To plan to go to Tenerife when baby will be 7.5 weeks old

[Ryanstartedthefire2]

Hello
I have 2 older kids at school and their school holidays are in October. Baby is due in early August. DH and I hoping to go to Tenerife or Gran Canaria for the week in October. I'm getting a c section 7.5 weeks earlier. I have had 2 sections previously and can't remember the recovery time.

Is it crazy to think that baby and I will be fine to travel at that point? I have totally forgotten what having a newborn is like and whether this is doable or ridiculous. I read that it's easier when they are newborns rather than 6 months old.

Thanks

We travelled to France when DD was 8 weeks. It was the easiest trip we've done with her. At that age they are so portable and still just eat and sleep really.

However we didn't have other kids to think about, and I hadn't had a C-section! So I can't really help with that part, sorry!

The one thing you will have to think about is getting the passport quickly. Register the birth as soon as you can and get the paperwork off. We registered DD at 10 days and then the passport took about 3 weeks to arrive if I remember correctly, that was July 2021 so might be different now

My XH and I took DD1 on holiday at a similar age and after I'd had a planned CS. Travelling with a baby was really straightforward and I was recovered enough to go hiking (XH carried DD1 in a front-loading sling). The only problem we had was that the set evening mealtime in our small guesthouse was at DD1's regular colic-screaming time. The staff were brilliant and someone always took her out and walked around with her so that neither XH nor I had to miss dinner out of consideration for the other guests.

But there are lots of unknowables - you could have complications that affect your fitness to travel (will the travel insurance cover if you do?), your baby might have unexpected health problems and not be able to travel, it's a 4+ hour flight and delays at either end are more of a problem with a baby, and travelling with one baby is a different matter from travelling with one baby and two older children. It's not crazy but booking now does carry some risks.

Nightmare for me. I went away with DC3 at same age. Only to lake district so no flying involved. It was exhausting for both me and DH trying to manage other kids on hols and looking after newborn. Personally I think it impacted older DC hols.

Will you be covered under your travel insurance for any post C section complications? Will you be able to get a passport for the baby in time? Would you also miss the baby's 8 week immunisation appointment? Will the place you're going have suitable shops for nappies, wipes, milk, etc? Maybe all these are fine but better to check and plan if you can.

All this. I personally wouldn't take the risk unless your travel insurance is very comprehensive or the trip is refundable / changeable.

How old are the older kids?

We personally declined a wedding in Belgium as my mum has recently gone through the stress of waiting for her passport to arrive. It was massively delayed despite her having a lot of contact with the passport office. I’d rather wait a little longer and be able to relax more in the run up and when things are a little more settled in a good routine. But many do say it’s easy to travel when they’re younger! Canaries are nice during the Christmas hols if you’re fine about going during school holidays. I’ve never had a Caesarean but I wouldn’t like the unknowns around that either if it was me although the likelihood is that it will go very straightforwardly. Good luck with everything!

Forgot to say that we’d rather wait for all vaccines and things to be done before going abroad also.

As you’d need a passport, and wait times are unpredictable, why not spend the money on a nice family orientated hotel in the uk or something like Center Parks that will cater for your other DCs?

Would you actually have a passport by then? That depends on when you can get to register the birth, then send off the application, and there is a backlog currently due to the strikes.

Then you get to insurance and vaccines. I wouldn't be travelling on a plane with a newborn who had had zero vaccines unless it was an emergency! Would you get insurance to cover you? I would call a few and see what they say.

Personally I think the passport will be the biggest issue.

I agree with others getting the passport in time is a big risk

I’m 3 weeks post section and physically could do this. I suspect my elder daughter would also like the distraction of a holiday!

But I agree with PPs about passport issues - we’ve only just managed to get an appointment to register the birth, so couldn’t send away for a passport until a few days ago. I wouldn’t be confident of getting one in time.

In terms of the csection everyone is different. I’m currently 7weeks post section and feel fully recovered. I’m walking around the (hilly) village with baby in a carrier.

It’s my first baby so I can’t say about travelling with him at his age yet, other than I’m fairly sleep deprived so I wouldn’t enjoy going away as much as dh just booking a week for us to stay home. Although you might be more seasoned at it or have an easy baby. Mines easy to be fair but he has a feed every 2-3.5hrs and it takes an hour or so to change, feed, wind, change and settle. Saying all that we are off to turkey when he’s 7months old for a wedding and I’m half unsure how it will go.

Passport is a good point. It took us 5 weeks to even register him for a birth certificate! Could it be worth talking to your registry office to book an appointment ready for his birth? Maybe the week after, your dh could take him if you are married and the csection keeps you at home? Or make sure someone can take you if you have to be there.

Apparently under 6months can’t wear sun cream? And would the temperature be ok at that time or would you be in with air con most of the time? Things to consider I guess.

8 and 6 x

I would plan the trip for February half term instead. Everyone will have much more fun and be much less stressed!

Travel insurance, passport and dvt risk would be my biggest concerns.

That sounds stressful to me but some people could handle it and perhaps enjoy it?

I was fully recovered well before 7 weeks after birth with my section but everyone is different and you could have complications. I was constantly exhausted in the beginning so couldn’t deal with a holiday as it wouldn’t be enjoyable.

Also like others say you’d need to register the birth before applying for passport. That could be a hassle and might be difficult with strikes.

Depends on the health and temperament of the baby. You could have one of those "transportable babies" who are easily pacified while moving them about or you could have a colicky bundle of red faced rage to navigate through a holiday with on your last nerve.

I'd definitely go, I went to Greece with an 8 week old baby and it was great. YOu can book a date to register the birth a couple of days after your schduled c-section and then passports only seem to take a couple of weeks at the moment. Lying in the sun, getting room service and generally pampered at that stage is glorious.

I would check how long it is taking to get passports processed at the moment , that could be your biggest problem. I allowed 12 weeks to get them for my children last year and one didn't arrive until a couple of days before we went. It was very stressful. There's also the time needed to get an appt to register the birth. I'd delay it and go on a UK holiday if you really need to get away then.

I wouldn't go just because you don't know how you and the baby are going to be and there's no guarantee that you will get baby registered and passport back by the date you travel. My son's recent passport renewal took 9 weeks!

I did go to Italy with my 4 month old and tbh it wasn't a very relaxing break for anyone 😂 he was a grouchy baby!

I'd book something in the uk for oct half term or overseas maybe feb half term instead?

I’m three weeks post section and I can well imagine I’d feel well enough to go abroad in four weeks, but it really is different for everyone.

We are going away when our DS will be eight weeks old, but in this country so slightly different as only 1.5 hour travel time and we can come home if it’s a nightmare and we can throw everything in the boot rather than having to try and do suitcases.

As others have said you need to make sure you have enough time to get a passport, the earliest time we can get our DS registered is one month after his birth date as the registry offices are so full!

Physically yes I would have been able to but personally I'd want the baby to have been immunised before getting in a germy tin can.

Plus passport although the summer rush will be done by then

Thanks for all the replies!

I didn't even consider the passport, insurance or immunisation issues so this has been very helpful!

I dont need to book it now. So will probably wait and see how I'm feeling when the baby is here and will apply for the passport as soon as I have the birth certificate.