Long car journeys in 3rd trimester??

[SallyInYorkshire]

Hi everyone,

dh and I have been making our Christmas plans. Our families live all over the country so if we are going to be able to see everyone we want to see, we'll need to do some longish car journeys (3.5-6.5 hours).

I'm 23 wks pg at the moment so by Christmas will be 33 weeks. I have been having some pregnancy related back pain already although not severe unless I sit on a sofa or something for >1 hour.

Do you think it is over-ambitious to plan long car journeys for the 3rd trimester? My SIL (whose 1st baby came prematurely) says that maybe I should just stay home and see fewer people....... What do you think?

I would say go, but have a hospital bag, notes and car seat in the car as back up.

When pg with DD2 I went to Butlins for a week, i was 33-34 weeks and took what I would need with me, and left it in the car.

Really, its only 8.5 weeks to Christmas so I think you will probably be fine - pg related back pain is normal, ive had it all the way through this one, and Im almost 36 weeks now!

Take care, but dont do what you arent happy with x

I was 34 weeks pg when we went on holiday to Cornwall in the summer. I took my notes with me (just as well, I went into hospital once for monitoring). There was extra hassle from looking for toilets - and queueing for them at petrol stations.

I went away for a few days last week, took us about 2.5 hrs to get where we were going - I was REALLY uncomfortable by the time we got there even though we'd had one stop. Stopped 2 or 3 times on the way back - much better! So just make sure you have time to get out and walk about. Enjoy!

I'd say 3 1/2 is doable but 6 1/2 would be pushing it and you could feel uncomfortbale afterwards and during do not be the gretaets of company. Can you plan your trips to minimise it with an overnight stop if needs be or ask some to visit you ? We went to the New Forest when I was 8 months pg , about 2 hours away and that was fine but would n't have wanted to travel much further although must have done well over 3 hours at same stage with dd thinking about it !

Thanks for the advice!

Hya...I travelled up to North Wales a few weeks ago 29 weeks pregnant...took 5 hours..was uncomfortable, but doable...wouldnt say i would rush to do it again...No chance people can visit you? Great time to be a selfish id say xx

Hi, I'm more of a lurker on this board than a poster, but just wanted to say I must be a few weeks behind you with pregnancy and recently I spent 6 hours in the car travelling home from Cornwall. I was in quite a lot of pain with pelvic and back pain the following day - so definitely won't be doing that length of journey again. That said we are going to my in-laws in Exeter for Christmas which means at least 3 hours in the car, but we do normally stop mid-way, otherwise ds gets too bored - hopefully this will make it ok for me too!

I drove from Manchester to Kent the other week when i was 33 weeks (just over 3 hours) and we didn't stop at all. By the time i got home, i could barely walk as my hips had siezed up lol.

If you are truly up for it, then go, but make frequent stops along the way to keep your circulation and joints moving etc. Make sure you allow extra time for your stops too.

It'll be shattering, probably, so be prepared to go straight into Doze Mode as soon as you reach your destination!