When did you go into labour + how long was it / holiday late pregnancy

[Justabitdaftoroutrightnuts]

Currently have a holiday planned for when I'll be 37-38 weeks with second child.

UK based so no insurance / flights etc. Also family property so no cancellation issues etc.

Only concerns are the travel (300 miles / 5.5 hours in good traffic), plans for dd if I were to go into labour while there. (Staying half an hour from the nearest hospital.)
And obviously then car seat, hospital bag, long drive home with a newborn - LOTS of stops.

Possible that family member could drive to us to look after dd, but that would obviously be a big ask (although we're confident they would do it if needed, but whether it would take too long is the unknown).

DD was induced and dragged out at 42 weeks after a 2 day labour.

Help us decide if we're a bit daft or outright nuts for potentially doing this!

When did you go into labour and how long did it take?

I think it's clearly on your mind and I'm sure you know that although siblings tend to have similar baking times, it's not by any means guaranteed.
If you're in the UK the delivery care will be fine wherever, so maybe just think through the practicalities of if you were to go into labour early what would the issues be and see if you can plan?
E.g. are there friends and family nearby that could help with DD during labour or provide a base for the rest of the family in case you're in hospital for a few days/ baby needs a bit of time in NICU? Hotels could work. Maybe you'd be fine to deliver alone at hosp if it came to it and leave DP with DD.
Is it easy enough to hire a car seat or take it with you/ purchase train tickets at whatever price to get you home if you're not comfortable sitting for a long drive back (stitches etc).
If anything comes up as an issue too difficult to navigate then rethink the holiday or book somewhere not so far from home? You might find a cracking deal last minute, who knows.

My first was 42 weeks (also induced and I agree it's flipping painful). Second was 40+3 , just 5 hours from 1st contraction to popping out. I'd be worried about it starting mid journey tbh, what if you're stuck in traffic! Newborn in a car seat all that time isn't good either.

Personally I wouldn't and I regularly drive 300miles north to see family

I'm currently 24 weeks and won't do that length of drive due to risk of DVT (just personal decision)
Maybe consider compression stockings if you do choose to go

I went into labour at 37 weeks with first but have been told that doesn't set a pattern for next birth so just wait and see :)

Brilliant, thank you! I love a bit of data.

And yes I hear second babies usually come faster which is why I'm interested in how long people's labours took as well and when they happened.

DD did not want to come out so not sure a 43 hour labour is much help to factor in 😅.

I wouldn't go.

Mine came on due date with 8 hour labour. I'd not have been able to sit in a car for any amount of time during labour, it was a nightmare just going to hospital for 20 minutes.

My first pregnancy was my longest, at 39 weeks. Second was 38 weeks, 3rd was 36 weeks, 4th was 38 weeks and 5th was 37 weeks.

Thank you, 5 hours definitely seems quick compared to my 43! I know someone who was about 1.5hrs and they were induced too.

This is why I'm wanting to hear people's experiences. They're all so different!

I know newborn on a long journey isn't good. Which is why there would be many, many stops if it came to that. And I know it would be a horrible journey. It's whether that possibility is worth missing out on a holiday for us all before this ones comes.

Hoping it's unlikely to come that early but may just be a case of waiting until close to the time to see how things feel. Another 5+ weeks and it might seem completely nuts!

As it does already to many posters that I'm even contemplating it!

Thank you. I have some compression socks somewhere I'll have to dig out if I risk it. Hadn't though about that!

Ah, forgot the labour lengths;

1st 6hrs 30 mins
2nd 8hrs
3rd 4 hrs
4th 10 hrs 45 mins
5th 1 hr 45 mins.

Thank you. Not something I experienced with my first so really good to know.

My second baby came more than 3 weeks gestation sooner than my first baby. First baby was born 17 days past due date, not induced. Second came just before 39 weeks so it does happen.

My second labour was my longest labour of them all due to biggest baby, being back to back and having hand over head but despite that was just under 4 hours total. First and third much faster than that.

