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Original poster

Driving test at 36 weeks - help!

46 replies

missbumpy · 17/09/2007 19:16

Sorry, not sure if this is the right place for this thread. I'm just panicking and could do with a bit of moral support. I've got my driving test tomorrow and I'm 36 weeks pregnant, feeling enormous, tired and emotional and I'm SO scared about it!

I've spent so much money on driving lessons and I really want to pass so I don't have to struggle with prams on public transport all the time. I just don't feel very confident.

Any tips? Has anyone else done their test while heavily preggers? Do you think the examiner might pass me because he feels so sorry for me ?

Also, any tips for calming nerves when pg? Are there any herbal things like rescue remedy that are safe to take and which really work?

Wish me luck

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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mumfor1standfinaltime · 17/09/2007 19:21

Hi, I also took my test whilst heavily pg, think I was around 34 weeks.
Please don't put yourself under any pressure! I did and I failed. Please just try and relax and go with the flow.

You can pass

If you don't pass, don't give up and try again.
I had 3 tests while pg and I think I did put far too much pressure on myself to pass before baby arrived. I took another test when ds was 8 months old and I passed.

Good luck!

Original poster

missbumpy · 17/09/2007 19:56

Thanks. Well done for passing. I do feel like I'm putting myself under too much pressure. However much people tell me it doesn't matter if I fail and I can always take the test again, I still just feel like I HAVE to pass tomorrow. It's partly because the lessons have cost me so much and I don't want to fork out even more. But partly because I really want to be able to drive me and the baby around.

I know I get really panicky in test situations (I failed about 3 driving tests when I was much younger) so I just need to find a way of keeping calm. I might listen to my hypnobirthing CD and see if that helps

OP posts:

oxocube · 17/09/2007 20:01

good luck for tomorrow. I passed on my 4th time YOU CAN DO IT

ELR · 17/09/2007 20:07

dont worry i have failed 6 times and each time it was because i was nervous, even the examinors have said i am a good driver last 3 i have only had 1 minor each time but a major like hitting curb when doing reverse round corner!! was supposed to have my 7th test on thurs but the dsa have cancelled it, got another one on sat but in my own car.
eat a banana before as this releases natural feel good and relaxing hormones.
Put it into perspective, the main thing to remember is its only a test in 4 weeks you will have a beautiful baby thats something some people will never have.
So just relax and if you make a mistake take a breath and think before you carry on
Hopefully on sat i will take my own advice !!!
Good luck

ELR · 17/09/2007 20:12

sorry my post sounds like you should be gratefull about baby did not mean it like that as such its just that dh said this to me as i was dreading each test and he said 'just think how your brother felt every time they had another failed ivf' we have two beautiful kids luckily now my brother has a baby to but it was a really difficult 3 years for him and sil

Original poster

missbumpy · 17/09/2007 21:00

Thanks everyone. I know I can drive (I've been driving around with my mum and brother). It's just my nerves that let me down. I remember doing one test when I was about 18 and, even though I'd been driving perfectly for months with my instructor, as soon as I was in the test situation, I totally froze and couldn't even remember how to turn the ignition on . People have even suggested beta blockers but I'm not sure they're a good idea at 36 wks pg!

ELR, that's so strange about DSA cancelling your test. They did exactly the same to me last week but I hadn't received the letter so I turned up (a complete bag of nerves) at the test centre only to be sent home

Good luck for Saturday.

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Caz10 · 17/09/2007 21:03

Oh good luck everyone! I have mine next week, I'm 28wks at the mo and hoping my bump will get the sympathy vote too!
This will be my 3rd attempt and just can't afford to keep on failing! It costs soooo much.

Does anyone know the answer to the original posters question re herbal remedies etc? What about Rescue Remedy is it ok?

motherinferior · 17/09/2007 21:04

I did! The fifth test! At 37 weeks on the dot! And yes, I passed.

Gave birth to DD2 five days later.

lemonaid · 17/09/2007 21:07

My mother did hers when 39 weeks, 6 days pregnant with me!

She passed, but apparently the instructor did the emergency stop right in front of the hospital gates...

