How far would you travel at 37w4d?

[chisub]

Just got a call from a friend that there is an event happening this Thursday that is about 3 1/2 hours away and I'll be 37w4d at that point. Being that I've never been pregnant before I have no clue what kind of travel restrictions to put on myself at this point. I feel perfectly fine and I'd obviously run this by my midwife tomorrow, am I crazy to even consider it?

[OkiMom]

I did the 2 1/2 hour drive up to my fathers house.. With Calfornia rush hour it was more like 4 1/2 hours. I was 38 weeks at the time. Just take breaks and stretch your legs..

[PlatypusMessiah]

I asked my OB about a roadtrip we're planning next week that is about 2 hours from where we live and since I'm bound to not deliver until after my due date she didn't have any issues with us going (I'll be 39 weeks and 5 days for the road trip).

She said as long as I had a copy of my medical records, wear support hose for the car ride and we get out every hour to walk around (I'll have to go to the bathroom anyways) then it was fine.

I should mention that where we are going is one exit away from the state university's hospital which is the best in the state.

We're officially not making the call until the day of the trip but I'm feeling great - much better at 38 weeks than I did at 35 or 36 weeks. I'm only dilated 1.5 cm and we're all joking how this kid is never going to come out...

I think it's based on your comfort level, how your pregnancy is going and how you overall feel. Others will think we're absolutely nuts but to each their own.

[chisub]

It's an Obama rally and she has VIP tickets so they'd be able to get me a director's chair to sit down. Good point about getting medical records just in case! I'm not doing any internals so I have no clue if anything is going on down there, but I just did an hour cardio class this morning so I'm still feeling good which leads me to believe the baby is not coming anytime soon!

[mochimama]

Oooo, an Obama rally--that's pretty tempting. I would probably do it. I might check and see where nearby midwives and/or hospitals are beforehand so you aren't caught off guard just in case. I just got back from an overnight Tucson trip complete with 4 airplane trips and I had midwife and hospital contact info.
After that trip, though, at 36 weeks, I'm thinking about staying home more. The furthest away I'm planning on going is an hour drive to the grocery store.
But if I had something interesting to do, I probably would.

[Bella Catalina]

I would suggest your medical records and knowing what options you have should something occur that day... I felt mostly fine with DS and had no reason to expect him to show up at 36w, but he did. Meditate or pray on it a little and just make sure you have no checks in your spirit that suggest it wouldn't be a good idea...

[ambotchka]

I'd SO do it, especially for an Obama rally. You should be fine--it's not that far, really. And even if you do end up starting labor, chances are you could make it home before it gets into the really active stage, since it's your first pregnancy.

A lot of people have an hour's drive to the hospital they plan to deliver in, anyway.

[ambotchka]

Oh, wait--aren't his rallies cancelled for Thursday and Friday? Since he has to go to Hawaii for his really sick grandmother?

[chisub]

He's doing one in Indy then flying out to Hawaii after that.

[JenInMpls]

I'd go, with a copy of my chart in hand and the knowledge of where the closest GOOD maternity care is.

I just went to a roller derby tournament a couple of weekends ago, 5 hours away and I'm so glad I did!! I was only 33 weeks at the time, but if I had been 37, I think I still would have gone. The time doing something by myself - I left my kiddo at home with my DP - with my good friend really rejuvenated me. If you are an Obama fan (which I shall assume ) I bet that it will really raise your spirits!

Maybe he'll even rub your belly for good luck!

[goodheartedmama]

I just got back from an 8 hour trip at 34-36 weeks pregnant. It was miserable. : I go through early labor for weeks and weeks before anything really happens, so I have been contracting the whole time. Anyway, I would just go with what you're comfortable with. I pushed myself way too much.

[theboysmama]

W/ my first I totally would have done it. But since I have had 3 ans know how quick my labors are I won't leave the city limits once I hit 37 wks. Although I have never gone early I do have very fast labors and if I was 2.5 hrs away I would possibly be having a baby in the car. Go w/ your confort level and you will probably be fine but definately check w/ your midwife. Take your medical records w/ you and if you are homebirthing take a small bag of supplies just in case.

[nerdymom]

I want to know how the rally went!

I would have gone.

[chisub]

I didn't end up going. It sounds like it was a great rally, but I'm not as disappointed as I thought I'd be. Maybe it's b/c it meant I didn't have to leave the house at 4:30 to beat Chicago traffic and I could sleep in?

[JenInMpls]

sleeping in has its definite advantages

[Baby Makes 4]

I wouldn't go but my last labour was only 2 hours long so I'm sticking close to home in those last few weeks.

[nerdymom]

Icky. Yeah, getting up at 4:30 to pee is one thing. Getting up at 4:30 to go out in public, ick!

[mochimama]

Just last week I got up at 3:30 a.m. to catch a flight. Next day repeat at 4:30 a.m. It SUCKED!

[OkiMom]

Ohh sleep or getting up to go drive... I would have picked sleep too!

[rockportmama]

Sorry you missed your rally! For what it's worth, in answer to your original question, past 36 weeks I refuse to stray more than an hour from my home. If anything happened anywhere else it would be a guaranteed hospital visit!