Going on holiday at 39 weeks!?

[Pinkladyloz]

So long story short, boyfriends family booked a holiday for all of the family to go on last year, obviously back then didn’t know I’d be pregnant!
I said all along, even whilst pregnant that I’d go and that I didn’t see a problem with it.
I’ll be 39 weeks pregnant when we go. We get home 3 days before due date! We live in Essex and will be going to Cornwall. Long drive. Asked the midwives and they all seem to think it’s fine as long a we stop regularly both there and back, lots of leg stretches and breathers etc... and obviously if baby comes we stop regularly for feeds and just to have little breaks for baby etc.. will take car seat, notes, have researched local Cornish hospital!
Only thing is as I get closer, my mum is panicking and telling me I shouldn’t be going.
What do you think!? First baby! Honestly feeling fine at the moment but don’t want to put my baby at risk...
Would you go or not???
Thanks so much

I wouldn’t go.

I don’t get why you would. What’s the benefit that you couldn’t have by going in a few months’ time?

No way. I think you're mad.

Imagine, god forbid, something happened to you or the baby? You'd be stuck down there for any amount of time. My labour was awful and I was so glad to go home to my own bed and surroundings. You may find the in-laws a bit much too after.

I’m really chilled about this kind of thing, but I wouldn’t do this.

There’s a good chance you’ll have the baby there, and while the birth will probably be fine, the long drive back with a newborn while you’re trying to establish breastfeeding would be absolute hell.

Lol at car breaks for feeding with the newborn.

Nope.

Well, a newborn baby can only travel for 30 minutes at a time in a car seat. It’s what, an 8 hour drive from Cornwall to Essex. How do you intend to get home if you have your baby whilst away?

No way!!

I personally don't see the problem as long as you are having a low risk pregnancy, take your notes and a hospital bag and you feel fine in yourself at the time. My main concern would just be comfort during the journey.

Have you ACTUALLY researched Cornish hospitals? Because if you compare them (especially the larger ones) to those in Essex, you would definitely think twice about giving birth there!!

It’s an awful lot to expect of yourself if you don’t give birth. A long drive. Are you really going to enjoy being stuck in traffic for 6-8 hrs each way? Urgh. Go to Southend for the weekend...

Nope. I wouldn't have gone more than an hour in the car from 38 weeks onwards. Aside from the possibility of giving birth elsewhere, there's also possibly being in labour while your in laws are there and then driving a tiny baby back to Essex while you sit for hours on your poor sore undercarriage. No thank you

I went from Bristol to Wembley for a gig and overnight stay at 37 weeks with Ds2 but what you are suggesting is fucking crackers sorry

No way, that sounds like an awful idea. What if you have the baby there and something happens and you get stuck in hospital there for ages? Or you have to have a csection then have to sit in a car for ages with a newborn, a day or 2 after serious surgery? No chance I'd go

What if you end up having a c-section? I found the 20 car journey after mine extremely uncomfortable and painful. I couldn't imagine hours in the car. Terrible idea

I wouldn't go. My waters went at 38 weeks with DD so you may not even make it to the holiday!

8 hour drive at 39 weeks no way for me.

By then you will be slow, grumpy and sleepy and probably won’t want to be away from home anyway.

You must like your inlaws a lot.which is very refreshing and commandable.

Just needed to know I’m not being a panic mechanic if I say I’m not going! Thank you for your opinions. To be honest it’s the response I expected!! X

How many weeks are you now? Pretty sure you won't want to go. I barely left my house the last two weeks of my pregnancy

If your baby does come when your away then journey home will look something like drive for 30 mins, feed for two hours, get in the car and baby poo, change baby, baby needs feeding again for another hour, drive for 30 mins.

Your midwife is totally deluded!
I have a large family and have travelled extensively with babies/toddlers. I wouldn’t dream of doing this.

Driving with a newborn is not a great plan, driving with sore bits post birth could put you out of action for a lot of your child’s early days, breast feeding a newborn isn’t straightforward it’s older babies you can stick on anywhere, section or damage and you’d be stuck in Cornwall.....just no.

I completely see your point and in reality it’s likely as a first baby it’ll be overdue but tbh I really wouldn’t. My first was a surprise 3 weeks early and the thought of a long car journey in those early days would have killed me. It’s the sort of thing you think will be fine before you have kids (like when you think you can just take your kids to the pub for hours with you...) that as soon as you have a newborn you’ll think wtf was I thinking!

Personally, there is absolutely no way I could've done this with my first.

From 36 weeks, I was struggling to walk/sit. His head was engaged, and very low. I was waddling, and sitting was really uncomfortable/painful.

Physiologically, I wanted to sit on my own. I was desperate to finish work, because I wasn't sleeping, was shattered, and was rubbish company.

As for the first six weeks after...third degree tear, couldn't sit for two weeks unless on an ice pack. Feeding every two hours, for an hour at a time...

I'm sure some people have a lovely easy time of it, but I'd really see how you feel on the day you're due to go!

No, you fool!

I suppose you could take the train but then you’d have so many germs around
I took DD to the local big Tesco when she was 3 weeks old and she got with a cold. I had taken her out for walks before and obviously after but nowhere there was such high congestion of people!