Same country travel in third trimester – how late is too late?

[moominmaiden]

My PIL live about 3 hours drive away in London. We usually visit them at least once a month, but it occurred to me as I was packing my hospital bag the other day (I?ll be 33 weeks on Wednesday) that at some point I?ll have to start keeping close to home.

Does anyone know if there is an official guideline? I?m planning to have the hospital bag done within the next week or so and stick it in the back of the car along with my hospital notes for long journeys. It seems early to me, but my midwife has made me a little paranoid by remarking on how low baby?s head is, as though he is preparing to torpedo his way out!

MIL is a nurse and I think there?s a hospital about 20 mins drive from their house.

What would /did you do?

If you don't mind having the baby wherever you are, you can travel wherever you want.
Otherwise take your midwife's advice - they are pretty good at knowing when things are likely to start happening.

I wouldn't go travelling once contractions have started or waters have broken. Other than that I'd take handheld notes with me and make sure I knew where nearest hospital was.

Wouldn't go any later than 36 weeks unless you're willing to stay put at that place if baby arrives early.

no official guidelines. If there is an issue any NHS hospital will take you. I am going away at 33 weeks within the UK and will just take notes and maybe hospital bag with some essentials just in case. And swot up in advance where the nearest maternity hospital is. If you've bought a car seat, I would probably be tempted to take that too.
I am pretty clear about not wanting to go anywhere far after about 36 weeks but that's just me.

I went on holiday to Cornwall (5 hours from home) a few weeks ago at nearly 35 weeks. I made sure I knew where nearest hospital was and got relevant phone numbers. I took mat notes, car seat and great big suitcase full labour bag just in case.

So long as you are prepared I don't see why you need to stop going.

I think a 3 hour journey could be too long and uncomfortable for you even with breaks beyond say 8 months.

We drove from Hungary when I was 7 months pg with DS3 and it was a horrible journey, which started my agonizing pubis symphysis ( or whatever it's called.)
after that I drew the limit at 30 mins.
but that's me, there are no rules.

just listen to your body and slow down or stop when it gets too much.

as with most things, my advice is to prepare for the worst & hope for the best!

I'm planning on going to a wedding three hours away a week before my due date. Possibly crazy, but I will pack car seat, notes and hospital bag, cross fingers (and legs) and hope for the best!

Good luck, OP!

I live in Bristol and we drove up to Edinburgh to see my parents when I was 37 weeks. We broke the journey at my in-laws in Yorkshire and stopped whenever else I fancied it. Took a hospital bag and my notes and wore flight socks (midwife recommended)... But then I also worked at an all-night event in Manchester when I was 35 weeks and was on the go from 7pm til 9am, so was perhaps in a bit of denial about my situation...

Is it your first baby? I would say see how you feel, some women can't cope with sitting for any length of time and there are always the need for frequent wee stops.

I am planning to go to Devon for a week from 36-37 weeks, it will be about 5 hours. I have warned dh that I will need hourly loo stops at least. I will take notes and car seat and find out where nearest hospital is.

If you turn up in labour any NHS hospital has to accept you, most babies born at 36 weeks won't need any special care as long as they are feeding there should be no need to stay much longer than planned.

I went 4 hours away at 34 weeks. I took my notes and hospital bag in the car just in case, but thankfully didn't go into labour on holiday!! I was very sore after we got there though, don't think we made enough stops. Make sure you stop enough and get out and stretch yourself. Depends how you feel really. My friend just went away 3 hour drive and she's 39 weeks (second baby, first was late). As long as you have your notes you can go to any hospital, and even if you don't have them they can still treat you but will need to take a full set of bloods etc as they won't have your records.

btw good luck

I'm currently 2 hours away at 34 weeks. We brought the car seat and one bag with my notes plus a few things for both me and baby (so not full hospital bag), more to avoid tempting fate than anything else. We are with PIL (MIL is a nurse) and DH's aunt who is a neonatal nurse which gives a bit of extra reassurance. The journey was ok but we did stop a couple of times en route.

I don't plan going too far after this, and certainly won't be doing the 4 hour journey to my parents the weekend of my dad's birthday (38 weeks for me), even though it's a "big one". We had an early celebration last month and my mum is taking him away for the weekend...but should his first DGC decide to make an early appearance, they're in this country and will make a detour .

Thanks all for your replies!

I haven't noticed that long car journeys are particularly uncomfortable so long as we have breaks, and my only qualm about having the baby far away from home is not being able to have some alone time with just DH and the baby.

I'll have a chat to him later tonight and see what he thinks, but I'd be most comfortable staying near home after 36 weeks (saying that, I'm swayable - there are worse things than having a baby surrounded by his lovely family!) Among other things we have a really lovely midwife led unit 20 mins drive from our house and I'd quite like to use their facilities

Baby seat is already in the car - I'm not convinced DH knows how to get it out since he fixed it in place