Safe to travel at 33 weeks+..?

[elizek]

My husband wants us to go to the inlaws for one of the upcoming weekends. I said maybe its safer to go then within the next two as it gets too risky after 34 weeks.
They are 2hrs out of town.
Up until when will you travel that far from home?

 

[anna matronic]

I wouldn't have a problem but probably after 37/38 weeks I'd want to stay closer to home. I don't think 2 hours out of town is that big a deal. It can take me an hour just to get to Bluewater (big shopping centre) or half an hour to my local shopping centre!

I think you need to come up with an action plan if anything happens whilst you are there. Most labours don't start and finish within 2 hours (some do!)

 

[Kitten-B]

I guess it's just a judgement call and a question of what you feel comfortable with.

I'm going this weekend (at 31 weeks) to stay with my inlaws and they are a plane ride away across the water (Northern Ireland to England).

I'm also going to London next weekend at 32 weeks to stay with a friend.

Only for one night both times, I haven't had any complications and I know if the worst came to the worst my in-laws and my friend (who is also pregnant) would know which hospital to go to.

I probably wouldn't want to go any later though (even if the airlines let me).

But if it's a 1-2 hour car journey I'd be less cautious - most labours last long enough to get me back to my hospital in plenty of time.

I think the risk is small up until very late on, and the risk is only that you may have to go to another hospital - completely not ideal but not very serious.

After 34 weeks I'd probably bring my hospital bag and notes but I'd probably be still happy to travel by car up to 37 weeks (might not be very comfortable though!).

 

[Thegirl]

Every day when I travel to work. I'm working until eight and a half months.

 

[Anxiousmom2b]

I'm going to my parents once a week when my maternity leave starts; it’s about 2 hours away from home. I'm travelling on my own in the car. So we've planned that if labour starts whilst I'm there my dad is going to drive me half the way home and then my OH will pick me up for the rest of the journey back. I'm expecting labour to take hours so I'm not worried.

Maybe just have a look at where the local hospital is in that area, as you can always go there is you need too!

 

[Annabel]

Hey hun I think you'll be fine at 33 weeks, you can always take a hospital bag and car seat if you feel safer doing that..

Im off to cornwall this weekend, I'll be almost 37 weeks then, its around 4-5 hours drive, but Im taking everything with me just in case! Hoping I wont be doing a Samantha Cameron tho!

 

[Manchester_Lu]

I'm going this weekend (at 31 weeks) to stay with my inlaws and they are a plane ride away across the water (Northern Ireland to England).

Are you able to fly this late on? I thought you had to have a doctors note after late 20s but I'm probably wrong and it's not that far.

I would say go ahead and travel. At 37 weeks we went from Manchester to Kent for a friend's wedding. I was extremelynerbous though and wouldn't go that far again so late on but it was one of my best friends.

 

[Kitten-B]

I'm going this weekend (at 31 weeks) to stay with my inlaws and they are a plane ride away across the water (Northern Ireland to England).

Are you able to fly this late on? I thought you had to have a doctors note after late 20s but I'm probably wrong and it's not that far.

I would say go ahead and travel. At 37 weeks we went from Manchester to Kent for a friend's wedding. I was extremelynerbous though and wouldn't go that far again so late on but it was one of my best friends.

It varies airline to airline - flybe allows you up to 33 weeks but you do need a doctor's letter from 28 weeks. Have one but they charged me £30 - was rather shocked but I suppose that's the price of these things!

 

[Dolly.]

I also think you would be fine at 33 weeks, we went to my parents for a long weekend at 37 weeks which took us 3 hours to drive.

 

[yourstruly10]

I flew 4 hours at 33 +1 weeks and flew back to my home 4 hours at 34 +1 weeks. I didnt need a dr note or anything. i think your pretty safe to travel (car, plane, bus ect...) until about 36-37 weeks after that i wouldnt go to far from home.

 

[Mrs_N]

I think you would be fine.
I went from Norfolk to Devon and back twice in July when I was around 30 odd weeks and that's an 8 hour trip each way.
Just take your notes with you and be prepared
Not really sure in what way it's risky