Driving in third trimester

[Motherof1and2dogs]

I was just wondering what others would do in this situation, so I am 34 weeks pregnant today, I am due to go to my friends UK hen do which is an hour away and then will be driving back that same day, however I have just read somewhere that you should avoid going out alone and avoid driving if in your third trimester which has put me off a little. How true is this?
I just feel like I can’t miss this and let her down again! I have already not been able to go to her hen do abroad last month, and cannot attend her wedding in August which is also abroad and I was supposed to be a bridesmaid :( she is my best friend but of course if it is far too risky I will try to get a lift there and back.

Most people are working up until a couple of weeks until due date (around38wks I did) and the travelling to and from work is alone and approx 45/60 mins.

I would say if you feel good and not tired or achy then you should be fine

I was driving my toddler to all their activities up to and including the day I went into labour with my second....

I was still commuting on the northern line, driving is far less stressful! Remember most women work until 38 weeks or later and many are driving that sort of distance. A bit of advice, do read information given to you by health professionals, but don’t go googling, it’s a fast track to health anxiety and not enjoying your new baby

I'm 39 weeks and still driving to work (finishing this week though!). No midwife has mentioned anything to me about not driving, though admittedly it's not the most comfortable experience currently.

Blimey, I was still driving when I was in labour with my 3rd. I think I stopped about 4 hours before he was born!

As long as you can fit behind the wheel and have the mobility to check blind spots etc I think you are fine to drive.
As for going out alone, I'd always make sure I have my maternity notes (if far from home) and a well charged phone and get on with my day/night. Towards the end of the pregnancy (35 weeks+) I'd make sure I had at least an emergency overnight bag even if I hadn't got my maternity/labour bag packed again if far from home

I was driving to work up until wk 38, and then drove ~40 miles there & back on my own to visit a friend who had just had a baby on my due date. Baby was born later that night. Eldest is now 20, and I seriously worry about all the stuff that new mothers think about these days that they think they can't do.

Where on earth did you read that? You can’t stop doing normal stuff like driving to work or driving older kids to school for the entire third trimester! Avoiding solo long journeys from around your due date makes sense but unless there’s something else going on like HG or fainting then carry on as normal until then.

I didn't finish work until 38 weeks so had to do my commute. Never even thought about it tbh. I presume it's not in the middle of nowhere?

I’ve never once heard that. Most people are leading completely normal lives when they are in their third trimester. Working, going out with their families, looking after their children.

I'm 34 weeks and drive over an hour to work, and the same back, most days. No intention to stop doing so until 39 weeks

I was driving way over my due date with dd, who was born at 40 +11. I also had a 22 month old. I drove until the day before I was induced, as long as you can fit behind the wheel then you are fine to drive.

I can remember going to a charity night with my mum on my due date and someone asked when a baby was due and when I said today she said , oh you shouldn’t be out, go home! 😂😂

I was driving pretty much up to my due date both pregnancies, local journeys mostly but would have driven an hour to a hen do at 34 weeks. Just take your midwifery notes with you and have a backup plan in place for being picked up just in case anything happens!

Honestly it never even crossed my mind, I was working and driving until a week before baby came

It's only an hour?! I was driving further than that at 35 weeks pregnant with twins and it was totally fine

I was on a plane at 35 weeks with my first 🥲
Unless you have history of short labour combined with premature birth or/and very high risk pregnancy you are quite safe.

I drove myself to the hospital the day I was induced, which is about an hour away xx

If you're feeling well enough then there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't drive in the third trimester. I was driving to work until 38 weeks.

I was driving around at 41 weeks with my first pregnancy 19 years ago. Absolutely daft now I think of it.

I drove myself to and from my sweeps the day I gave birth both times. Obviously it wasn't an hour's drive away but still. I'm sure at 34 weeks you'll be fine to do this, so long as you actually want to, if you don't fancy it then just don't go.

Did you ‘hear’ it from a TikTok video? Seriousky think about it. Of course it isn’t true.

What’s with all the competitive I basically drove whilst giving birth rubbish? 🤣
this thread just seems to be for showing off

I drove myself to the hospital 😂

Surgeons can still operate in third trimester (assuming feeling well enough).

Driving is fine as long as you feel fit to.

Normal rules on seat belts, mirrors, judgement, attention, due care and attention etc apply.

however I have just read somewhere that you should avoid going out alone and avoid driving if in your third trimester which has put me off a little. How true is this?

Not true at all.
Most pregnant women are out and about all day, working to the end of the 3rd trimester, sorting out their kids, driving here there and everywhere. They certainly aren’t being chaperoned to avoid being ‘out alone’ while in the 3rd trimester!