150mi trip at 35.5 weeks...just curious...would you?

bumpuser10054788

DH and I were originally were planning to go on a trip to the DC area (about 150mi from home) during Valentine's Day weekend. We're both geeks and there is an annual 3-day anime convention down there in National Harbor that we haven't made it to in a few years. When we discussed it months ago, we figured this might be our last chance to (at least easily) go for a while so had thought that as long as I felt okay it might be fun as a sort of "last hurrah" :-P We have our hotel room booked, but we haven't pre-registered for the convention yet (pre-reg closes in 2 days, although we could technically also register at the door).

Right now I feel fine to go, but after reading some of the stories on here about folks with placental abruption or early babies, I'm now starting to have paranoid fears about being so far from our OB/Hospital at 35.5 weeks, going into labor in DC, and ending up in some hospital down there rather than up here where I know my doctors and they know me and my medical history.

I'm planning to ask my OB for their opinion, but just curious, if it were you, what would you do?

hvhoward

If you feel well enough to go and doc oks it I say go. Maybe look to see where the hospitals are around the area you're in ahead of time just in case if you're worried. But have fun one last time as just the two of you before your LO arrives.

BTBergstrom

My hubby and I were planning to go away that weekend as well about 200 mi away and I will be 37 almost 38 weeks. I know I can go early but as a ftm I am thinking I'll be late. Worst case scenario I go into labor and we drive the three hours home. I'm thinking as a ftm the baby will take its sweet time coming.

Golferbee

I'd prob go for sure.

lalaith50

I would go BUT, for me the biggest concern would be if there are hospitals where you are staying (and on the way) that are covered by your insurance! Research that and have a plan before you go on which hospital you would go to at which point in your trip.

lvlichelle

I personally would go. That's just me. I would be sure to ask my Dr before heading out to see if they have any objection. If they give you the green light.. then go. I would advise during the drive you stop at least once and walk around. That's only about 2 1/2 hour drive right?

myfriendscallmemeg

I would! That's still a month away from your due date! I guess my last hurrah trip is 6 weeks out from my EDD, but if you're feeling good--then you should go get away for the weekend with your husband! 

pepperedmoth

Like @bearsbearsbears, I always ask myself "what's the worst that could happen in this situation?" Then I think about how likely that outcome is, and how much I fear it, versus how much I want to do whatever the thing is.

In my personal calculations, the worst-case scenario isn't so awful (for example, if I delivered at 35 weeks I'd be taken care of by strange OBs anyway; neither my midwives nor my hospital delivers before 36!) and I would be OK on my own if MH had to leave. I know I could get other support. Plus I think that scenario is possible, but pretty darn unlikely. Then I'd think about whether how much I wanted to go outweighed the risk of the worst-case scenario.

I personally would go. I'm planning on traveling 160 miles this weekend at what will be almost 33 weeks (in my case to visit family, so it's different.)

But only you can make the decision re: how much the worst-case-scenario would suck versus how much you want to do it.

you could look up stats on low-risk FTMs delivering at 35 weeks and go from there if that'd be helpful.

katykatykaty

I'd go!  I'm sure there are great hospitals in the DC area, so I wouldn't have a problem going.

babylimas

I would go, especially if you are low risk. I flew halfway across the country at 35 weeks with my first. 

futurecody

If you have the energy and are willing to stop every 30 miles to go to the bathroom, I'd say go! I think if it was farther away id be more cautious, just because I was super uncomfortable in the car driving 250 miles to my cousins at 28 wks

babylimas

@CaseandDave - that is a very very good point. Oooh crotchal pain. 

karacakes98

I'd go. Just make sure you know where hospitals are along the way.

KariB509

I would go, as someone else said, especially if you're low risk.  I'm low risk and have no reason I believe that I'll deliver early.  Now if I was 38/39 weeks, I wouldn't risk it.

ceh789

@CaseandDave nailed it for me - I'd be way too tired and wouldn't enjoy myself.  Plus I'd feel like I was keeping MH from enjoying himself and would feel bad about that so I'd push myself too hard and exacerbate the problem plus make him worried and it would get into a whole vicious cycle thing.

If you go - make sure you and your husband both have low, low expectations for the amount of walking and time you'll be able to put forth.  

jwls84

I would go. I mean there are hospitals in DC should something happen. My only issue would be being uncomfortable.
I drove into the states when I was 35w with B, I just made sure I had insurance and it was all good. We made a few extra pit stops so I could stretch too.

skeppler1

I actually just made a day trip to Austin and back that is about 190 miles from home (one way) this past sunday. It definitely takes a toll on your body and I probably wouldn't have done it if I knew how I would feel at the end of the day.

