Anyone with experience of unexpectedly giving birth away from home?

[seashellgreen81]

I'm planning to go away next week for a week and a half. I will be a 6 hour drive from home. I will be 37 weeks pregnant. My DH needs to be away for work at that time and we decided that we'd rather risk being away from home for the birth than him missing it completely! My midwife has agreed and says I probably won't go into labour whilst we're away but it could happen. So i'm taking hospital bag and notes with me and preparing myself mentally for how it will be 'if' I do go into labour whilst we're away. The bit I can't get my head round at the mo is how we would get back home with the baby. Isn't there a maximum amount of time that a baby can be in a car seat?
I'd appreciate any advice and any stories you might have about birthing away from home.
Many thanks in anticipation.

No expiearience of giving birth away from home, however traveling with babies is where I have expiearience!

That 6 hour journey will become a 9 hour journey. You need to plan lots of stops along the way for feeds, nappy changes and general grumpyness. The guidelines talk about 2 hour stints in a car seat, but as long as you take baby out, have a break, feed, nappy chance etc etc it'll be fine.

The likelihood of goin into labour early with your 1st is unlikely, however not impossible. Don't stress too much about it, it'll be fine, it's a one off journey and won't kill the baby.

No experience, but I'm also going to be away from home for 5 days when I'm 36-37 weeks pregnant...and dh won't be there, I'm going on my own. Bit daunted, but I figure the chances of going early are low enough (though it's dc2).

Bag will be packed, notes will be with me,and that'll have to do me!

Any chance you can take a train? Might make it easier with feeding etc although I can imagine it wouldn't be perfect having to use train loos. (Ooh go first class! Reasonable to have a treat I think;)

This happened to Samantha Cameron. Shove the car seat in the boot and then don't stress. V unlikely in any case.

I went on a lovely holiday about two weeks before my first was due - all was fine :) I will say being in the car got uncomfortable at very pregnant. Factor in a lot of breaks to pee/stretch/have a drink. Good luck!

Thanks for the feedback and advice everyone :-) I'm feeling more chilled out about the trip now - what will be will be :-)