Day trip to London

[Snowwhite23]

We want to take our DD to London for the day before baby number 2 arrives. The weekend we are looking at going would be 4 weeks before my due date.
We would be going on the train. Dd was born 8 days early and a pretty fast labour. Starting to think it's a bad idea , would you risk it?

I personally would as long you're still feeling up to it. Just make sure you have your notes.

If it's going to cause you stress and worry though I wouldn't go.

How far from home will you be?

Will you enjoy yourself if you’re worrying about this, because if you are it’s probably not worth it is it?

I think so, maybe two weeks prior I wouldn't, but it's not like there aren't hospitals in London if it really did come to that!

How old is DD?
And how long is the train journey? (Would someone be able to collect her? Would she understand what was going on?)

Train journey is about 1hr 20 ish then train station about 30 mins from home.
Dd is 3 so probably not the easiest day out but my brother also lives in London. Not sure how she'd be if he had to look after her though.

I'd go for sure. 4 weeks is a fair amount of time. Plus it's London not somewhere remote and rural. Take your notes if you're worried, just in case. I'm 37+3 and still walking around my city for 2-6 hours a day. Not much else to do while I wait. Just take rests if you need them and a refillable water bottle you can top up as needed.

No I wouldn’t go. London maternity services are a bit of a postcode lottery in terms of quality, and it’s possible if labour starts that you’d need to catch a cab which isn’t easy in some areas even with Uber. If labour started your dd would be with you for the start - do you think she’d be able to cope with you in pain? Have you prepared her?

I have to travel to London regularly for work, approx 3 hour door to door.. I will still be going up to 36 weeks (next week) and haven't even thought twice about it. If worst really comes to worst, there are several hospitals in London and people who live in/around the city manage to get to them just fine when they are in labour. If you feel fit and able to get around, go for it and enjoy the day xx

What would you plan to do in London? I think it would be tricky enough with a 3 year old, never mind being 8 months pregnant. London can be a tiring place.

I don’t know if a 3yo really needs to go to London. If seeing your brother is important, maybe he should come to you?

Like @Rors I travel to London regularly for work. It is 4 hours door to door (via train) for me and in my last pregnancy I did so until 36 weeks. I took my notes with me the last two weeks, and made sure to bring lots of water as it was very hot at the time. If i was in your position i would be happy to go and enjoy a nice day with my DD.

I was still going to London for work at that time, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be okay?

Are you going to be sightseeing or just visiting your brother? If visiting no problem. If you are planning on sightseeing I wouldn't bother, London will still be there in a few years time when you can take both children and they will get more out of it.

London on a hot summers day can be miserable, crowded and a bit airless, and I am speaking as a 100% London lover. People often think London is quieter at the weekend, fewer people on the tube/buses, not so. It is still rammed, especially in the tourist areas.

On a practical note for late pregnancy, public toilets in London are sometimes hard to find, not many tube stations have them these days, department stores do of course, but they are often tucked away if you are desperate. Some coffee shop chains lock their toilets and you only get the code if you are a customer, they would probably let you use them, but you would have to ask.

I would look closer to home and find a NT property or similar with a good tea shop and easy walks to visit instead and save lovely London for another time. Your daughter will still have a great day out and more to the point so will you.

Thanks everyone, mixed opinions! I think I might try and do it sooner or just put it off for now. Just stressing as feel like we are running out of time to do the things I wanted to do before baby arrives ( I was working every weekend until now) and worried about going into labour early or out and about as was told after last birth to go straight to hospital when contractions start

I’d say go. I’m 8 months and I’m running around London everyday for work. Cabs are everywhere and so are helpful people! You’ve got major hospitals and a ton of coffee shops to take regular rests. I’ve never had anyone not let me use the loo. Send off for a baby on board badge if you don’t have one, they come within days. Have a great day!

If you HAD to go to London, I'd say go and it would be fine. But I'm not convinced that your 3 year old would get enough out of the trip for it to be worth the faff compared with something less stressful but just as fun for a toddler. The last time I took DS (2.5) to London, went sightseeing etc, the only thing he talked about after was "I went on the train and on the bus," which frankly we could have done on a much easier trip!

Yes I’d go. Even In the unlikely chance you’d go into labour you’re overwhelmingly likely to get more than a couple of hours in which you get home and get yourself to hospital!