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.

They'll be people who done it and it was easy but I couldn't have imagined anything worse. I was still heavily bleeding with both my pregnancies at that stage. DD was crying 24/7 with colic. DS was another matter as he was hospitalised from 5 weeks after he caught a virus, and didn't come out again until 12 week. The mattress would need to fit the cot 100%, you cant have gaps, and I wouldn't have a baby under 6 months sleeping on a used mattress. Although baby could just sleep in the pram carrycot. I would be worrying about bugs in the plane/swimming pool before vaccinations, passport arriving in time.

Can you not wait a tiny bit longer?? 3 months is perfect time to go.

I think it really depends on your baby. I had a hard job just getting myself to the local shop when DS was 6 weeks old and I was only getting a few hours sleep a night so a holiday would have been hell.

Another one who was still bleeding and very much in adult nappies at 6 weeks. Also leaking milk everywhere and still getting bf established with lots of support. My baby also would not go into a cot at this stage and had to be held all night or in a sling. But every baby is different.

In answer to your question - yes you are mad!

Forgot to add you need to check with airlines what you can take. From memory it's usually 2 items so potentially car seat and pram or pram and travel cot. Either way you'll need to take a baby carrier (wrap best at that age) as you won't get the pram back until luggage collection usually. And they might bash it around a bit so dont take a £££ one.

Why would you choose to put yourself under the pressure? It’s not going to be fun is it.

Also when you have a newborn your whole brain and being is focussed on them. You are obsessed - it’s biological. You don’t care about anything else. It’s not a time to be distracted by travel which takes up headspace and is tiring - unless absolutely necessary. You have years and years to go on holiday. I think it’s an insane plan personally.

A flight I was on last year was randomly cancelled had to sit in airport for hours and then stay in a hotel etc. Mildly annoying for able bodied adult. Dealing with that with a newborn would be a nightmare.

I'd also be worried about this!

They’re lovely and transportable at that age. Just make sure you get a wriggle on with birth certificate and passport.

I think it will be fine.

I would choose a pram that has a bassinet suitable for overnight sleeping (like the uppababy) and then take that for them to nap in and sleep overnight in.

I would take your own car seat because you don't know what rubbish you might get given by the hire company.

For both of those I would make sure you have decent storage bags for them so that you minimise chance of damage on the plane.

Take a sling/carrier for use on the plane.

It will be fine. Enjoy!

We did this, our first was 4.5 weeks in the end when we went to France and Spain. We bought a bugaboo because the bassinet is sleep tested and a travel system, so the car seat could go on it too, plus a pram carry bag to check it in. We had stretchy slings- caboo close, for the Airplane and hotel, and a breastfeeding pillow. Dh and my sister did most of the baby carrying, I had a 3b tear and wasn’t doing strenuous walking. I took some time recovering plus sleep with a new baby so was glad we weren’t sharing accom with family as we started the morning slowly and then joined them. You need to take time out if you need, you and Dh do things at your pace. A family member had a baby 2 months older and I felt they were a bit critical I wasn’t swimming with baby, but I didn’t want sand and wet everywhere with my poor sore boobs and bits and certainly wasn’t taking my baby in! It was very pleasant.

This!

Sorry OP, but it’s a terrible idea. Six weeks is very soon and you have no way of predicting how you will feel. Like @DinnaeFashYersel I was also in a lot of pain for weeks after my section and my mental health was also affected. I could barely manage a trip down the road let alone abroad.

I would also worry about getting all the documentation you would need turned round in six weeks even under normal circumstances, let alone recovering from a section - you may not feel well enough to do very much at all.

I’m not normally precious about things like germs but taking a newborn on a flight is asking for trouble. I know it was extremely unlucky in our case but my 10 week old caught meningitis just from taking her to baby groups/out and about at home. There’s no way I would be taking a 6 week old newborn on an international flight.

I wouldn't. I had a C-section and there are certain infections you're more likely to catch because of having a C-section.

At 4 weeks pp, my son got meningitis, and I got sepsis and we were both in hospital for a really long time.

When they did tests they found the presence of E. Coli in both of our spinal fluids. After discharge, my son needed a daily nurse to come and give him antibiotics via cannula on this little machine that took a few hours each time.

By week 6 I was absolutely bushed. I couldn't have gone on holiday if I wanted to.

The birth, and everything up to week 4 seemed fine!

So based on my own experience, I would wait until both innoculation appointments have been and gone.

