Overnight business trip when 8 months pregnant a couple of hours away?

[applestrudels]

I've been asked if I can do a couple of overnight business trips when I will be 8 months pregnant. They will be between 2 and 3 hours away from home by train (or car if I fancy driving...)

I usually really enjoy these trips, and I am currently 6 months pregnant and if I was asked to go tomorrow I would definitely feel fine making the journey, but as this is my first pregnancy I have no idea if it will feel like such a good idea in 2 months' time.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

No real advice, just a few things to consider. I'm also on my first pregnancy, just over 33 weeks. I'm much bigger than I was at 6 months (was barely showing). Physically I feel great but have been getting tired a lot more easily. If it's your first pregnancy, you'll have more monitoring coming up to your due date so maybe check if the trips clash with those. And keep in mind that 'term' is any time from 37 weeks. I'd only go if you're comfortable having baby there if push (pun intended) comes to shove.

Hmm, difficult to answer as nobody can really tell you how you’ll feel in the final weeks of your pregnancy.

I used up holiday at work so actually stopped working around 5 weeks before my due date and am so glad I did. Had a completely easy going pregnancy, no health concerns or aches or tiredness.

However those last few weeks I was just exhausted! Just walking round the shops tired me out, so not sure how I’d have felt driving for hours and having meetings etc.

However, every pregnancy is different so you could end up feeling fine, I’m just not sure I’d fancy taking the risk of going into labour somewhere far away.

Are the pro’s of attending the business trip worth the potential cons of not being at home if you go
Into labour early?

I don't think it is an answer anyone can give you. I would have absolutely been able to do this with both my pregnancies, my sister in law, no way would she have been up to it.

Depends how you feel
I went on a business trip at 35 weeks and it was fine

My boss wouldn't let me do daytime trips from Cardiff to anywhere past Bristol from 7 months on the off chance I went into labour.

Is there someone who can step in and go in your place last minute if you can't go? My DD arrived at 35 weeks exactly, spontaneous labour with no warning signs. If you do go take the train, I certainly wouldn't drive as you wouldn't be able to drive yourself back if the contractions started.

I think it perfectly reasonable to say no. Because you don't know how you will feel, and it's not reasonable to expect you to do this. (I commuted 2 hours a few times a week to work until about 7.5 months with ds1 - I also suffered really high BP and on reflection shouldn't have done it as baby was more important than work....baby 2 and 3 no commute, perfectly normal BP) - put yourself and baby first. Say no.

I couldn't have done this in my pregnancies despite feeling great at 6 months

Reasonable to say no and reasonable still to go. I was still going to business meetings overnight, last one at 7 mths and went to Ed Sheeran stood for over 6 hrs at 39 weeks. Only you know how you feel at the time and I took it day by day on the principle I could cancel last minute if necessary. Would you be able to do this?

No way could I have done this. Once 7-7.5 months hit I was just exhausted all the time, walking up the stairs was a huge effort. Also there’s the worry you’ll go into labour to experience problems that need medical attention whilst 2-3 hours away from your home and family.

I wouldn’t risk it.

Depends entirely on how you feel really. I felt fine all through my pregnancy, and would have been able to do it, but probably wouldn’t have wanted to. I was nesting like mad in the final few weeks and wanted to be close to home.

Nope.

And if baby comes early, which they often do, you’ll be in hospital alone miles away.

Only you will know! I went on overnight business trips at 8 months and was fine. Nothing is much fun by that stage but if you’re sitting on a train/ in a taxi / at a desk / table then you should be ok?

I think your employer needs to start planning for your absence. Even if you could cope with the trip.at 8 months it's just as likely you would need to cancel or even be off work by then