Original poster

missbumpy · 17/09/2007 21:14

Good luck Caz10. No one's replied about rescue remedy but I think it should be ok. Maybe ask in a health food shop? Sadly, I haven't got time for that...instructor's picking me up at 9.45am tomorrow [terrified smiley!].

Nice to hear that some other people have managed to pass in the 3rd trimester though. Hope it doesn't trigger labour !

OP posts:

Caz10 · 17/09/2007 22:18

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Original poster

missbumpy · 18/09/2007 08:29

Thank you. I barely slept a wink last night what with my pre-test nerves and my general pregnancy insomnia I feel like a bit of a wreck but I'm just going to have to go and do my best.

OP posts:

Melaniec234 · 18/09/2007 08:30

GOOD LUCK AND REMEMBER RELAX. DONT WANT TO BE DOING AN EMERGENCY STOP AT HOSPITAL GATES.

Stefka · 18/09/2007 08:33

What time is your test? I was a very nervous driver and got through my test by getting a hypnotherapy thing off the internet for about a fiver. I listened to it a few times the day of my test and even though I thought I was going to throw up or cry before hand as soon as the test started I felt totally calm just like the man on the tape said I would!

Good luck with the test!

Original poster

missbumpy · 18/09/2007 08:33

Thanks I was getting so panicky last night that I started to worry I was going to go into early labour ! I'll try to just keep calm this morning.

OP posts:

Original poster

missbumpy · 18/09/2007 08:35

Thanks Stefka but my instructor's coming to pick me up at 9.45 so there's no time to get a hypnotherapy thing. I've been listening to my hypnobirthing thing though (I think it's the same sort of principle...deep breathing, keeping calm, positive visualisation etc ). If I fail today though I'm definitely going to look into hypnotherapy because it's all about the nerves with me.

OP posts:

girrafey · 18/09/2007 08:39

just to warn you, that an examiner is allowed to decline to take you past 34 or 36 weeks if they dont feel comfortable. i had this as i was on the cut off point and the examiner refused to take me, as she said i was too big to fit comfortable behind the wheel. ( though she done this assesment standing in the office and my instructor was telling her it was fine when i sat.)
i had no idea they could do this and was gutted. ( just burst into tears) so just to warn you that this could happen.

good luck though. im sure you will be great. x

Original poster

missbumpy · 18/09/2007 08:43

Really ?! I had no idea. I thought they could turn you down or fail you if you refused to do an emergency stop because of being pregnant but I didn't know they could turn you down just for being too pregnant.

I will definitely burst in to tears if they tell me I can't do the test. It doesn't take much to set me off at the moment!

OP posts:

Stefka · 18/09/2007 08:46

It's the same idea yes - just visualisation of yourself in the test being calm and happy. It worked for me and I am a terrible driver!

Hope they let you take the test - that would be horrible if they didn't.

Original poster

missbumpy · 18/09/2007 08:50

Right, I'm going to log off and go and listen to my hypnobirthing CD and get ready for the test. Thanks for all your support.

Stefka, I'll check back later to see what your midwife says

OP posts:

Stefka · 18/09/2007 08:52

Good luck! I will send you happy driving vibes

sandcastles · 18/09/2007 08:57

Ohh good luck! I am sure you can do this!

I am doing lessons at the moment here in Australia, but I don't have to do a test, ou can do a log book method, where your normal instrctor marks you off on each task at a certain level of competentcy (sp).

Much easier then a test, as I juts go to pieces too!

mumfor1standfinaltime · 18/09/2007 10:07

Thinking of you missbumpy.. let us know how it went.

Original poster

missbumpy · 18/09/2007 12:49

I failed

I'm so gutted. I drove really well. I did my manoeuvres perfectly. I didn't make any massive mistakes. I only got 7 minor faults (you're allowed to get 15) but they failed me because they felt I didn't change gear enough.

Now I'm going to have to pay for more lessons and try to get another test date after the baby's born. I'm worried it will be even harder to do after the baby's born because I'll be so exhausted and I'll have to arrange childcare etc.

Thanks for all of your encouragement though.

OP posts:

Melaniec234 · 18/09/2007 13:03

sorry missbumpy. I failed twice before i passed. Just nerves. Dont be too down about it, take care

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