Holiday advice

[HerculesMulligan]

We booked a holiday in SW France before we knew I was pregnant. If things go smoothly, it'd be our second child (albeit fifth pregnancy). DS was born at 42 weeks, and had to be induced.

We do this trip every year - 2hrs of driving in the UK on day 1, 6hr ferry and 3hrs of driving on day 2, 3-4hrs of driving on day 3. DH doesn't drive so I do all of the driving which is normally absolutely fine.

We've just realised that it'll be between 32-34 weeks based on my EDD, which means I can't travel back on the ferry. It's miles from any airport and remote when we get there, so the next best option is Eurotunnel, which adds a couple of hours on each side.

DH thinks we are biting off more than we can chew. I think he's probably right but am so reluctant to give up on our lovely holiday (and lose a few hundred pounds in deposits) - we are also going with a group so it's even more awkward.

What should we do?

Could you not consider flying instead to save the travel?

I couldn’t have done it at that point but if you are used to the ferry and driving and could perhaps add in extra stops compared to what you’d usually do you might be fine?

How were you with your first child’s pregnancy at that stage? And how old is your first child? I have to admit being heavily pregnant with a toddler has taken its toll physically more than I expected. I have always been 4-6 weeks ahead of where I was with my first in terms of uncomfort, size, tiredness etc. I found my train commute really hard going by around 33-34 weeks and now at 37 I’m a zombie. Last time I was still walking loads, commuting etc at 38 weeks without much issue.

If we flew, I'd have to drive a LH drive hire car which I really don't think I fancy. Never done that before as we usually have our own car with us.

I am 31 weeks and I went on holiday to Centerparcs (in the UK) last week. The drive (2 hours) was fine but the holiday in itself was a bit of a chore. Nothing is really fun in the third trimester in my experience.

Id just try to drive a left hand car and fly!

I’m afraid I agree with your DH. I found sitting in a car for more than about an hour absolute torture at that point in my second pregnancy, and you need to factor in additional tiredness and rest breaks. It might be more feasible if you could share the driving but the fact that you can’t would put the kibosh on it for me. Sorry.

Also - is it after 29 March? If you do go, make sure that you have very comprehensive travel insurance. EHIC won’t be valid if we leave the EU with no deal.

I'm in a similar boat. We booked our holiday early Jan going on the ferry across to France and spending a week in Normandy in August. I honestly didn't think we'd be pregnant by now and I'm going to be 34 weeks which I didn't originally realise was an issue on the ferry.
We are going to end up changing to the euro tunnel which is a pain but its our only option.
It's going to mean instead of a 2hr journey from my folks, a 6hr crossing and a 40min drive the other side, we'll have a 2.5hr drive to the tunnel a quick crossing and a 3hr drive on the other side.
Not what we wanted but we'll just have to cope, add in stops and take our time. Dh drives but it would be good to share if we can as I'm more confident abroad. Dd will be 5.5 so shouldnt bee too difficult to handle.

I find driving a car which matches the side of the road much easier than driving a "visiting" car. All the times I've pulled out onto the wrong side have been in a car with the driver in the "wrong" place...
I'm not sure I'd have fancied schlepping off on holiday at that stage of my second pregnancy. When is it? If it's the summer, could you go away at half term/easter instead?

We drove to the French alps for a skiing holiday this January - I was 32 weeks on the way there and 33 on the way back. Me and DH did it over 2 days on the way down but did it all in one go on the way back, which was 9ish hours driving, then Eurotunnel then about an hour back in the UK. We split the driving 2 hours on/2 hours off so a bit different to you, but to b me honest it was absolutely fine! I guess a lot will depend on what kind of pregnancies you have - I do appreciate I’m extremely lucky but can’t relate at all to people’s comments about not even being able to sit in the car for that length of time (!) - I’m 39 weeks and still absolutely fine physically!