Traveling for the Holidays

[Shelleybelly]

We're supposed to go out of town for Christmas to visit my husbands family. They live ~1800 miles away, so needless to say we will be flying and I HATE flying. I love visiting them, but I'm nervous about being so far away from home so close to my due date (I'll be 34 weeks when we leave and 36 when we get back) even though my midwife thinks it's fine and the airline has no problem with it (maybe I'm projecting my fear of flying onto my pregnancy). We only get to visit his family twice a year and so I'd hate to pass up the opportunity but, to be honest, I think I'm looking for an excuse to back out :tiptoe .

Is anyone one else going out of town for the holidays? If so, are you nervous?

Am I crazy for planning a trip like this so close to the end or is this just the hormones talking?

[alicia9178]

We are going to St. Louis to visit my husband's brother and family. We live in Cleveland so it is about a 10 hour drive. On the way there I am flying with the 2 girls, and my husband and son are driving there. Then we will all drive back together. I am not nervous about being gone...I am not due until the end of Feb, but I am nervous about the long drive home....and dreading it even though it is over a month away.
Alicia

[danav]

I would not be crazy about the idea of travelling so far so late in my pregnancy...but that's because I'm already at the point where doing much walking makes my pelvis hurt SO bad (not to mention the BHs it brings on), and thinking about walking through airports and spending hours on airport chairs and airplane seats makes me cringe!! I just know I would be beyond exhausted and so uncomfortable. And my babies come a bit early, so 36 weeks would be too close for comfort for me personally...but if you physically feel ok, there's no reason you shouldn't go if you want to.

Just remember to drink lots of water and get up as much as you can on the plane - at the very least, stretch your legs and pump your ankles up and down frequently to help keep from swelling.

I'm sure everything will be fine, and once you're there you'll have a great time, right?

[3 Little Monkeys]

We are driving 13+ hours, I'll be 30.5 weeks by that time.

I'm surprised the airline is OK with you being so far along, I thought they had strict regulations about that? I'm not worried about the trip, I don't get to see my family very much at all and I'm looking forward to being with them, the drive isn't exactly making me happy, but we can't afford to pay for 5 plane tickets so driving it is. I think I'd be more nervous if I were going to be farther along, but this is baby #4 and I have never had any preterm labor or any problems at all so I feel safe in going. When I was pg with #2 though I used the excuse that I couldn't drive 2 hours to go see MIl and FIL after I hit 28 weeks because the doctor said I shouldn't go farther than an hour or so away from home - I didn't really want to see them, can you tell :lol

[crittersmom]

You'll have to see how you feel and what your MW says at the time.I flew at 36 weeks after being told not to by my Dr. but it was a family emergency and it would have meant either staying home and being by myself or with DH and family.I was fine I drank plenty of water and rested as much as I could.It wasn't comfy, those trays rest on your belly at that point so you have to use someone else's to keep your drink.
I'm planning on going back to central Ca. for Christmas and we are driving but I'm still not worried.I won't start staying close until mid Jan.

[My Three Boys]

Not this year, but I travelled for a week between 36 - 37 weeks with my third. But, I tend to go up to my due date. My dh was going out of town and I really didn't have anyone to help me out at home. So, I went to my parent's house (a 7 hour drive at the time). I figured if I went into labor I was safer with my parents than I would've been if I'd been at home alone.

This year we'll be going to my parent's house for New Year's - about 3 hours away. Not too far - but I'll be 35 weeks by then.