Traveling at 36 weeks?

carafern

Just found out DH has a conference in late October. We like to use these conferences as weekend vacations, especially since he only has stuff in the morning and it's a beautiful spot. It's at Lake Tahoe, a 4 hour drive from SF. As a FTM, I'm assuming I'll be pretty uncomfortable. It's also a much higher elevation (6,000 feet) which might make it even more uncomfortable. STM, what do you think? Would you go?

sweetbabyrahe

Ask your doctor but it sounds nice. My pregnancy is not complicated so my doctor is okay with me traveling by car the same distance to see my inlaws that late, but they want to give me some of my medical chart/paperwork copies with me in case I have to go to a hospital with a problem or in labor.

missnacholover

I'd probably be open to going as it's a driveable trip.  Have fun!

emoxymoose

My insurance won't cover anything pregnancy related after 34 weeks if I'm more than 100 miles away from my doctor/ hospital. So I'd ask your doc and see what they say, if they say go then I'd do it as it isn't that far.

ColtiersMom

My dr didnt let me travel more than 2 hours away from the hospital after 34 weeks, ask your dr.

lil_shocker

At 36 weeks I became a mother. It will all depend on how your third trimester goes and how you feel. You can tentatively plan to go, but I wouldn't assume you will make it. You will need to talk to your insurance and the area hospitals up there about what it would look liked if you go into labor. You will also want a stand in back home if he goes and you stay.

At 35 weeks we drove 4.5 hours to my in-laws because someone was on their deathbed in the family. It wasn't fun. My legs were restless, my back hurt from sitting in the seat, and you pee frequently at that point, so you better have gas stations along the way.

carcrashheart

Mine also wanted me within a two hour radius at that point. Even if that hadn't been the case I wouldn't have traveled that far. Very uncomfortable, very long car ride, plus risk of going in to labor at any day is not a good mix, IMO. With DS I woke up one morning at 36w and threw up and couldn't stop. I had to go to the ER and they admitted me and then I ended up induced. At that point in pregnancy you really have no idea what could happen.

Love4Science

I wouldn't go and I wouldn't let your DH go either.  My DH was supposed to have a conference in NYC in early October and I already told him he can't go because I'm due early November.  I just don't think it's worth the risk of him missing the birth of our first child.  Conferences come around every year.  

Also, you'll probably feel like crap going from sea level to 6000 feet.  I don't know about you, but even now I sometimes get a little out of breath just walking up the stairs (and I work out 5 days a week!), and I live near sea level.  I can't imagine what being at 6000 feet would feel like!

SweetMelissa5

I would check with your doctor, but if he's ok with it, I personally would go. With my second, we drove about six hours when I was 34 weeks, and I was totally fine. I'll also be driving two and a half hours at 35 weeks this time for an Eagles game, but I've never had any issues in late pregnancy.

ccam

I would ask your Dr.  A lot can change between now and then.

carafern

Thanks for all the input ladies! You all brought up some great points. I love that its a pretty even split of opinions.

I think the best plan, as PPs have suggested, is to wait and see and ask my Dr. DH will probably go. I didn't even think of asking him not to, but I guess he could back out if need be. I'll check with him about how important it is. So its not crucial for us to decide now. And yes, the elevation is a real concern. We went to Tahoe when I was in my first tri and even then walking around or up-stairs was rough.

We are in the middle of a move and I'll have to do an 8 hour drive next week at 24 weeks. We'll see how that goes.