Booked holiday abroad for 6 weeks after birth - am I mad?

[TigerJoy]

I'm having a c section, logic was I'd be able to swim. Get some autumn sun in October.

We're going to DH's place of birth in Italy, so it won't be too hot or a long flight. I'd like his family and friends to meet the baby.

But now I'm wondering- can the baby sleep in a hotel cot which probably has an old mattress? Or should we bring our own travel cot? And our own car seat if we decide not to rent a car?

This is our first, we don't have a clue. I know I have a lot of time to plan, I'm just wondering what we should consider.

It's a cancellable flight in case we're struggling too much to travel or baby/I am not doing so well after birth.

I'm got an 8 week old currently sitting on my lap and don't think I would be up for a flight just yet.

I feel like I had a fairly easy recovery except painful stitches (forceps delivery). Breastfeeding didn't work out for us, so had to get me head around formula and even now naps and sleeps and fairly unpredictable.

We didn't have a problem getting him registered but only having our 6-8 week check next week and jabs the week after due to doctors delay. I wouldn't want to turn down these appointments or delay these further because I was away.

I either wouldn't book something until after birth or book something amendable for nearly 12 weeks. Saying that everyone is different but you don't know what you will be like until the time comes.

If you have a good section and recovery you may be fine. I wouldn't do it though. Even with a pretty good recovery second time, at 6 weeks I'd have been a wreck. It's your first child, you'll be all over the place (in a nice way, you don't know what's coming!).

Swimming will be an absolute no no, why risk infection? You'll barely be healed. I didn't heal fully for 5 months after my first section so be prepared for a long wait.

is there a reason you have to go so soon? Can’t his relatives come over here, and you visit later on? Seems like it’ll be very stressful getting birth certificate and passport, plus complications from the section, plus newborn.

Crazy. Are you generally someone who doesn't know how to be very kind to yourself at times of stress? You will have a new baby and have gone throughba c section. You need rest ...and help. Ask family to visit you to meet baby and stay in local hotel
Book flights qhen you are starting to feel more with it, and know your baby more. It's for rhem and you.
Are you a "high achiever" ... it can make it hard sometimes to just stop! 😏
Take care and just donr put stuff on yourself a for a little while other rhan getting to know your baby.

I flew long haul (just me and dd) at 7 weeks and it was fine. I would take the pram and have baby sleep in the bassinet, so much easier than trying to sort a mattress (assuming it's a full bassinet ) you will need to check it in, just use a baby carrier at the airport - I wrapped my in sturdy rubble bags (thick bin liners) and stuffed it full of the baby clothes and other things. Just buy extra luggage if needed. You should be able to check the car seat free of charge with most airlines

Just the stress of knowing you have this trip coming up and you and the baby have to be well enough to travel would be enough to make me cancel. Stressing about recovery, about what to take, about getting the birth cert and passport sorted in time, and then sitting on a plane with a lap belt across your c-section scar - argh! With your first it's impossible to understand in advance just how much your life is about to change. I travelled for the first time with my first at four months old - that was soon enough for me - and I'm someone who travelled all the time pre-kids and has done so regularly ever since.

Of course it's not impossible but there is so much to think about, as well as your own health state that I personally would put it off till 10/12 weeks.

I bled for 10 weeks non stop.

If you want to enjoy the break then just delay the trip so you have time to sort paperwork, health and have had some time to decipher being nee parents.

If your flights can be cancelled, I would keep them. I had a c-section 3 weeks ago today, I could definitely fly to Italy today. Bleeding has stopped and pain has been gone for a couple of weeks. Breastfeeding is still quite intense so would only want to be with family I feel comfortable enough both feeding in front of and ducking out of meals etc to feed or when too tired. I think it's a great idea. Just make sure you get your registration appointment ASAP and passport application in immediatley.

I swam at 4 weeks both times. Bled for 2 weeks 1st time and about 5 days 2nd ( physiological 3rd stage), both VBs. I was fine to swim and travelled to Spain at 8 weeks alone with the baby who was sleeping 7pm to 2am by then.

In our case not a chance, feeding and sleeping were dreadful at that stage (prem baby and undiagnosed tongue tie) and DC would only sleep on my chest so any alternative sleeping arrangements would have been a problem.

The short answer is that this may or may not be do able, depends what sort of baby you get and you won’t know till after the birth. If there is a deadline before that to cancel then I would cancel.

I wasn’t allowed a bath for 6 weeks after an emergency c section, never mind swimming. The logistics of a safe infant car seat, a safe place to sleep (hotel travel cots often just have the crap ‘mattress’ they come with which isn’t very uncomfortable and is also super low so a pain in the arse for leaning into the cot - especially after a section!) would be enough to put me off for a bit. Also the getting the birth registered and passport thing is also tricky! Some areas you can’t get an appt to register the birth for 4 weeks!

I think the message here OP is that everybody has a different experience. You might heal quickly, get a great sleeper, and stop bleeding early on. Or you might be a mental and physical mess. I was definitely the latter!

