Booking a night away 3 weeks before due date - daft idea?

[misssmilla1]

Me and the OH have an opportunity to go away for a night and stay in a hotel, which will be 3 weeks before my due date.

It's driveable distance from us (approx 2 hours) so no long journey but I can't decide whether it's a good idea or whether we should stay closer to home. As it's my first I'm expecting to be late (famous last words..) but know I shouldn't bank on this.

Thoughts?

I would stay closer to home, especially if non refundable. Can you save enough on petrol to counteract any special offer

Is there a decent hospital near where you'll be?

If yes, I'd go, take the hospital bag and notes, and enjoy it. If you don't, you're sure to be late and kick yourself

Well I would go! I would also do what the poster above suggested though and take your notes and hospital bag just in case. Also look to see where the nearest maternity unit is from you.

Enjoy it

Go for it! Like others say, make sure you have your notes etc and have a lovely, relaxing break before the baby comes

It's pot lucky really, it would be fine for lots of pregnancies, but not for others! I was scanned at 32 weeks and all looked good. I then had a placental abruption and EMCS at 37 weeks, when I wasn't expecting DD for another month as she was my first!

If there's a good hospital nearby then that might be enough of an insurance policy for you, chances are all will be fine...

I'd go if everything has been uncomplicated.
We actually went away about a week before my due date - OH had had some bad news so we decided to escape to a hotel, just for a night.

It was about an hour and a half away from home/the hospital.

I did actually get a few minor pains that night and thought "uh oh" but nothing came of it and it was a nice little break.

Bring your notes, know where the nearest hospital is and enjoy!

At 37 weeks though you might find 2 hours in a car really is a long and uncomfortable way.

As others have said, bring your notes, bag and know where the hospital is. You don't say how far along you are now but check your insurer in case you need to cancel nearer the time, I don't think mine covered me that far along, although I guess one night won't break the bank if you don't go.
First babies are always late is a myth - the stats show they are less on time either way, but only by days

Next week OH and I are travelling from Edinburgh to London to Southampton, where we will be staying for 2 weeks! Then again I'm only 34 weeks, but don't know how I'm going to cope with the travel!

Thanks all! I'm 23 weeks atm, haven't booked anything yet, but the night away would fit with something I wanted to buy for the OH birthday. Think I may leave it a few weeks to decide, and in the meantime do my research on the areas hospitals / birth units.

Well... I've just booked 3 nights away a week before my due date! 2 1/2 hour car journey. As long as you take your notes and a hospital bag there shouldn't be any problems. Labour takes a while to get going anyway usually!

If you go, as others have said, take your notes and hospital bag/ car seat etc with you; my waters broke bang on 37 weeks.

I could not bear sitting down or still at all by 37 weeks. I had sciatica, spd and a huge bump. I went over by 9 days so would have been fine but the discomfort wouldn't have been worth it for me.

My babies had all been born at this point (my first was over a week early). My first labour was around 5-6h and the rest around 2. Needless to say, I would never book a night away this close!

The night I had my daughter I was meant to be in a five star London hotel (38 weeks). The hospital bed and food didn't compare well! Make sure it's refundable.

We have to go to a wedding over 4 hours away at 37 weeks which I am not looking forward to. A couple of hours I might be happier with though. Can you get a refund if anything happens before then?

Thing is OP you'll get a mixture of people posting who had their first babies early or quick labours who definitely wouldn't, and people like me who went a week overdue with not a single twinge beforehand, wasn't feeling uncomfortable at that point and who had very long pre labours who would have been able to get home anyway. There's no way of knowing which camp you'll fall into! We're going away for 3 nights at 39 weeks, we're going somewhere where we used to live (2 1/2 hours away) to see friends, staying in a cottage, I know the hospital and we have friends around to look after toddler DD if I go into labour so I feel comfortable with it.
We went to a wedding 4 hours train journey away at 39 weeks last time and again it was completely fine and I'm glad we went, but others would have already had the baby by then!

I missed my brother's wedding which was the week before EDD because family members said not to travel. My DD was then 9 days late. I was gutted I had not gone. There wa a good hospital nearby. Go for it!

sand my best friend came to my wedding 2 hours away 2 days after her EDD with her second. Everyone said she was crazy but she went 12 days overdue so was glad she hadn't stayed at home!