I had a vaginal birth with an episiotomy and found sitting uncomfortable at six weeks post-birth! I wouldn’t want to travel with a tiny baby before they’d had their first vaccinations, personally.

I had a planned c section, went amazingly, no complications, breastfeeding went really well but I wouldn’t have been up for a holiday at 6 weeks. I was super hormonal, my body HURT and I didn’t quite appreciate how much time is needed to recover. I’m 16 weeks pp now & we just did a holiday which was fine. I wanted to make sure he’d had all the vaccinations possible and just give myself some time to recover.
do you get on well with husbands family? I think if so, they could be a wonderful help! I say this as I really didn’t understand how much people annoyed me pp 😂 could just be me tbf and I know everyone recovers at different rates.

in terms of stuff to take, definitely a new mattress, car seat, steriliser or things to sterilise if you plan to take any bottles etc.

Honestly 6 weeks is probably ideal time to travel as baby is sleepier etc, but just physically and logistically with passport etc I’d recommend waiting a bit longer xx

Ok, ok I get the picture. I am feeling like death in this pregnancy anyway, and when I had endo laproscopies they took me about 3 months to heal from.

I will rebook for either 3 months or 6 months post partum.

We will.be staying in a hotel definitely. Thanks for lots of suggestions of the right kit to bring - it will help when we select the buggy/system to buy.

If anyone has strong opinions on whether 3 or 6 months is best, do say!

I really appreciate all the comments, they've all.been constructive.

I'm a firm believer in just getting on with it.
My only concern would be that you get baby registered and their passport quickly enough.
DS had his first long haul flight at several months old. We ended up being on the plane 11.5 hours... not easy, but easier than the next set of flights we took with him at I think it was 15 or 16 months.

Answers to your specifics.
Travel cot, see if someone you're going to visit has access to one or a moses basket- hotel ones are often grim.

Take your own car seat if hiring a car. Thankfully that'll be part of your travel system so no lugging about a seat plus pram.

Take as much milk as you need for your baby on the plane.
Try to time bottles with Take off and landing to help his ears.

Have a great time.

I honestly think you should wait until baby arrives before booking anything. All babies are different!

Re is 3 or 6 months better. I’ve taken both of mine away at both ages and 3 months is definitely easier. They mostly sleep / fit in with you. 6 months need more entertainment and probably have a more restrictive nap routine.

I think 3/4 months is better than 6 months because the baby won't need food before then - once weaned it becomes complicated again because you have to feed them too!!

when they are little it's just milk so super easy!!

Bless you, hope you have a wonderful time when you do finally go and the wait will be all so worth it 💗

Personally I think three months could work but six months will be better as baby will have had all his/her inoculations by then and you are likely to be fully recovered. You will also be in a good routine at the half year point, whereas the first few weeks/months can be a blur, especially if this is your first child.

Far too many possible variables to answer your questions accurately!

I had a c section (elective) and was relatively well recovered in about 3 weeks but I found I got pretty achey after a busy day for quite a few weeks. Also was bleeding still at the 6 week mark. It had stopped and started multiple times when I had over done it and you aren't allowed to wear tampons for postnatal bleeding due to infection risks. The scar healed well but it was still uncomfortable and felt weird if anything touched it for months, I don't think I would have managed swimming!

I wouldn't personally take a baby on a plane til after their 8 week immunisations. I always get sick after a flight so I wouldn't subject an unvaccinated baby to the germs. You also have no idea what sort of baby you will have, and how portable they will be...I had one Velcro baby who wouldn't sleep and had to be held at all times, wouldn't lie in a pram or cot. Also had reflux and was on special formula milk. Didnt gain weight well so was being frequently weighed at the 6 week mark and we had multiple appointments. My second would have been fine to take abroad, although he had RSV and chickenpox at 3 weeks old and we ended up in hospital for a week. He was end of August born.

I’d be concerned about risk of blood clots during the flight. You are at a high risk for blood clots 6 weeks post c section. I’m pretty cautious though.

Also, my second c section wound got infected 3 times and I was still dealing with that at 6 weeks post partum.

In theory it’s a nice idea but sometimes the practicalities don’t quite align. I wish you a positive birth and straightforward recovery OP. Enjoy the holiday if that’s what you do decide.

Cross posted, sorry!

3 months might be fine, haven't done it personally. Took our eldest to Spain at 6 months and it was easy...he had a routine that we stuck to and was predictable. Still on formula at that stage but we also could feed him some food too as he was weaning. He mostly slept every afternoon in his pram by the pool!

Sorry I’ve just read your update, I think that’s a wise choice!