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Original poster

Travelling at 36.5 weeks pregnant - how bad an idea is that?

17 replies

DisplacedPerson · 17/01/2012 21:44

Can any 36.5 weeks pregnant mothers-to-be advise me as to how able you currently feel to travel as a passenger in a car for a 12 hour journey? If I want to make it to my sisters wedding in Scotland in July then that is what I may have to do. Flying and ferries appear to be not allowed after 36 weeks and I need to get from near Amsterdam to Glasgow. And back. I do have a 3 year old, so am familar with pregnancy, but the memory fades rather after the event, so if any of you could let me know if you feel fit for it or not then at least I would have an idea. Thanks.

OP posts:

suburbophobe · 18/01/2012 02:19

Well, I had my son at 36 weeks....so I certainly wouldn't feel keen about it if I had to do it.

Sorry to be so unhelpful.....

Gigondas · 18/01/2012 02:26

It depends on how you feel and our pregnancy unfolds. With dd1 I travelled to fame at this stage with no second thought. This time I was more cautious (tricky pregnancy and spd means sitting is agony). can you split the journey ?
Leaving the physical aside what would you do if in labour - you may want to check logistics (ie hospital will treat you but will you be charged erc for any scbu costs , how will you arrange baby passport ). Probably not so tricky given you are in eu and near family but it's something to think on.

Gigondas · 18/01/2012 02:26

France not fame!

frenchfancy · 18/01/2012 06:48

Given that you are travelling to the UK I guess it could be ok as long as you plan before and have a list of hospitals on the route.

I had DD3 at 35 weeks so I would be more cautious.

Bucharest · 18/01/2012 07:02

Depending on the airline you can fly with doctor's letter, but you need to check.

IIRC I flew back to Italy when I was 36weeks ish.

hollyround · 18/01/2012 11:12

I had my two at 36 and 37 weeks so I would go the shortest, quickest route with a list of hospitals on the way! Its probably best to speak to your midwife or doctor about how safe it is because it depends on your pregnancy. I wouldn't have been allowed to go anywhere but if you are ok then maybe a doctors note to fly would be best/quickest?

PostBellumBugsy · 18/01/2012 11:18

I travelled alot in my first pregnancy, for work & for pleasure too. I flew after the "official" cut off, I think at about 34 weeks (with a doctor's note that no one was interested in) & it was fine. I think 12 hours is a horribly long time to be sitting in a car for though, pregnant or otherwise. If you are heavily pregnant it will probably be very uncomfortable. What about the train? Take your notes with you. To be honest, unless you have very specific health issues, you should be able to deliver at any hospital, if you did go into early labour.

mummymeister · 18/01/2012 14:02

I know you need to book ferries etc early as it is for July (peak holiday time) but it is really impossible to advise until much nearer the time. you could sail through the last month but you could get all sorts of problems. i suggest you find some travel insurance willing/able to cover you just in case. i would also make sure you take all relevant info with you so if you are seriously unwell you have good information to hand. if you can break the journey up then i would as you are likely to be really tired otherwise. if you can though wait a bit longer before booking anything.

Greenshadow · 19/01/2012 16:55

Personally wouldn't have found it any more of a problem than travelling that distance when not pregnant (i.e. would hate it, but it would have to be done).

But then I had a relatively small bump (seatbelt problems were never an issue) and trouble free pregnancies.

Original poster

DisplacedPerson · 22/01/2012 21:15

Thanks ever so much for your comments, they reinforce many of my own thoughts, and bring up a few I hadn't yet considered. I think I will have to wait and see how this pregnancy progresses. Last time went very smoothly, no issues at all and I remember when I stopped work at 36 weeks I felt that I could have gone on a couple more weeks no bother. My hubby also reckons train is better. But I don't think we will book anything until we get to the week before and then see what we can do. Thanks again!

OP posts:

kerala · 22/01/2012 21:17

Would leave it but then DD2 came at 35 weeks all of a sudden..

LoveInAColdClimate · 22/01/2012 21:19

How pregnant are you now? I am 32+3 and would already struggle a bit with that - I find it uncomfortable to be in one position for too long. But I'd survive I'm sure!

MrsTittleMouse · 22/01/2012 21:29

My first was born at 40 weeks, my second at 37 weeks...

Plus I would have been in agony sitting for so long, but then I had SPD and back problems.

The other point, that I don't think that anyone else has raised, is that second babies tend to come quicker than first babies. Usually a lot quicker. I know a lot of Mums who have arrived at the hospital, tyres screeching, plus a couple of accidental home births. Even if you've mapped out every hospital between your place and the wedding, it would still be very stressful trying to find Hospital X in Calais while contracting, with a three year old in the car.

Karoleann · 22/01/2012 21:32

When did you have your first child? I've gone to 42 weeks with all of mine, so by DC3 would have been fine to travel that far.
I wouldn't have felt very comfy for 12 hours in a car, but if you stop half way may be okay (I certainly wouldn't drive yourself).
Why not train it?

motherinferior · 22/01/2012 21:33

Given that I had DD2 at 37+2, I wouldn't recommend it.

heliumballoon · 22/01/2012 22:48

I was 36.5 weeks 10 days ago.
There is no way I would have done it, sorry. Other posters have mentioned the physical discomfort and the risks of giving birth away from home. There is also something rather psychological going on which is making me feel very cautious and nesty and home-loving. I am barely leaving the house and just pottering gently around the local area- even travelling 1 hr away just isn't something which I feel like doing. I am waiting for my second too, and my toddler is very overwrought and stressed as she knows her life is about to change but not how!! So bear that in mind too.
That's a personal thing perhaps.

Original poster

DisplacedPerson · 25/01/2012 22:00

I'm 12 weeks now, so early days, but wanted to give my sister a realistic view as to my possible (non) attendance. I had a planned caeserean for my first due to her being in breech position, so that was planned for 4 days before the due date. I didn't have any hint of going into labour, so no idea how long I would have gone. Thanks for your post heliumballoon. I had forgotten about the nesting instinct - the tops of my skirting boards have never been so clean before or since! To answer another qustion, if we did it by car we would indeed break the journey up into 4 hr stints. But then on the way back probably just go as long as I can, to get back. I wouldn't be driving. What is putting me off the train is the thought of something happening on the train - at least with a car and navigation you can find your own way to a hospital.

OP posts:

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