Holiday with a new born

[strawberrysummer19]

My fiancé has suggested a centre parcs break in august where I'll be approx 6wks after giving birth ish

Can't think of it's a good/not so good idea ?

What's everyone's thoughts (pros or cons) anything I've not considered?!

We have a 10yr old 11 by the time we go so quite prepared on how hard a newborn is!

If I'm healing/sore from natural or c section my fiancé says I can stay home/go out as little as we want

Little one can swim every day ( he will take her so I can chill at 'home' with baby or a gentle walk.

He said we can cook 2 nights, eat out the other 2 and click n collect before we get there so we have all our food and will be home from home

We've been to CP twice so know the layout etc

Expensive doenst come in to it. We know it's expensive however little one starts secondary in sept and he thinks it would be nice for us to all get away as going abroad isn't an option for a new born/covid tests etc and we've missed 4 holidays booked and paid due to covid

I'm swaying to think it's a good idea

Your views Mumsnetters please ! X

Personally, I wouldn't want to go on holiday that soon after giving birth, but that's just me! You have to do what's best for you.
Recovery from a c-section is 6 weeks (textbook) but everyone is different, it could be considerably longer for you.
I'd also think that if you're stuck in the lodge a lot of the time then it won't be much of a 'family' holiday.
Again, this is only my personal opinion and how I feel, if you feel it's a good idea for you and yours then go for it!

I would look at going somewhere for October half term.

What if your baby is a couple of weeks late like mine was?
What if you're struggling with feeding like I was?
What if you develop an abscess like I did?

I think you'd be mad.

I do it if it was 8 weeks after just incase you go over. With a supportive DH I found holidays with newborns a nice change of scenery, plus it will be good for your older one to have some one on one time.

Six weeks was peak colic time for my daughter and she screamed for hours every evening. We had to pace around with her in a sling. I can't imagine having to do that in a holiday lodge surrounded by families trying to enjoy a holiday.

You may well have a settled newborn and an easy recovery, in which case it might be fine. On the other hand, you may not.

I was going to say no but given that you have a 10/11 year old I would do an easy holiday for her sake. When exactly is baby due? Were you planning to go to Center Parcs in the school summer holidays?? I'm just wondering if you could go before baby is born, half term maybe if it won't be too close to your due date.

Just re-read and you did say August. So is baby due late June? I think it also depends how close you are to Center parcs, I have a couple within 1-1h30 drive so I'd go at 36 weeks and take my hospital bag just in case.

I would but I had slings with my last two so that makes it easier/less to pack. Only you know how you will feel then and if you don't think you will be up to it then say that to your husband. Being able to stay in the lodge isn't the same as being able to stay in your own home x

With a six week old and an 11 year old (when you refer to a ‘little one’, is there another child apart from your 11 year old. I’m not convinced an 11 year old is a ‘little one’? Surely they stopped being your little one when they were 3ish?) . Yes, I’d book centre parks. I reckon it would be an easy holiday for your eldest and break the long summer holidays up a bit for her. It’s not abroad, so you aren’t going to have to worry about flight delays, passports, if you can get the right nappies while you are away.

Id book your holiday and look forward to having a break as a family of 4.

To be honest I think attempting a holiday at 6 weeks postpartum would have killed me. I feel stressed even thinking about it.

Sounds like it's well planned and you have a supportive partner and could be a good change of scene for the family. I think I'd do it but with the proviso that I could be driven home if I hated it.

I think centreparcs would be absolutely fine. You can get out and about in the fresh air and you don't have to do any extra activities . It sounds lovely. By six weeks after my sections I was definitely back to normal (but I know everyone is different ).

We booked CP before getting pregnant. If I give birth on the due date, baby will be just over 5 weeks old. We don't plan on cancelling and we'll just have to make the most of it. I think 6 weeks post partum will be fine, but if you go 2 weeks late, you could spend more time in the lodge and chill whilst hubby and the eldest do what they want.

We were supposed to be at CP this weekend but tomorrow is my due date, so we postponed until the last weekend in May.

We are going with family though, so there won't just be DH, DD1 (2yrs old) and DD2 (hopefully about 5 weeks) but DH's sister & husband, brother, wife, 3 kids and FIL. So lots of adults to help with DD1.

Even if I decided it wasn't a good idea for me and DD2 to go, we could stay home and DH take DD1 with everyone else for the weekend. But we go to CP fairly regularly so I know I'll feel pretty comfortable there, as I would at home

@Justkeeppedaling well I'm getting induced at 39wks (should have said) so know I won't be late but give a few days here and there but I'm not going full term

I'm not breastfeeding will be bottle feedings

Abscess ? Sounds painful But it's a what if situation isn't it

X

@Ihaveoflate oh god the colic!! I had a very cryey baby!!! So I remember those days well! It's a good point.

I guess I'm thinking it's home and home and family time would be the same here as it would in a lodge.
Taking time out for our eldest still so that wouldn't make a difference as think that's important for her as she may be feeling over whelmed

X

@NameChange30 so my due date is 26th July officially but my consultant said he plans to Induce me at 39 wks but maybe move forward to 38wks but will decide after my growth scans but I definitely won't go full term

Possibility of may/June half term haven't thought of that but just thought a family one would be better x

@NameChange30 we are looking at the very last week in august - as any sooner would be very close to baby being born x

With my first I wouldn't have entertained the idea, but with second I'm much more open to making some plans like that! A cottage kind of holiday would be fine I think. There's not much pressure on and you have your own space/timings.

@Cleothecat75 no little one is my 10 yr old
No others, just a saying we use 🙄

@pbdr oh really? Just interesting to get other peoples points of view - I think it's nice idea to get away but lots of different things to think about i guess and yes I suppose everyone is different x

FWIW (as the parent of two children) I think it would be much better to have a holiday as a three before baby arrives, quality time with your oldest will be invaluable. During May/June half term you will be 32 weeks which is fine IMO.

I don't really understand the necessity of going on holiday as a family of 4 so soon after the birth. You'll have the rest of baby's life to go on holiday as a family of 4. And if you wait until next year to do that, baby will be a toddler and will be able to enjoy the toddler pool etc.

Why would you go to Centre Parcs if you're just going to spend most of the time in the lodge (which is pretty inevitable with a 6 week old). Just seems a bit of a waste of money and effort to me. But each to their own I guess.

@NameChange30 because I've said I think it will be nice to take my daughter away before she goes to secondary
I don't agree that we have all the time in the world with daughter being almost 11, when we haven't had a holiday in years due

I really dont fancy going away at 32 weeks really
I just thought after would be nicer for everyone

I didn't actually say I would spend most the
Time in the lodge - it's just a nice option should we want to

Thanks for your input but like you say each to their own.