Would you travel 2.5 hours away at 37 weeks pregnant?

[hollyhd]

This is my first baby so no experience to go off! We've been invited to a family event around 2.5 hours drive away, likely will go on late and involve staying the weekend. I'll be 37 weeks at the time. I'll take my maternity notes/hospital bag and my partner won't drink... But is the risk of going into labour too much?

Will I even feel up to it? We'll be staying with family so I can go off to bed whenever I fancy, but even so, will I be too knackered to socialise? WWYD?

I would have gone with my first thinking I had weeks to spare. Quick onset of preeclampsia at 36+5 and baby delivered at 36+6.

Worst case is you deliver there and DH stays with family nearby for a few days - are there decent local maternity facilities? Perhaps have the car seat fitted too.

I would have done, as long as I could stop for a loo break on the journey .

I think it depends how you would feel about ending up delivering in the local hospital there if it came to it. Statistically it’s unlikely at that stage but still a possibility you can’t ignore.

Pers

Meant to that personally I probably wouldn’t as am quite set on delivering in a particular hospital.

Yes but take your notes if they are still paper, and if in the car I would put in your hospital bag to be safe

I drove 1.5 hours away yesterday to pick up my horse on loan after I found out she wasn't being looked after properly. I'm 40 weeks pregnant 🙈 so yes I probably would in your shoes but maybe I'm not the best person to ask!

I travelled about that distance at 37 weeks and went into labour during the middle of the night. Had to give birth in the nearest hospital. I was convinced it was the road vibrations that set labour off (some bumpy surfaces en-route) although I’m sure lots of people would say that’s nonsense.

I wouldn't have done so personally but I wanted to deliver at my local hospital / wouldn't want to risk going into labour then trying to find out where the nearest maternity unit was, how to get there, how to park and the general kerfuffle/drama should baby decide it was time (I know you won't be the one driving but for me it would be added stress). I imagine it would be an uncomfortable journey too. That's just me though! So really its, do you think you'd feel physically comfortable travelling and staying away from home and would it bother you if you did go into labour there, and the 2.5 hour drive back home with a newborn if it did happen. Generally speaking you probably won't go into labour, but ultimately you just don't know.

Just go. You never know when baby will arrive. Install the car seat just in case too as well as taking hospital bag and notes.

Consider how the thought of not going anywhere for another 4-5 weeks feels to you as baby might arrive late as well as possibility of arriving early. My DC1 arrived at over 41 weeks!

I would and I did. Didn’t occur to me not too. However. I had a really lovely pregnancy and wasn’t particularly anxious. I would say wait to see how you feel.

Oh and re the tiredness, I actually feel really energetic in the third trimester and keep having random bursts of energy so I'd have been fine socialising at a family party at 37 weeks. But I appreciate everyone is different!

I would have done but taken notes with me & maybe hospital bag.

I was still going out on 2 mile walks every day (covid lockdown) up til 3 days before being induced at 41 weeks though so I was still pretty mobile & had a fair amount of energy.

I know other people can feel really uncomfortable towards the end though.

Can you delay an answer til nearer the time?

I would have been up for it I think but now Im actually at that point, massive and aching and more than a little grumpy(!) Plus full of a cold too, and having extra appts to monitor baby, so Im glad I dont have any long distance commitments...

So maybe see how you feel nearer the time? Hopefully family and friends will understand its hard to commit/last minute cancellations so late in pregnancy expected?

I decided not to to travel past 36 weeks as I didn’t want to give birth hours away from home; depends how much that really bothers you

I was in a wedding party at 37/38 weeks pregnant a similar length of time away - I had my notes and a reduced hospital bag with me (we were on public transport and didn't fancy lugging a whole extra bag around!). I was tired, and ducked out of the reception by 9 or 10, but had a lovely time! Booking a posh hotel with a very comfy bed helped, I'd been in an Ibis which must have carved their mattress from rocks a few weeks before which was hellish, so make sure you have a comfy bed!

I wouldn’t have gone. Partly because I had horrendous sickness and SPD each time. Partly because I know several people who had their babies before their due date and some of them came very fast. I would want to deliver my baby in the hospital I’d chosen and wouldn’t want a 2.5hr journey home with a brand new baby.

It’s unlikely to happen but certainly not unheard of.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I'll see how I feel at the time, but good tips about taking the notes and car seat.