Weekend away at 39wks???

[CityDweller]

This question betrays my ignorance about all things pregnancy related... Is it completely insane/ stupid to think about going away for a weekend 9 days before I'm due?? First baby, so presuming it'll be late, and it'd be about a couple of hours from home (by car or train - in the UK!). But, am I supposed to stay close to home in final weeks of pregnancy? Or, because first labours seem to take a while, would I in fact have plenty of warning things were heating up, so I could either bail on trip at last minute or hot foot it home in time??

My DD was born 2 weeks after Christmas 2009. We were at my MILs for the holidays which is about 2.5 hours drive from home. We took the baby car seat, hospital bags and my notes as well as the gifts etc! Because we were so prepared I'm sure it didn't happen! I made sure I knew where the hospital was and had the phone numbers for there just in case.

DD was 2 days early, 8 hours labour. You never can tell but if you plan, it won't be such a worry should things start. The 30 min car drive I ended up having to the hospital was excruciating, the worse bit of the whole thing because I couldn't move with contractions etc, I wouldn't attempt that for a long distance tbh. But then I went from 0 to insane contractions in about 10 minutes. Take all the stuff and you'll probably enjoy the break, gets you away from the bloody annoying messages asking if any things happening too!

Essentially, so long as your PG has been problem free and you're considered low risk you can give birth anywhere without a hiccup so if you feel OK about going away so close to your due date it probably won't be a problem. Take your stuff and your notes with you.

I personally won't be going very far from home in the last 2-3 weeks. My 1st was 4 days early so no guarantee you'll go over. I need the peace and security of home, going away wouldn't be an option for me but everyone is different.

Please don't assume a 1st baby will be late!

I had a healthy 1st pregnancy and also expected DD to be late. She arrived at exactly 38 weeks and I had only stopped working the day before. I was about an hours drive away from home visiting my parents without DH when contractions started. By the time DH arrived to collect me my labour had progressed so much I went to their nearest hospital and DD was born there. I would not have made it home and as Snowflake says the car journey was very uncomfortable.

Personally I would not go away but if you do, take everything you need and make sure you know where the nearest hospital is just in case.

I went away for a few days at 38 weeks and just took everything with me., car seat, bag etc. I researched where the nearest hospital was so knew exactly what I'd do if ds came early.
As long as you are prepared and are low risk, I can't see a problem

Your baby can come anytime first or not. My first came at exactly 39wks, four days after I had stopped work!
The only thing you can do, is whatever you are comfortable with, so if you don't mind having baby away from home be prepared and go ahead. If not stay at home.

My first came at 36 weeks. Book it if you really want to go, but be prepared that you might lose any non-refundable elements.

I went to a wedding 3 hours away by train at 39 weeks. The journey was bloody awful, even before the stress of worrying that I was going to go into labour and there would have been no way I would have done it if it wasn't an important event.
By that point the baby was so low in my pelvis that I couldn't walk for more than 10 minutes without being in pain.
Don't think 'Oh I can just give birth in a hospital there, it won't be a problem'. I ended up with an EMCS, baby had an infection and I was in hospital for a week in total. DH had to go home each night, visitors needed somewhere to stay. What would you do if that happened in a strange town?
And then after having an EMCS, a two hour journey home? No thanks!

All mine were born at 39 weeks - I wouln't go anywhere - the baby could come any time.

My hubby is best man at a wedding 11 days before my due date. I am planning on going to the wedding even though its 4 hours drive from home. If I don't feel like it on the day I just won't go and stay home. But like the others have said we will be taking all the baby stuff and have talked a friend into looking after our son if I do go I to labour! (I was 2 weeks over with my son but have loads of friends who went early so not counting any chickens)

How pg are you at the moment? My first pg was fine until 34 weeks then I was in and out of hospital from 35 weeks and DS was born at 38+3.

I went 2 weeks over with my first, but despite bing sure this one will be early, I've still planned to attend a wedding nearly 5 hours away(!) at 39+1, just before Christmas. I've looked into local hospitals, called them to make sure they'll have me and honour my birth plan, a being well, and I'm happy with what's going on.

Just make sure you know where the hospitals are, that you have your bags and your notes, and enjoy!

I'm 23wks, low-risk and no probs so far, apart from a bit of spd. Trip would be to my parents, about 2hrs away in a semi-rural area, so my OH can participate in a local sporting event. So, it's not a big deal - I just wondered if it was an idea I should even be entertaining!

The main problem will be if you want to travel 2 hours away from home. I didn't want to travel 10 minutes away from home by then. And the spd could make a long journey uncomfy.
But if it's just to your parents and you could cancel if necessary, why not?

The main problem will be if you want to travel 2 hours away from home. I didn't want to travel 10 minutes away from home by then. And the spd could make a long journey uncomfy.
But if it's just to your parents and you could cancel if necessary, why not?

My dd was born at 39 weeks and that was my first pregnancy. I personally won't be Venturing too far near my due date but I have very quick labours. I only made it to labour ward with one of my three.
If you do go just make sure you take your notes, know where the hospital is and have the numbers handy for the maternity dept.
the chances of you giving birth on that particular weekend are quite slim Just play it by ear and see how you feel when the time comes.

I do agree with noble giraffe about if you need to stay in. We were with family so had we been there for a week etc there would have been no issue. It sounds like you will be in a similar position, and of course with family you can always cancel. The Christmas journey wasn't fab at 38 weeks, we stopped at all the services and I was as stiff as a board at the end, I didn't have spd or anything to complicate it. Probably worth just seeing how you go.

My DH has entered a triathlon event the week before DC2 is due, but it is near to home. I have already said he needs to be prepared to not go if things happen then, his attitude was that its only a 90 minute event, nearer to the hospital than home, so all will be fine! We'll see...

I'm currently just shy of 39 weeks and wouldn't like to stray far from home at the moment. It's a weird kind of nesting thing I think.

I went to a wedding at 37.5 weeks and stayed away for the night. That was absolutely fine (took hospital bag, notes etc) but I would struggle to do it now just a week and a half later. Have become much more uncomfortable and unwieldy, feel less confident driving and generally more knackered.

Of course you might feel fine to 40 weeks and beyond. All I'm saying is there's just no telling.