How far from home should you stray in the weeks leading up to birth?.....

[OurVera]

I am expecting first child in June and due to redundancy will be off work from next week. Mum is flying in from Oz mid May so would be nice to do stuff together before baby arrives (if its not early that is!)

I live an hour out of London on the train. Dont like the idea of being housebound 'just in case' and would like to come into London once or twice - what happens if water breaks or something? Are there general rules about this? Can I assume I will have enough time to get home to then get to my hospital?

If you are with your mum it will be fine, go where ever you want, right up to the end.

If your waters break or if you start having contractions you'll head home, chances of it being that fast with a first baby are unlikely.

With my first baby I had 8 hours between when contractions started and going to hospital, and I don't think thats unusual. It was 7 hours with DC2.

Same with waters breaking, if they break, you head home. No general rules, just usually that they like labour to have started within 24 hours.

In the really unlikely event its very fast then there are hospitals in London (!!) although its v v unlikley it would come to that.

God, yes, get out and about.

AMple time to get to hospital/home.

Hmm. I wanted a homebirth so my concern was always not being too far from home in case some kindly passerby/taxidriver decided to take me to the hospital!

I assumed that it would all take ages to get underway but in the event it took me less than 2 hours from first contraction to get to 7cm (and i was at home when it started). So don't assume you'll get grumbly 'period-type' pains that you can debate about for hours over whether it's the 'real thing' or not (ha!more like being hit by a bus straight off!On the plus side, it was all over in 11 hours start to finish which I was most pleased about)

Also you might find that you're too uncomfortable to stray too far. Up till 37/38 weeks I had been into town on the train to have nice lunches with friends but I realised at that point even a short walk to the station was too much so it was probably a sign...

I did feel a total wuss on the sofa for the last few weeks as I literally felt there was 'nothing wrong with me' while sitting down, but going to the kitchen to put on the kettle was a major undertaking but MW said to me it all 'kicks in' at about 34 weeks for most women.

Waters don't necessarily break first like they do in the films. I had a good 12 hours of diarrhea like cramps with both DDs before needing to be in the house.

Get out as much as you can. bear in mind you will be tired tho. My outings went 'bus to Oxford Street, John Lewis for a browse, coffee, browse, lunch, bus back' as even the walk to the station was too much sometimes. And obviously do not try to tavel in rush hour. Rush hour back starts at about 4.45 so you need to be well on the way out of town by then oterwise the journey could well be grim. I always get offered a seat, but likely your Mum would have to stand (apologies if you are a seasoned commuter, but I see a lot of people who seem genuinely suprised that the train is busy and they can't sit down at 5.30). Galleries and museums often have plenty of benches for a rest and a nice cafe too! Have fun.
At 36 weeks I wentto Scotland for a weekend - with my notes and a map of where the local hospital was just in case.

I'm doing PGCE (teacher training) and I have to go to uni to finish my assignments which are presentations up to when I will be 38 +6, I'm booked a c-section when I will be 39 + 3. I was really scared that I could go into labour before that but my midwife said it should be fine and I should have enough time to get to the hospital. This is my second, however, my first one I also had to have an elective c-section so that means I have never experienced labour. I'm not worried about being at Uni which I will only be for the b* presentations (3 on the last week) but the travelling that takes me one hour at least from door to door. I might get a taxi instead on my last two days. I really hope I will be fine.

It's really unusual to have a rapid labour with your first baby, so you would be fine, especially as your Mum would be with you. I would be more concerned about being completely exhausted!

I went to visit friends when I was 36 weeks pregnant, and just took my notes and labour bag with me, just in case. I actually would have had time to travel all the way home, had I gone into labour with DD1! But I do tend to have long labours that take ages to get going properly.

Thanks All - I currently commute into Waterloo every day so should be able to time my travelling so I know when to miss the rush - I just worry that I will miss London and resent not being able to go in for a potter about. Having said that plenty of people have said to me that once I cash in my season ticket it will take a lot to get me back on that train!

Didnt really factor in the tiredness and exhaustion I may be feeling, a little naive thinking I will have the energy! I just hate sitting around doing nothing! I guess I will see how I feel around the time and judge it then.