How young is too young to travel with a newborn?

[Andel]

I think the last time I posted I was asking about traveling at 37wks pregnant. I ended up going and I'm glad I did, although my hips suffered for the week after.

Anyway, we usually take this next week off to go to our place on the island. It's thanksgiving in Canada so my kids have the next week off and I sure as heck don't want to spend it here!

I haven't had the baby yet, but I am feeling a lot closer. The head is engaged and this usually happens just before I have my babies. Of course this one could totally prove me wrong.

So when would you feel comfortable driving for 12-14hrs with a newborn? I'm pretty desperate to go, I keep joking with my husband that I'll be ready to go about an hr after I have it. I would love to spend the week alone with my family in BC.

Of course I'm expecting that I'll have to miss it this year, but I would still like to hear some opinions.

[Therese's Mommy]

IMO, it has a lot more to do with how you are feeling. How well do you recover? I know with my second I went to a wedding 1 week postpartum and felt like I was hit by a truck. The wedding was in town and was in the early afternoon, but I still felt awful afterward.

Beth

[francesmama]

12 - 14 hours? Hm, I personally wouldn't be doing that until babe was two months old but that's me. I think it has much more to do with how you recover as well.

I'm also in Canada and have never had more than a three day weekend, what's up with your week off?

[jaylily]

I think it depends how you're feeling. I doubt I would go right away but we did take my son to visit my family 6-7 hour drive away and stayed for a week (more like 9+ since we had to stop for feedings, etc.) when he was about 3-4 weeks old. He slept most of the way so it wasn't a big deal... but I probably should have rested a little more! But it went okay.

We plan on visiting them again about a month after our new little one is born.

[Doberbrat]

really depends on your delivery, how you feel, what sort of a baby you have...

We drove 18h when dd was 5w old for Thanksgiving. went fine but I honestly wouldnt do it again. retrospectively, it wasnt the best idea I've ever had.

[kawa kamuri]

if you feel fine and the babe is up to it i don't see why not. i traveled by air - an all day thing - with my last newborn and three kids.

[StephM76]

I probably wouldn't, but traveling tires me out very quickly. My SIL lives in VA (about an 8-9 hour rive) and I told DH we won't be visiting her until at least February.

[beatgenxer]

i don't have any advice, but i'm in a similar situation.

my family is a 7-8 hr drive away. the ILs are 5. tho they plan on coming down soon after the birth to visit for a few days each, we're planning on doing our yearly trecks to the ILs at thanksgiving and my fam at christmas. i'm also supposed to go to Denver in April for a writers/publishers conference for four days - i'll have to man a table for the small press i work for, so at least i can just sit and wear my LO most of the day. my friend is meeting me out there and the baby will be about six months old at that point.

dunno how any of that will work out, but like most people said, i'll have to see how i feel and what temperment the baby has.

[kjs]

One thing to think about is that your bottom may be pretty sore far at least a week after, and sitting long distances could hurt. I bled for around 10 days too, so that would be a discomfort for long car travel. Also, my babies hated the car at first, and wanted to nurse every hour, and every time they nursed, they had a big giant poop which needed to be changed, which would make them cry. So I guess I would not go anywhere near a road trip for at least 8 weeks.

[Andel]

Originally Posted by francesmama

12 - 14 hours? Hm, I personally wouldn't be doing that until babe was two months old but that's me. I think it has much more to do with how you recover as well.

I'm also in Canada and have never had more than a three day weekend, what's up with your week off?

I forgot I posted this yesterday. lol

My kids are on a modified calender so they get a a few more holidays throughout the year but they have to start a bit earlier in the summer.

I don't usually mind the drive, it's about 10-11 to Vancouver, then a ferry ride to the island. We have a place out there so I'm familiar with dr's and hospitals.

I'm not counting on going. I'm thinking my hips are going to be in rough shape after the birth. Don't they also do a blood test on baby a few days after it's born, or is it right away? I'm not sure how often the midwives will want to come check on things. I suppose I'll ask them at my next visit.

[Pookietooth]

I would probably stay home myself, but then last time I got PPD and didn't leave the house much at all the first few weeks.

[completebeginnings]

My new borns sleep really well in the car. If you had a ton..and I mean a ton of support and help and could do nothing but sit when you got there I would go.

[Andel]

Originally Posted by completebeginnings

My new borns sleep really well in the car. If you had a ton..and I mean a ton of support and help and could do nothing but sit when you got there I would go.

I definitely have the support. Part of the reason I want to go is because we would have less disruptions and more time to relax with the family.

Baby isn't here yet and I was thinking Sun was the cut off day. It looks like we'll have to wait until Dec. Unless the kids have a holiday in Nov. Unfortunately, my 3 older kids have major commitments with ballet and gymnastics too, so we have to work around that