Would you do this drive 38+3 pregnant

[summerlovingvibes]

With my toddler, about 1.5-2hrs to visit family in a large city. Will be all my close family (mum, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins) but will have to do the drive on my own. Will take notes with me. Obviously if I got any niggles / symptoms etc would just abandon everything and either turn around if when driving or get one of the family members to bring me home etc. I don't think it's that crazy?!

Nope

First baby, probably. I can see that it isn't your first baby, so less likely to go overdue, so no

Im 39 weeks, due to be induced tonight and just drove 1hr30 each way to collect DS from school.
It was fine. I just needed a wee really bad on the way back.

Yes I would and wouldn't think twice about it BUT I'm not sure that's entirely sensible of me!!

Without a toddler I probably would but I drive a lot as part of my job, and live rurally so 1.5-2hours, whilst longer than a normal drive, is fairly unremarkable.

My concern with toddlers on longer journeys is the disruption of nap/bedtime routine, and whether the knock effect of tiredness for you is worth it at 38 weeks.

Yes, without any concern.

1.5hrs is the school run and back on some days. Take notes and hospital bag of course

However doesn't matter what I think, what matters is how you feel about it. If you're concerned, don't go.

Yes I would as well!

I wouldn’t. I can’t go more than a few minutes away from home in the last few week or two of pregnancy for fear of randomly giving birth in the street or supermarket.

I don't think it's crazy, have done similar myself.

I drove from West Yorkshire to Edinburgh for a wedding 2 days before my due date with my 2nd. I'm used to the journey and there was no way I was missing the wedding. I'd gone overdue with my first and had no signs of anything happening soon with 2nd.

Was hoping that the ceilidh might help move things along, but DS eventually made his entrance 11 days late. ELEVEN!!

If you're happy to do it then go and see your family and have a lovely day!

I would however saying that thinking about it both of my children were born before this point so might not be that sensible for me!

I had my second child at 38 weeks.

Stopped driving with both pregnancies by 35 weeks because my dump touched the steering wheel. (I am short).

So no I wouldn't.

I would find that utterly unremarkable. Possibly that perspective is from living in regional Australia where 1.5-2hrs would get me from one part of a rural area to another part of a rural area, and not necessarily to an inhabited place

My hospital was further away than that when I was pregnant abroad with one of the kids, so yes! But take your notes.

Just make sure someone knows when you are setting off and are available to come and rescue you if things started happening.

Thanks everyone. I don't have any concerns about doing it, just every family member seems to think differently!

There and back in a day? Or staying overnight?

Take the carseat too!

I would do it and did.

When I was pregnant with my second I wouldn't have given it a second thought as first labour was very long. However, after having second in under an hour in an ambulance ten minutes from my house, I would say only do the journey if you have another adult with you.

Had you had any symptoms / niggles at all? How long were you in labour for before ambulance arrived?

I'd just take my notes

I'm 38 weeks 3 days today and wouldn't be able to do that. I'm so tired I couldn't manage concentrating on the drive, nevermind being sociable. I'm also uncomfortable sitting / standing for too long. You might feel right as rain and completely normal at 38 weeks 3 days, so maybe just decide closer to the time?