Driving in third trimester

[PregnantAgainOhMy]

I passed my driving test about 2 months ago. I am very happy with driving in general and my car, and I’m steadily building up confidence. I have not yet driven on a motorway.

When I am 34-35 weeks, we are planning to travel over a hundred miles to stay with family for a few days. I am the only driver. Journey will take about 2 and a half hours and is all motorway.

This is my second pregnancy. My DD hasn’t seen the other side of her family for over a year and I know once the new DC is here it will be hard to travel for months as I know you shouldn’t drive too far with a newborn, so realistically I imagine it’s gonna be at least 6 months before we will have this opportunity again.

I don’t know whether to go or not. The idea of seeing family I’ve not seen for a year, and them enjoying DD, (I know DD will love it!) I just know it will be a lovely few days.

But I will be getting very close to my due date. Slightly nervous about driving on a motorway but I know it’s just me being silly and I’ll be fine once I start. Concerned if I go into labour early, but if I bring all my hospital bags I imagine I just have to contact the closest hospital as I obviously won’t be able to get back home. And is it okay to drive this far being so far along?

Im really torn on what to do. My hips are hurting a lot now and feel very heavy and slow, as you do in the third trimester. My DH is fully supportive in whatever I choose to do.

AIBU to go?

How many weeks are you now, OP?

If you feel physically up for it then just go. Obviously if it's going to be hugely uncomfortable to the point you can't drive safely then don't.

Take your time, stop a couple of times for coffee etc and enjoy seeing your family.

I don’t really get the big deal. I flew at 34 weeks and was travelling about 3hrs to family after that.
To me 34 weeks isn’t really that close to the due date. Sure some women go into very early labour, but most women are going about their normal lives at that point and heading into work daily for several more weeks yet.

Im 33 weeks right now

I would start with doing small motorway journeys now. The journey should be ok, I would go early am, only thing is you may need to stop every hour to go to toilet.

@luxxlisbon I think the issue here is that the OP is a new driver, she is already starting to feel tired and uncomfortable, and there is no other driver who can take over if need be.

OP I woudn't say don't do it, especially if you have a few weeks to practise going on the motorway. But if you do, allow extra time and make sure you take plenty of breaks.

You might also want to think about having a backup plan, for example, adding one of the family members you are visiting to your insurance as a named driver so that if things go wrong somewhere en route a couple of them can come out in their own car and rescue you. Would that be a possibility?

You'll be fine :) and if you happen to go into early labour at least you have your family with you. I did a lot of long distance driving at about that time and it was all good.

Enjoy seeing your family!

Have you ever driven on a motorway before? If not I'd definitely do a practise run before attempting a long journey.

Have a look at all the services along the route too. At 34 weeks I'd have needed the toilet approximately 14 times in 2.5 hours 🤣

Ultimately though only do as much as you feel confident doing, both physically and in driving confidence. I assume there is no option for these family members to travel to you?

I don’t think the journey would have caused me concern at that stage of pregnancy, however I was physically unable to fit behind the steering wheel of my car. Short legs and a big bump made life very difficult. Might be something to consider.

For the majority 34-35 weeks is fine.

I had to stop driving at 36 weeks mainly because my big bump stopped my short legs from reaching the pedals! The steering wheel had been rubbing my bump for some time. I also had awful SPD and was basically stuck in the house from that point unless driven door to door. Driving wasn't the worst for it but long journeys would have been sore.

Its your decision if you feel up to it or not.

Past a couple of months babies get thar bit stronger and long journeys with breaks become more viable and practical. It doesn't have to be 6 months. Often 3-6m is a good window for travel because many have a routine and weaning is not a major additional complication.

Just a thought but if you go into labour and give birth whilst you are away how would you get home? Particularly if you have a difficult birth or C sec.

Can’t family come visit you? Or when you say you are the only driver, does this include the family you want to visit?

I wouldn't be concerned in terms of physical side. I would be more concerned about motorway driving experience, if you haven't done much of it before.

It’s a large family gathering type thing so not possible for all of them to come to us.

In terms of going into labour whilst I’m away, I don’t know what the procedure is. I obviously won’t be able to drive myself back. Family down there can drive, but I can’t imagine a 2 and a half hour drive to the hospital would be a sensible choice. Would I just call up a local maternity unit and explain my situation and go there instead?

In terms of physically being able to drive, I struggle a bit to get in and out of the car but other than that I’m fine. Although longest drive I’ve done recently is 25 mins so not got much to go on.

In terms of motorway driving itself, yes I suppose it makes sense to do a trial motorway drive early next week for a bit. I mean, everyone tells me motorway driving is super easy and I can see the point as you’re not really dealing with constant junctions or stuff. I know it’ll probably be absolutely fine, it’s just that slight nervousness combined with being heavily pregnant. My mother used to a horrendous passenger on the motorway when I was a kid, and I know that’s partly to blame for my nervousness. But I’m all about overcoming fears by forcing myself into them headfirst!

That’s a good point. I suppose we would stay with family for a week or two, then either I’d be up for driving us back or we’d have to get family insured and they’d have to drive us back.

That does seem a lot of faff though. I never thought of that potential situation.

Irrespective of being pregnant, have you thought about having a motorway driving lesson - either from your old driving instructor or a competent and experienced motorway driving friend? This might help with your confidence for a long motorway drive.

Bear in mind that labour at 34 weeks is unlikely. Of course you need to consider the possibility, but only about 8% of babies are born pre-term and there will be more born at 36/37 than 33/34 so the likelihood at 34 weeks will be much less than 8%.

You'll be fine, go for it

The motorway is one issue. Practise beforehand, or get a lesson.

The distance in late pregnancy is another. If it helps, where I live it's 2.5 hours to the hospital. So everyone here makes that drive during active labour. It's not fun, even with someone else driving! But perfectly possible. I had fortnightly scans in late pregnancy so was also making that journey (and back on the same day) regularly up until 39 weeks. I had mild PGP (as in I could walk round the house but couldn't put my own socks on). I walked like an old woman getting out of the car but soon uncrinkled again!
You'll be fine if you want to do it.

I would go.
The chance of you going into labour are low. It sounds like to pros far outweigh the cons.
Take your notes just in case. I would plan a break at regular intervals to break it up. Even if just to get out and stretch.

I’d go. Motorway driving is pretty easy, if you’re feeling nervous about overtaking etc then just stick to the “slow” lane and take it easy.

Take your hospital bag with you but it’s very unlikely you’ll go in to labour. You might even be a few weeks over, in which case would have ages to go