Just listen to your body and rest when you need to.  Take it easy if you do go.

LiFeIsAmIrAcLe

I'm 34 weeks 2 days, and my DH and I drove to Miami this past Saturday to buy him a vehicle. It was a 3.5 hour drive from Key West. Drive going up wasn't too bad. But after the long day, and then having to drive back myself in my car because he was driving his new vehicle, I was miserable. My feet and legs were very swollen and the back pain was horrible. So going even further along....not so sure. I definitely wouldn't if it were me. It was hard enough at barely 34 weeks. But that's just me.

maganonymous

I would go! I am going 1600 miles on Friday (33w4d) and coming back that 1600 at 34w5d. I say as long as your doctor is fine with you going, I see no reason not to. Mine just made sure that they printed out my chart for me to take with just in case for any reason I should go into labor while on vacation, the doctors at whatever hospital I end up at will have the details

Missfunball

Depends on the traffic  

If I felt good about it (like right now I wouldnt because of my cold) I would go, but it would be tentative with no guarantee.

Best of luck deciding!

LoveMoose85

I'm also going to be making about a 4 hour trip that same weekend at 35 weeks along. I'm not really worried about the early labor part, but more along the lines of being really uncomfortable in the car. I'm also going because I booked a Valentines gig (playing in a bar) for about three hours. I just sit on a stool and sing pretty much, but I"m starting to think I was crazy!!

megs68

I'd go. I am traveling 350+ mi at 32 weeks and 250 at 33 weeks. I don't expect to have any issues and if I do, there are hospitals where I'm going that I'd be comfortable delivering at if it was an emergency. Assuming you're low risk, you're likely still 5-6 weeks out from delivering. Now the comfort level of sitting in the car plus a convention is something you'll have to determine on your own, but I personally wouldn't be concerned with the drive or traveling far from home at that point.

beautifuldreamer1234

I'd go as a last hurrah so long as everything is going well. 

clo1982

I would go as long as you haven't had any signs of pre-term labor or other complications. I wouldn't leave the country or anything, but DC I would be OK with. As far as comfort, yeah you aren't going to be super comfortable...but at the same time, you arent' going to be super comfortable sitting at home either. So you may as well do something fun that you have been looking forward to that will help take your mind off of it. Maybe just do what others have said and look into nearby hospitals, just for that in-case type scenario. I know it technically 'can' happen where you give birth at 35 weeks, and seeing the announcements start to pop up on our board makes it a lot more real. But the vast majority of pregnant women will not have that experience. So basically don't lock yourself in the house for what could easily be 5-7 weeks (if you aren't being scheduled) on the thought that you could give birth at any minute.

BabyVDM

Nope.

I wouldn't.  I drove to a wedding in a nearby town a couple of weeks ago which is roughly 1 1/2 hours away.  It was snowy and roads were bad so it took a little longer when we drove.  I was so uncomfortable and miserable.

Also, with the number of examples of surprise early arrivals I wouldn't want to risk it.

I  know some peeps are saying, hey what's the worst thing that can happen?  So you deliver with strange ob/gyn and in a strange hospital big deal.  Uh... I'm thinking, if you deliver early at 35 weeks chances are baby will have to be in NICU for some time.  Like Zachary who arrive at 6lbs at 34 weeks.  How are you going to manage that?  3 hours away from home for possible weeks with a baby in NICU. 

Not worth the risk as far as I am concerned.  Besides, why couldn't you go next year with baby?  You could dress him up like Beelzebub and have a hoot. 

kimberpoo

I would go as long as I was feeling good, but I'd mark on the map where the hospitals are along the way just in case.

pepperedmoth

@babyvdm, the hospital I'm at, they'll life-flight stranded patients to a hospital closer to home, at least at that distance. So we'll fly folks to Montreal , Boston, Albany, or NYC generally. At least in my experience!

SurpriseAt39

I say, if you are feeling fine, go.

I went that far last baby at 37.5 weeks for my dad's birthday party.
I wouldn't have gone without DH though.

CactusGirl

I would go. However, I drive a lot and 150 miles doesn't seem that big of a deal (although I wouldn't do much more than that). Just make sure you know where the nearest hospital is just in case!

ladyglittersparkles

I would go. I drive a lot do 150 miles doesn't seem bad

BrideNamedMeg

I would go.  I drove just over two hours (per way) last weekday for my cousin's 1 year old's birthday party.  Wasn't the most fun thing I've ever done and I was achy by the end of the day with a four hour round trip, but it was NBD.  

amandaluff

MH and I are currently 3 hours from my dr at the beach and I am 35.5 weeks. We know where all the hospitals are at along the way just in case something happens. We just wanted one last weekend alone and this was the only time for it.