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Original poster

Going on holiday at 39 weeks!?

92 replies

Pinkladyloz · 24/06/2019 20:46

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

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Original poster
Pinkladyloz · 24/06/2019 21:06

36 weeks now! Thank you, all the comments are making me reconsider. Like I say, my mum is 100% against it but everyone else (boyfriend and his family) are thinking I’ll be fine but I guess they would say that as it’s their holiday 🤪
I will seriously re consider! Safety of me and my baby are my priority and comfort after the birth is obviously important too, thanks for highlighting the issues :)

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GiggleMcDimples · 24/06/2019 21:11

I drove to Anglesey and back to South Wales when I was 37 weeks pregnant for a family funeral when I was pregnant with my first. It was a good 5 hours drive each way with breaks and it was absolute hell. HELL.

The worst kind of hell.

I had no idea how awful it was going to be.

Sweetooth92 · 24/06/2019 21:13

You could look to fly instead of drive if you are mad enough to go. I imagine you won’t win whatever you do. If you stay home you’ll go over and wish you’d gone but if you go the last thing you need is in-laws and a new baby all to deal with. Even if you set off at the first twinge you may not get back.

Solasum · 24/06/2019 21:15

How about he goes away with his family and your mum comes to stay with you at home, near your regular hospital and midwife, so all of you can enjoy a last session of family bonding time? (I had my DS bang on 38 weeks).

BikeRunSki · 24/06/2019 21:22

My brother git married in Cornwall when I was 36 weeks pg with my first baby. I live in Yorkshire. I didn’t go. I wasn’t comfortable sitting that long and was weeing all the time!! DS came 5 days later and we were in hospital for a week. I was very glad it was my local hospital!! Even then, the 15 min drive home with a CS scar was uncomfortable, but bearable. Not sure I could have managed it for several hours. Also, newborns feed a lot, for ages. That is a awful lot of stopping!

BikeRunSki · 24/06/2019 21:23

You could have had your baby by 39 weeks too. Again, stay at home!

IVEgottheDECAF · 24/06/2019 21:25

Op you are CRAY CRAY CRAZZZZZZY Confused

carly2803 · 24/06/2019 21:26

absolutely not.

at 39 weeks i wanted to sit in a chair and have someone make me brews and feed me grapes!!

Being in a car for longer than 10 minutes i was in a foul mood!!

mummytooneprincess · 24/06/2019 21:28

I had my little girl at 37 weeks so I wouldn't risk it!

Chinks123 · 24/06/2019 21:31

Sorry op but no I wouldn’t. In fact I’ve had to turn down something very similar. Not a holiday but a big family event, on dps side, 5 hours away when I would have been 39 weeks. Dps family said the same as you (take the car seat and notes and it will be fine..)

I said no, and it’s actually caused a fall out as dp also declined to stay close to me. I know no way though do I want to be sat in a car for 5 hours, even with breaks. I did an hour trip the other day and my spd was really playing up by the end.

Shelbybear · 24/06/2019 22:02

Don't feel bad at all, your mum is right. Aw the last few weeks are really hard, u do get bigger and heavier n bump drops. I was induced at 41 weeks the last 2 weeks were so hard! You'll be rather uncomfortable and to be honest u might not fancy doing much when ur away so wouldn't really enjoy it.

Also, imagine u had an emergency section. I was in Hospital 5 nights 6 days with baby. Would have been even harder had we been away from home and with a long journey to get home.

letallthechildrenboogie · 24/06/2019 22:14

I went on holiday 250 miles from home with 3 kids 3 weeks before my twins were born. Given that twins are often very early they could well have turned up. I took my notes and all was well. Do you actually want to go is probably the most relevant thing. If baby does turn up, please go home on the train. Don't try a journey like that on the car with a newborn! Good luck!

Rememberallball · 24/06/2019 22:34

I live in Cornwall - there is only 1 hospital where they have a maternity unit plus a couple of midwife led units in the whole county!! I am currently 25+4 with twins and, due to where we live in the county we are an hour away from the hospital at Truro and so are going to Plymouth (30 minutes by car or 1 1/2 hours by public transport) for our delivery. I wouldn’t come this way after around 35-36 weeks unless absolutely necessary (and a holiday isn’t a necessity).

