Travelling long-haul shortly after birth (c-section?)

[Zara1984]

Hi all

Looking to get some comments/tips from those who may have travelled soon after childbirth with a young baby.

I'm due on 26 October with my first. On 29 November I've booked flights to head home to New Zealand for 2 months with baby (DMIL will be on the flight with me, DH will be coming out 3 weeks later).

Looks like things should (famous last words) be fine with getting a birth certificate and passport (currently living in Ireland, procedure seems quite straightforward - simply requires a day or two of banal lining up at the relevant offices), so I'm feeling fairly confident that won't be too much hassle, even if baby is very overdue.

I plan on breastfeeding so hopefully that helps to sort out the feeding side of things on the plane. From what I have heard anecdotally (and seen for myself on long-haul flights) young babies manage very well.

My main worry is that I'll end up very overdue and needing a section. In this situation I guess I would change my flight to leave on the same day as my husband 3 weeks later (the date he's leaving is exactly 6 weeks after I'd be 2 weeks overdue) - the midwife at my GP office has suggested I would not be able to fly for 6 weeks post-section due to the risk of DVT.

Has anyone else travelled soon after having a baby (perhaps after having a section)? How did it go? Was it completely bonkers or completely fine? It's not like I'm very worried and it's keeping me awake at night - after all I don't have too much control over the situation, and statistically I should end up with a vaginal delivery and all will be fine. However I would like to hear about others' experiences!

Some of my friends think I'm bonkers and are criticising our decision to do this. Even though I don't really care what they think, I guess that's why I'm looking for a bit of confirmation that other people do this...!!

Thanks! :)

Sorry to hear about your experience maples :( Sounds like you definitely had a rough first couple of months!

If something serious was wrong with me or baby health-wise, of course there's always the option of simply changing the flights for a later date. There's no way we would be able to go for as long though if it weren't over Christmas. :(

The fact that we are 22,000km away from friends and family and we would like to spend Christmas and summer with them - this is really driving our decision to do this trip in the first place.

I would go for the later date honestly -if you get a C-section no way would you want to go on a 24 hour flight earlier than that - I have never seen babies under about 3 months on long haul
and about 90% babies would be fine - but about 10% cry alot for the first few months - also many young babies poo alot - and changing nappies on planes is not fun - I do understand why you want to do it - and I have traveled alot with my DCs

I brought DD to England five weeks after she was born by CS. We came back from Oman so about half as much flying as you are planning.
It was me and my DH, I don't think I had an easier flight with her. She slept a good 80% of the journey.

I did Australia to uk when DS was 10 weeks. I had a CS and from that perspective, it was okay, but honestly, you wouldn't want to do this any sooner then 8 weeks post CS - you have so much stuff to carry (as well as the baby) on long haul and it's hard. Airline staff were not helpful for me and you have to walk a long way, buggy often has to be collected from large luggage in baggage claim, etc. it's not nice. Remember that you'll have to get off and take all hand luggage when you refuel, etc.

Regarding breast feeding, it was okay, but I had to go to the loos to feed as there wasn't enough arm room in the seats for me. The pressure also makes you leak a lot - beware!

Having done it, I found it a real nightmare on my own, even though my DSwas good as gold and slept a lot. If there's a possibility of waiting and having your DP travelling with you, I'd recommend doing that.