It's impossible to say until baby arrives.
You might get lucky, but there's no way I could have travelled at 6 weeks and I didn't have a c section.
I was still bleeding, still in loads of pain (stitches) and couldn't walk far plus both babies screamed constantly with reflux at this age. Honestly can't think of anything worse 😬

Nope on a rope. My first baby was born in a heatwave and I was BFing up to 17 times in 12 hours. Also, he had colic. I had midwives and health visitors to lean on and I didn't sleep for more than three hours at a time for the six months.

The admin/ registration, travel insurance and lack of healthcare support would put me off before I even tell you about the painful scar and constant period style bleeding. It's just too unpredictable. Wait until 12 weeks at least.

There’s no way I could have done this after my planned section.

I was still bleeding and very uncomfortable standing for prolonged periods of time, even sitting in a car for prolonged periods was difficult. I was still having breast feeding difficulties and due to normal baby sleep patterns I was probably averaging 4-5 hours of broken sleep between 9pm and 6am and I was beyond exhausted!

If anyone told me I’d have to travel to an airport at 6 weeks post CS, hang around the airport, then fly for a few hours followed by more travel at the other end, as well as trying to manage a breast fed baby (I still wasn’t confident to feed in public) then I would have told them to f**k off 😂

It may be a breeze though OP, there is no way of predicting how it will go.

I will say Good Luck though 😂

Absolutely no way on earth I could've travelled that far 6 weeks after my c-section. Too many issues to deal with and I barely knew my own name due to lack of sleep and shockingly difficult nights (and days!!) with my baby.

You’d absolutely have to bring your own car seat, I wouldn’t trust a rental car company with providing an undamaged high level safety tested seat for an older child never mind a newborn.

Six weeks is insane. What is the rush?!

As I said I took DS to Spain to visit family at 8 weeks. No pressure it was my choice and the flights were bought after he was born (around 3 weeks from memory). It was an absolute pleasure and joy, not remotely stressful my aunt who I was visiting cooked for me, I had no house work to worry about. I did bring both bassinet and car seat. Something not disimilar to this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beberoad-Portable-Bassinet-Foldable-Toddlers/dp/B094MTRT2K/ref=asc_df_B094MTRT2K/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=534969364925&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11209722229092347385&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006886&hvtargid=pla-1403343245939&psc=1&mcid=ed6224fc0a743b4b8df9b0cc232eb062

I could have done it after EMCS but without DTs they were still in Nicu! I recovered very quickly but they were 30 weekers and I didn't have to do much lifting / carrying etc when they were in nicu.

I would be concerned about the passport and birth certificate and a plane full of germs going into flu / RSV season and presumably baby won't have had vaccinations until 8 weeks?

OP do you need a passport to travel? I tend to fly with my babies at about ten days to visit family, then DH works abroad so again it’s not unusual for us to meet somewhere “nice” for a weeks sun type holiday at 6ish weeks. I don’t bring a cot!! I co sleep or bring a purflo/sleep nest thing that’s safe for night sleeping (in the bed beside me) or use a buggy? The earlier you go the less stuff they need so it’s actually fairly easy to travel (as long as you expect the sleepless nights, feeding etc. to come with you!). Personally I love it as the family time is precious, the sun helps my headspace and even if I’m just sitting under blue skies with a cuppa watching my kids play in a playground in a new location - it makes me smile!!

Tips: I wear a sling for the airport (my older ones still need a buggy so I have one of those too). Will family you are visiting have a car seat? Or are you ok with using a sling on public transport/in a taxi? Think about packing. One big suitcase is easier than two small (frees up hands).

In terms of getting the passport - I contact birth registration early and prebook appointments (explaining our need to travel early to family) and ensure I’ve all the docs needed to apply for a passport ready before baby’s arrival. This helps but doesn’t guarantee a six week turn around and does mean you have to be very organized. Ie. My little one is less than a week old and we’ve already attended his birth reg. A lot of people 5 days post c section don’t want to have to be getting dressed to go to appointments across town!

What will family be like if you plan to go and then cancel? Traveling at 6 weeks often means your own health is still in recovery (eg im on injections for 6 weeks). Have you access to healthcare where you travel to if needed? Could you aim to do it but give yourself permission to change your minds? For us it works but I am well aware it wouldn’t be for everyone!

Agree it's too early but this was our pushchair and it was brilliant for sleeping over in the early days as the bassinet is ok for overnight so you don't need a separate cot.

uppababy.co.uk/pushchairs/full-size/vista-v2/jake/

DS and I would have been fine to fly at 6 weeks, but we couldn't get an appt for a birth certificate (which you need for a passport) for 5 weeks.

With DD, I could barely walk for 2 months post partum. I was bleeding heavily abs she was the most unsettled baby and very colicky. Leaving the house to go to the paper shop was a major expedition.

I'd seriously consider going a few weeks later.

With the greatest respect I think you’re a bit optimistic. 6 week old baby? After major surgery which a section is and Flying? Rather you than me. Good luck!

I could have travelled at six weeks with my non CS babies, and actually did a short haul flight with one of them at about that point. There's no way I could have done it with my CS baby.