I’m glad you think it’s a bad idea - do it next year when your LO can enjoy being on the beach and you can enjoy a few glasses of chilled Cornish cider!!

Marty93 · 25/06/2019 11:12

I think some of the comments here are a bit harsh - personally OP, I wouldn't go. I just wouldn't want to risk going into labour in a place I am unfamiliar.. and then not to mention the stress of travelling at 39 weeks and then the thought of travelling in a car for 8ish hours with a newborn and a sore hoo-ha... ouchy!

I'm pretty sure your family would understand if you ended up not going. It's not like you were going abroad, you can go to Cornwall anytime :)

Eisley · 25/06/2019 11:16

I wouldn't but I had my first at 36 weeks and within 12 hours he had arrived.

ineedaholidaynow · 25/06/2019 11:20

I live in the South West, the weekend holiday traffic has already started to build up, so you are at risk of sitting in a traffic jam.

The thought of sitting in a car for that length of time either pregnant or after just having given birth makes me shudder (to be fair wouldn't like a car journey like that when not pregnant)

I would worry too much all the time so wouldn't be a holiday for me. If you don't go what will your boyfriend do, stay with you?

TheBabyAteMyBrain · 25/06/2019 11:21

I wouldn't.

Friend had her baby at Christmas, he went to stay with her in laws across the country. Baby came while there and unfortunately had a few issues after birth, had a 5 week hospital stay. I couldn't imagine anything worse tbh.

Earlywalker · 25/06/2019 11:22

I lived 3 miles from the hospital I had my first child in (emergency section) and I still clearly remember the agony of every little bump on the drive home. I went away at 36 weeks but I think 39 weeks is just too close.

Jemima232 · 25/06/2019 11:27

I have a feeling that your midwife hasn't had a baby herself.

I'm a midwife and I've had four babies and I agree with everyone on this thread who has said Do Not Go.

Far too many possible scenarios of pain and discomfort here. I would not risk it.

Even if the birth was fine (and it probably will be) you still would have to factor in the journey home with a newborn if you delivered while away.

You can't subject a newborn to an eight hour car journey.

ineedaholidaynow · 25/06/2019 11:29

To the person who said fly, don't think anyone can fly at 39 weeks

NoParticularPattern · 25/06/2019 11:32

Definitely not. I can’t see how anyone could ever “not see a problem” with travelling that distance at 9 months pregnant. Remember what happened to Mary when she tried that ridiculous donkey ride? Yeah no. Not going.

SmellMySmellbow · 25/06/2019 11:34

I could barely cope with the 15 minute drive home after labour! 8 hour drive plus 15 x 10/15 minute stops naking it a 12 plus hour journey with a new born and either a caesarean scar or a broken fanny, should you give birth, would be hellish. For you and your baby. I couldn't even sit down for a week (lie down only).

Seeline · 25/06/2019 11:44

I cannot imagine doing that journey at 39 weeks. So uncomfortable, and goodness knows how many wee breaks!

What if you go in to labour on the journey? Babies can come quickly - you could end up in hospital any where along hte route and/or giving birth at the side of hte road.

Having hte baby there may be fine, but if you are only going for a week you are unlikely to be in any fit state for the return journey. I could barely sit anywhere for 2 weeks. I was also in hospital for a week after the birth, as was DS (up until that point it had been a low risk pg with no indication of problems).

You would need so many breaks on the way back - every 30 minutes.

You would have to take all the baby stuff with you, including hte car seat, just in case.

I really cannot see any reason as to why this might be a good idea!

Sakura7 · 25/06/2019 11:49

Not a chance.

I don't think anyone would be put out by you not wanting to be on holiday 3 days before your due date. They'd be more surprised if you showed up.

Original poster
Pinkladyloz · 25/06/2019 11:49

Eek, thank you for all of the comments! Maybe I’m naive with it being my first baby and underestimating just how broken my lady area will be!! Also, if baby is still in there I’ll be a lot heavier and more uncomfortable than I am now!
Thanks again !

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