Dear Dilemma... advice appreciated!

[HelloMama]

A very good friend of mine is getting married (big wedding) 10 days before my due date and I just don't know if we should go or not! The main problem is the wedding is 200 miles away from home. We will be staying with family members over the long weekend (its in my home town) but just the thought of being so far away is making me nervous! Lots of people have said they expect baby to arrive a bit early (doctors at work, midwife friends, etc) as baby is already engaged, but I would be so disappointed to miss the wedding to go and be 2 weeks overdue (which is quite likely to happen with a first baby, right?)! What should we do?! So far I have had no problems in the pregnancy and still feel very well at the moment (due on 27 July). I also don't know what I should say to my friend getting married. Help!

See how you feel on the day you would travel. If you really don't want the hassle, then stay at home and relax. If you do desperately want to be there but you're worried about giving birth, go but take your notes and hospital bag and first stage car seat ? surely some relatives could drive you back when your db is a few days old? Could you book train tickets that wouldn't have to be used on a particular train ? I mean do book a seat but if you miss the train you haven't wasted your money? Ask the booking office ? if it's your home town you would probably use the tickets at some point.
Head engaged doesn't necessarily mean much, my ds's head was engaged for weeks yet he was 8 days after due date. First babies are often 'late'. Very few babies turn up on their alleged due date; something like 5 per cent. 37 to 42 weeks is 'term'. After all, medical science doesn't actually know when you conceived.
I went to a work function on my due date; was very entertained by the thought of going into labour in a roomful of doctors (GPs don't deliver babies any more so they were all terrified!). Really enjoyed myself and everyone was very sweet about looking after me. But it was just across the river from the hospital at which I was giving birth so a lot simpler than your situation.
My best friend's sister was due the day of my bf's wedding at which we were both bridesmaids. It was fine, nothing happened and she had a lovely time.
Good luck whatever you decide.

I'd go too - so ling as there was a nmaternity hospital somewhere in the region - check out the telephone number in advance if you can. And as someone has recommended take your baby car seat and notes with you in advance. We stayed with friends when I was about 37 weeks and we just took everything with us - even through in a couple of nappies and a baby gro. We also moved house same week!!! And we organised to go out for a huge family meal on my actual sue date too. LOL!

DD ended up being two weeks OD so really glad we did go.

I went to dh's Xmas work do on a boat trip when I was 39w. We took the labour bags and my notes with us, and both our mobiles, and had a great time.

Go ahead and enjoy yourself.

BTW, many cultures consider it to be incredibly lucky to have a pregnant woman at a wedding!

Well... we went to the wedding and I'm so glad we did! It was brilliant. My friend looked absolutely amazing and I realised that I wouldn't have missed it for the world. The bonus was when we got on the train at Paddington, all the normal carriages were very busy so we plonked down in first class whilst we waited for all the reserved seats which had not been taken to clear. When the conductor came round he told us to stay put in First class (without having to pay extra and the staff were kind to me in my hugely pregnant state all the way to Exeter! Fantastic!

Thanks everyone for your advice! For the future, I would always say go to that special event and just be prepared in case baby does make an early appearance (it would make the event even more memorable afterall!)

HelloMama SO PLEASE YOU HAD A GOOD TIME

That's brilliant news Hellomama, so glad you made it.

So glad you went HM. One of my best friends got married when I was heavily PG with DS3( about 7 weeks to go) and we very nearly didn't make because DS2 was ill.

Anyway we did go and I think I cried more than half her family purely for the fact that I was so glad I made it. She looked amazing and it was a beautiful. I would have hated to miss it so I know how you feel about not missing it for the world.

I expect you got just as much attention as the bride too, I know I did.