Id be fine with going OP as long as you’d be happy to give birth there, feel comfortable with the space you would be using for the birth, and take all the things you need for the birth. Don’t worry about bringing a newborn home just get the train if that happens, much easier. Could be quite fun to have one DC be technically a native of a completely different area or have your relatives holiday home address on their birth certificate for life! A funny story…

I’ve never gone into labour. But with DD1 my 38 week midwife appointment started a process ending with a c section later that day.

With DD2 I was told at 37 weeks that I needed to stay in hospital until she was born.

No way would I be going that far from about 35 weeks (and I’m someone who traveled to China at 28 weeks….)

sorry OP.

#1 40
#2 40
#3 39 + 4
#4 39+1
#5 38

No need to be sorry, I appreciate all of the feedback and opinions.

I would love to know why your 38 week appt ended with a CS the same day and why you had to stay in from 37 weeks with your second? Purely being nosey though so no worries if you don't want to share.

I already wouldn't fly anywhere with horror stories of early labours and insurance not covering you hear, so you were brave going to China at 28 weeks to me!

I had a 36 hour spontaneous labour with my first at 40+5. With my second I had a 2 hour spontaneous labour at 41+2. I only just made it to the hospital before i gave birth. I personally wouldn't go on holiday that late as the stress of driving on roads you may not be familiar with to a hospital you don't know if labour is progressing quickly would be too much for me and my DH.

Hmm, no. I had a late DC1 (41+4, EMCS at 5 cm dilation). Fully expected DC2 would be late too and not super quick.

DC2: 35+2, 45 min labour after PROM.
DC3: 33+4, as DC2.

Don't assume your second baby will follow the same pattern as the first!

I'm not assuming that at all.

I hope both your 2nd and 3rd were ok coming early?

@Justabitdaftoroutrightnuts both were transverse (basically sideways in the womb), which is really dangerous if you go into labour. Usually you’re kept in hospital from 37 weeks so you’re close at hand to do a super quick CS if you go into labour before your planned one.

DD1’s position was missed until late on though. With DD2 I had more regular monitoring, but she got into that position quite late.

I wouldn't but both of my children were born at 38 weeks!
I can't see how a holiday will result in a stress free birth. If anything you'll be on edge the whole holiday wondering if every twinge is a sign, I can't see how you will enjoy yourself.

My second was less than three hours at 37 weeks. I wouldn’t risk it for what you’ve described. 3 hours could have meant being in the car on a motor way! Also, if you had the baby there, the 5 hour journey would be very long on the way back with all the stops you’d need.

Asking other women when they went into labour and how long it took will give you nothing more than random anecdotes that do not create any form of evidence to suggest whether or not you will or won’t go into labour during the holiday (or indeed on the journey).

The only purpose your question serves is to seek out a number of anecdotes that match what you hope to happen so your confirmation bias will tell you it’ll probably be fine. In reality, as you know, no one can predict when and how quickly your baby will arrive.

First my waters went at 39+6, no contractions so had to be induced at she was born 40+1.

Second was spontaneous labour at 40+2, just under 3.5 hours and she was here.

Personally I wouldn’t go that far from home at that gestation.

38+6 with my first. Whole thing was 4 hours. Waters suddenly broke and in 4 hours he was out!

It’s not something I would do. My first was born at 40+2 after a textbook pregnancy.

I was so sure my second would be the same…and it was another textbook pregnancy until my 34 week midwife appt. I had pregnancy induced hypertension (high blood pressure). They take this very seriously and I was admitted to hospital (I felt fine other than tired, which I’d put down to having a 1 year old and being pregnant). Over the next 21 days and nights, I spent 15 of them in hospital and was prepared for a premature baby with steroids etc. They pushed me to 37 weeks when they induced me because my BP was so high it was off the chart!

I wouldn’t take anything for granted because of your first pregnancy.

Have you have 2 due date babies?! if so, I hope you play the lottery 😆