How far from your home/hospital should you travel when overdue?

[BlessedIsShe]

Hi!
I'm currently 40+6. Just wondering to what extent I should go about my normal life, which would involve a couple of trips from the suburbs to the centre of London during the week (not to work, but church events/services etc. So optional things which I could otherwise watch online, although I'd just much rather go in person). Door to door, this would be about 45/50 minutes on the train from home and about the same from hospital. Is it unwise to be travelling this distance when I'm almost a week overdue? Especially as I never seem to be able to get an uber in London these days, so would likely have to travel to the hospital or home by train should labour start (or black cab I suppose).

You shouldn't. You don't know how quick your labour will be.

Also, I've had 0 signs of labour (apart from a bit of discharge). Booked for a sweep on Friday.

45 mins in a car i would say you would be fine but on public transport taxis etc i wouldn't. If you go into labour 45 minutes on public transport would be a long time and you might find ubers and taxi's will be unwilling to take you if you are visibly in labour. everyone says first babies have long labours but this was not my experience.

If you were travelling by car and with your partner, then I'd say just about fine, but you don't want to be in labour alone on public transport!

I see what you mean... It would be with DH, but on public transport

Definitely best to have DH with you as much as possible. Public transport can be late, unreliable etc. But also, even early labour can be very painful, you don't really want to be holding in natural pain noises on the tube! People can also be surprisingly selfish on public transport and won't even give up a seat for an obviously pregnant woman. I'd say keep in local, lots of walks round parks, etc as exercise will help get labour going.

How easy would it be to go straight to hospital from where you are going by public transport?
Is it likely that someone would be able to give you a lift?

It would be a train and a bus and a lift is unlikely as none of my friends in Central London have cars :(

Sounds like it's best to stay local

Going against the grain but if you feel ok and confident then I’d let that by your guide. Take your notes with you everywhere you go. I went 2 weeks over with my first and did similar to what you are suggesting right up until a couple of days before labour. But I would have been happy, if I went into labour and things happened fast, to go to a different hospital so worth considering your views on that.

As long as its doable to get straight to the hospital I'd go. And yes keep your notes with you.

Most first labour's start slow anyway.

@primroses

Sorry posted too soon

@PrimrosesandPears @Dinoteeth @miltonj @ebri91 thanks everyone. I really wouldn't be keen on giving birth in a different hospital, so I'm more tempted to stay close to home now.

I pretty much carried on as normal, where I could!
I declined going up to Lincoln to watch my horse jump (a 5 hour round trip!) but I carried on travelling normally around the local area. Let your body be your guide :)