Traveling (road trip) at 33 weeks...

3timemama

We are considering going on a road trip for easter.  I will be 33 weeks along then.  The trip is about 10 hours.  What are your thoughts?  Do you think I will be able to handle the car for that long? 

joshandpanda

It is totally your call if you could handle it or not. If you do go (and dr. says its ok) just make sure you take a lot of rest stop breaks to stretch your legs use the bathroom etc. 

GL if you do take the trip! 

FizzyBride

Personally, I wouldn't have done a 10-hour road trip at 33 weeks (just a couple of weeks ago!) because I've had some pretty intense back pain whenever I'm sitting down for too long, and that's been happening since about 30 weeks or so. I doubt I'd be able to last 10 hours in a car, even with my little back-support thing! But that's me- if you aren't having any back pain, you'd probably do fine.

 There is the whole bathroom situation, though- I definitely have to go WAY more than I used to! I used to be like a camel- only having to go 2-3 times a day, and now it's at least once every 2 hours or so, which is a lot for me. So it might not be the most convenient thing in the world to be on a long car trip, but if your husband doesn't mind pulling over for frequent potty breaks, I guess you should be fine.

RaeJ004

I would not have made it that long in a car at 33 weeks.  No way.

kris_kelsey

I personally would be really physically uncomfy with that.  Sitting in the car leaves me feeling short of breath.  i think the only way it would work is if i laid on my side in the back seat so i could get good blood return and breath.  (sitting in the car just slightly reclined cuts off the blood return to my heart and upper body, hence why i feel gross and short of breath.)

Fink

joshandpanda:

It is totally your call if you could handle it or not. If you do go (and dr. says its ok) just make sure you take a lot of rest stop breaks to stretch your legs use the bathroom etc. 

GL if you do take the trip! 

This.  And FWIW, I would have been fine on a long road trip at 33 weeks.

mcdmaw

From my experience, that car trip would be miserable.  You would need to stop, stretch, and pee at least every 1.5 or 2.  It is also dependent on how big your car is.  Can you lean you seat back and elevate your legs?  Can you adjust your hips to be comfortable?

 A 1 hour car trip was uncomfortable for me at 31+ weeks (but doable).  I also delivered at 37 weeks though...

3timemama

thanks for all the replies ladies.  I am not sure how I feel about the trip.  I think I would probably be uncomfortable, not to mention I would have two toddlers in the car with me (my mom would also go on the trip).  We did this trip a few years ago when my youngest was about 10 months old, and it was hard.  Not sure I am up for it. 

FYI~the dr gave me the okay to go....they just recommended taking one baby asprin the day before and the day after the trip, as well as frequent breaks and they told me to bring along a copy of my prenatal records.

 Thanks again.

med380

I think I could have done it, as long as there were enough stops along the way to get up and walk around.  So as long as your doc is ok with it, it's your call on how comfortable you think you'll be.

 During my last pregnancy I went on a 5 hour car trip around 35 weeks for my Grandpa's funeral and I was just fine.  Obviously it wasn't 10 hours but I didn't have any issues with car travel.

llizzyb

I could have "handled" it, but I would have been miserable. My feet and ankles started swelling right at 33 weeks, so I would have needed to keep them propped up for much of the drive. Forget about helping with the driving! I also would have been then annoying passenger who goes to the bathroom every hour.

Thankfully (I guess?) I've been on travel restrictions since 24 weeks.