How late on would you go away for a mini break, and how far from home?

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We'd like to fit in a couple of days away in the UK before the baby comes, but realistically we may not be able to go until I'm 37 weeks +

Is it easy to relax and enjoy being away from home late on, and how far is too far from home?

Probably overthinking it, but I don't want to spend lots of money if I'm not going to enjoy it!

It sounds great - wish I'd done that. Just take your hospital bag and make sure you have the number for the labour ward at the nearest hospital!

I went a couple of hours away with my first when i was about as far along as that and all was ok. Didnt even occur to me to find out local hospital details which was probably nieave on my part.
Id say go for it cos once baby here it gets alot harder to arrange last min trips!

I found travelling really hard at that stage, both mine dropped quite low around 37 weeks, gave me sciatica and I couldn't stay seated for chunks of time.

In fact, thinking back, with my first I was having regular runs of painful BH/practice contractions around then, maybe 38 weeks. Each time I got to the point of ringing the mw before they settled down again. I had to pace and breathe etc - was glad to be in familiar surroundings

You're considered term from 37 weeks so I wouldn't have wanted to risk it tbh. You'll have to go away with a car seat, labour bag, notes and baby bits. If you did deliver away from home (and admittedly it's a big if) it'd be a right PITA for your OH, and then you'd face a journey home with a teeny and possible c-section wound or perineum stitches. All in all, I wouldn't find the thought of all that relaxing.

Depends where you live, but could you go to a local posh hotel/spa hotel/country club type thing and have a lovely evening meal, use the facilities, breakfast in bed etc. It doesn't have to be far away and you'd get the best of both worlds?

Thanks very much for the replies--I'm really keen to do something as I know we won't have the chance again for some time. Good idea to find out where the local hospital is.
FootOfOurStairs, I think maybe a spa hotel relatively locally is a good idea, I'm off to look for places

Around the hospital where I'm going to have my delivery. There're some nice holiday parks and hotels.

If it wasn't peek time I'd have taken a holiday over there.
Worst case we'd have to leave halfway our holiday to bring the children to friends who're going to look after them and we would have to go to the hospital.

That's why I wouldn't take the holiday now, because the prices are sky high. If it's a cheap holiday I'd take the risk and go anytime during my pregnancy. Unless the holiday park or hotel doesn't want to have pregnant ladies who can give birth at any moment.

Could you get a good last minute deal? Means you can see how you feel nearer the time. Failing that is there anywhere near home you could go? Hubby and I want to go away for our 1st wedding anniversary when I'll be about 32 weeks and will probably go to a 4 star spa hotel, it's only half an hour from home but not exactly the type of place you would go on a regular basis.

I'm 35wks and still travelling for work, 4hrs drive away this week, 6hrs next week, driving is staring to be a bit annoying as its hard to get comfy esp when having BH. I assume your OH can do the driving though, plan for rest and walk breaks, wear your pjs (or leggings type outfit) to travel in and enjoy a few days break.

re the hotel, I suggest asking for a room with a bath and opening window (can't believe how many don't have even that).

I'm doing a lot of driving for work too, purple--looking forward to stopping that already so I hope you get to finish soon.
Well I booked a lovely country house/spa hotel, but only for one night so we can go earlier. I'll be 34 weeks and it coincides with our wedding anniversary. hopefully I'll still be able to enjoy good food etc. I remembered to get a room with a separate bath!

Sounds lovely - a proper treat! enjoy

Go for it, even if you were 37 ish weeks you could potentially still have another 4-5 weeks left of pregnancy, majority of babies don't come on time! Enjoy the that last bit if freedom and relax, you will be glad of it.
Definately take hospital bag, and your hand held notes with you and number of nearest clinic/maternity hosp.
And if anything crops up you can always pop to that hospitals day unit to get checked. I know of people like yourself who've gone away for a mini break, but needed things like bp checking while they were away so they did just that.

I'm going to France for a wedding at 36weeks (on Eurostar from London). Slightly anxious about it but should be a lovely relaxing weekend away without DS1 before the next one arrives. My mum thinks I'm crazy though

I am thinking of a mini break when I am about 37 weeks - plan to go to centre parks which is about an hour away from my hospital. Expect it will be just fine.

I went away with family at 37 wks for a week. We went 1.5 hrs away and also checked out which local hospital I would need (due to a condition need consultant-led care).
It was fine

I went away a couple of weeks ago at around 36 weeks - from one end of the country to the other! All was fine but took my notes and had hospital bag and baby seat in boot just in case. Only thing was that I got puffy feet after a long drive but sounds like you won't be in the car as long as I was. Enjoy your break away befor PE baby comes I say!

Stats on spontaneous labour % in relation to due date: spacefem.com/pregnant/due.php?m=12&d=19&y=10

But bear in mind conditional risk spacefem.com/pregnant/due.php?m=12&d=19&y=10

Oops - conditional risk xkcd.com/795/

We were planning a night away on our wedding anniversary. Turns out my due date is just 3 days after the anniversary and the hotel would be about an hour away. Might have to bring it forward a few weeks

Liking the stats, frenchboy! Thanks for the reassurance, and for those who are planning a break, have a lovely time.