Am I mad to consider this with a newborn?

[Planningatrip]

We’re wondering if it’s going to be feasible to go up to Scotland to see family this Christmas, and make a little weekend out of it perhaps and potter round the Christmas markets. If we did this we would be staying in a hotel/AirBnb for 2 or 3 nights and so would need to drive up in order to fit our pram and travel cot in. It’s a 3 hour drive, so we’d obviously have to stop several times.

Our baby could be anywhere between 5 and 8 weeks old, depending on when she’s born.

Naively I’m thinking this could actually be the easiest age. Yes we’ll be tired, but we’ll be tired wherever we are. Planning on breastfeeding so hopefully shouldn’t have to worry about bottles and the likes.

AIBU to think about it? Do I need a reality check?

Is it your first baby?

Yes, so I’m probably being extra naive 😂

Can you just get a hotel/Airbnb with free cancellation, so you can see how you're getting on when the baby is born? :) sounds nice though - I'm pregnant with my first too - good luck!

I think it's doable, but can you book accommodation (and anything else you need to book!) that can be cancelled nearer the time if you need to? It will depend a bit on how you are doing and how the baby is but they'll hopefully just sleep even if they don't like the car! You would need to stop on the way but it sounds like you've planned for that!

It depends on so many things but I certainly wouldn't commit to it.

I drove to France on my own when mine was a similar age. I think it depends to some degree on the circs around the birth and yours and the baby's health but I don't see it would be a problem. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Not over Christmas, it would be the week before

If you have a C Section would you want to do all that travelling and stuff? Also I had a PPH and still felt like death at 6 weeks due to blood loss.

It could be fine, but at that age you will need to stop every 30 mins to get baby out of the car seat for a while, that makes a 3 hour journey a hell of a lot longer.

Sounds lovely, not sure what the issue is.

If you feel well and the baby is doing well, I don't see the issue at all. You'll just have to take your time driving up there, and don't fret if things don't go to plan. In my experience, babies that age are very easy to take along, pretty much anywhere.

Like other people say, it really depends. It could be fine and it could also be the seventh circle of hell. You need to be able to cancel.

5 weeks post partum with my first I still couldn't walk straight from the agony of my emcs. I was very unlucky with healing though. And I'd given up on breastfeeding.

I wouldn't make any solid. Uncancellable plans. But there's nothing wrong with hoping to go. You may have an easy ride and feel bored stuck at home. You'll need a lay flat car seat for such a long journey.

Babies under six weeks are only supposed to be in a car seat for 30 mins at a time. You will probably be in cluster feeding terrority where you maybe stuck feedung for 4 hours+ at a time.

I would give it a miss.

Totally doable provided the birth etc goes to plan. I live in Glasgow and we went on holiday for a week up north when baby was 2.5 weeks old and it was gorgeous

Depends on the type of birth you’ll have. I’d get somewhere with free cancellation so you don’t miss out financially if you can’t go.

We had a weekend away when DS was 2 weeks old. It was great to get away and I felt good.

I travelled up from London to Glasgow when DS1 was 5 weeks old, I was knackered but it was fine. We caught the train, paid the extra for first class so I had a bigger comfier seat and plenty of cups of tea. We then drove back up a few weeks later to celebrate Christmas with my FIL who was terminally ill, DS was 8 weeks and it was an 8 hour drive. It’s a tiring journey but doable, and if you’re only 3 hours away then I’d say go for it. If your partner is driving you can sleep between stops!

You’ll be absolutely fine! Sounds nice & newborns are not that hard don’t let MN scare you! Sounds like you’ve got a good plan in place. Babies need to slot into your life and life doesn’t stop for babies either!

I managed similar with a 4 week old. It was tiring but doable but they were a good sleeper even at that age.

First baby I thought I'd be superwoman. Gave myself some.lasting injuries caused by birth but made worse by in part doing far too much far too soon; at 6 weeks pp I couldn't have even considered this for me - baby would have been fine.

2nd baby I stayed in bed/around the house for the best part of a month and by 6-8 weeks absolutely could have considered this.

Every birth is different, every baby is different but remember this is about you not just the baby and not "just" if you have a C-section mine were both what a Dr would consider straight forward vaginal births.
If you can cancel easily go for it but don't be scared to upset folks and do so.

If I had a birth and baby like one of my DC then it would have been impossible. If I had a birth and baby like my other DC then it would have been an absolute doddle. You just won't know until you've had your baby.

Babies are very portable. Just need mum and dad, milk and a warm place to sleep. Only question would be how long is recommended as maximum in car seat.