different question from whether it is doable.

It's a bad idea for so many reasons.

It won't be if no airlines will take you @Hugtheduggee. And you may feel up to it now whilst at or near to sea level, but as you climb in a plane the pressure decreases and our bodies expand. Stitched or only just healed wounds can burst (similarly if you have a cast on you'll need it splitting to allow whatever limb it's encasing to expand). At 5 days PP it would be dangerous to fly, even if you feel physically well, as you risk your wound opening.

And that's ignoring the increased risk of DVT of course.

Sorry I think you are mad. I was in hospital for a week after a C section and it took ages to recover. We travel a lot - airplanes with their recycled air aren't great in my opinion - we waited until our children had had some vaccinations. You also need to ask the doctor about whether babies can equalise their ears at that age.

Flying 12 days after a section is madness. No way will you get permission from a doctor for that and the airline would refuse to carry you.