W/e away from home @ 38 wks?

[mummmypirate]

Hi, not sure why I'm posting as I know no-one can really tell me the answer to this but... big family wedding coming up this weekend, I'll be 38 wks with DC3. Just discovered that nearest maternity ward is 1 hour away from wedding venue in Frome. Obviously, I can prepare in so much as taking notes, bag and baby seat, (plus sat nav!) and I'm pretty relaxed about idea of giving birth away from home should it arise (this is a low risk pregnancy) but 1hr to a hospital that neither me or DH has ever been to before has unnerved me a little. Am I daft going? Would feel terrible about letting bride down when I could still be preggers 2 weeks after her big day. Last two babies arrived on due dates.

If it's DC3 is there the likelihood that if you did go into labour it could be a pretty quick one? So realisically you'd have to get on the road to the hospital relatively soon after labour starts to be sure of getting there?

Otherwise, you could just consider giving birth at the wedding venue (if it's at a hotel) where there would probably be a nice big room, bathroom etc Perhaps in that case, you could contact the MWs covering Frome and find out what would happen if you did go into labour at the wedding and what cover they'd give you if you couldn't get to the hospital. Letting them know in advance would be a good idea anyway I think.

I would go if she's a close relative and you fancy a big wedding day out?

How far is it to travel from your home? I'm nearly 29 weeks and I've just traveled to see family a good 5 hours away and found its really taken its toll on me. I'd be less concerned about the provisions locally and more about how I'd feel travelling that far along personally...,if you think you'll feel ok, go for it, but I'm sure she'll understand if you don't feel you can go.

Bath hospital is less than 1 hr from frome with a large maternity unit. Where are you thinking of? Salisbury too.

oooh, a bit of local knowledge, brilliant, the NHS website gives Yeovil and Musgrove Park in Taunton as the nearest to the wedding venue in BA11, but I'll check out Bath and Salisbury. Thanks for your replies, my strong inclination is to go, but DC2 arrived in under 3 hrs so might be risking a speedy labour.

Samvet - thank you so much Bath and Salisbury MUCH closer at 30 mins away - the NHS website is rubbish! Feel much happier about setting off now.

Great! Frome actually used to have a midwife led unit, or maybe Trowbridge but they closed it I think or you would have been even closer! Others miles away! Bath < 30 mins with foot down I think! Good luck!

DS1 and DS3 both came at 38+0. (DS2 was 40+2). In total, across all three, I've been in labour for fewer than 8 hours. DS3 was took under 2 hours. So I wouldn't do it!

What are your childcare plans for your older children if you did end up having DC3 away from home, and there were complications?

Trowbridge has an excellent Birthing centre apparently - it's made the front page of the Wiltshire Times this week for it's CQC inspection praise!

Is the Wedding at Orchardleigh?

My older children are already staying with rellies in London because they're not invited to the wedding - so actually they'd already be taken care of if things kicked-off. Am checking out birth centres in Frome and Trowbridge - the wedding is at Orchardleigh, thanks again x

Yes, they're sorted for the weekend. But what if, for example, you end up with a CS and need to stay in hospital for a week?