Traveling Late

Cocobeee

DH and I really want to go have a relaxing weekend in Miami which is 2.5 hours away. If we go, it will be around 35-37 weeks. I know my OB will probably say no. I called my insurance and found out I am covered and it will be the same price ($0) to give birth here or in an out of network hospital anywhere in the US. I would completely trust another hospital's OB to deliver me. Is this irrational?? Would you trust a random on call OB to deliver you? DH has been out of town for a month for work and I would really like some R&R time with him before the baby comes.

Cocobeee

piffle42:

Talk to your OB.  2.5 hrs isn't really that far, but you may not be comfortable sitting in the car that long.  You'd probably have better luck going closer to 35 weeks in terms of getting your OB's blessing.  If you did deliver and were out of town, would you have a car seat and baby stuff with you just in case?

Yes, a car seat and baby stuff would be important to pack

[Deleted User]

You couldn't pay me to go on vacation that late in the game. That being said, talk to your OB, if they are okay with it and you are comfortable, go for it.

milkandhoney77

I am also traveling about 2.5 hours at just about 38 weeks. My OB wasn't thrilled about it but I figure if I go into labor my husband can come get me and drive me home and we should make it to the hopsital with plenty of time.

turtlerun

Honestly, if you have your baby stuff and you know it won't cost you anything I would go for it.  It is no differrent having a new OB deliver your baby than a random on call OB that most of us will probably get.  (At least I had an OB last time that was in my practice that I never saw... same thing to me)  I would only be concerned if you have some weird medical things going on that they don't know about.  Maybe you can get a copy of your medical records from your OB to take with you just in case?

Mrs.RockyM

I wouldn't.  I know that far along I'd be much more comfortable being in my own bed, in my own house, just relaxing - maybe you can make it a staycation with DH!

schafer17

My doctor did not like that I'm going out of town for a wedding reception next weekend which will put me at 36 weeks.  She told me no more after that!  Plus, I love my doctor and really wouldn't want any other person delivering my baby if I had a choice.  I will say that I had to travel last weekend for another wedding reception and stayed in a hotel with a rock hard bed and am still dealing with the back pain a few days later.  It's just not worth it to me. 

Mrs.G123

My doctor played such a key role in DD's birth... I wouldn't want some random doc delivering me. That said, I would go at 35 weeks but not at 37.

lady dixneuf

I probably wouldn't if my OB said no but I am like that. I also have been working with them the whole time, etc. That said, if you feel ok with it and are prepared...

what about things like a 2.5 hour drive with a newborn to come home, people visiting you in the hospital, etc.? What if you forgot something in your bag, I dunno...I mean, I guess it can all be worked out too.  

AnotherPreggo

I'd do it! Not saying it isn't irrational... but who the heck cares? If you are fine with possibly having an OB that you don't know, and your insurance will still be covering it, I see no issue.    All in favor.

nycgirl88

I was supposed to attend a wedding 5 hours away at 36 weeks. My OBGYN told me he was fine with it as long as I had insurance (the wedding is in the states) and I brought my pre-natal paperwork.  Unfortunately, my insurance won't cover me so, I can't go. Definitely talk to your doctor. It's worth asking!  

Don't Hassle the Hoff

I am traveling 4 hours away this weekend at 34.5 weeks and didn't even think twice about it (and didn't even ask my OB). The way I look at it is, if it were a real emergency, even if I was sitting in my house and something happened I wouldn't be traveling the 45 minutes to the hospital I am going to deliver at anyway. I would be going 2 minutes up the road to the hospital near my house. So being 4 hours away, I would do the same thing...find the nearest hospital.

If I go into labor 4 hours away from home, we're just planning on leaving right away and heading to our hospital. I think if I were home and went into labor (non emergency situation) I would end up hanging out at home for more than 4 hrs before going to our hospital anyway. It makes little difference.

Re: trusting someone else to deliver your baby...totally, as long as you don't have very, very specific demands you've worked out with your normal OB already. There are like 8 possible doctors who could delivery this baby, so the chances of my OB being on call the day/night I go into labor is slim. I've never met any of the other OBs, so being in a totally foreign hospital wouldn't make much different either.

That said, the above only applies if you've had a very uneventful pregnancy. If there were any complications that came up before now, I probably wouldn't.

valkyriemama

I personally wouldn't do it, but I know for me the last few weeks of pregnancy are miserable.  I've had an 8 week no farther than an hour limit imposed on me this time so I'll have to miss my mom's 60th, but I'd rather be near the hospital I've chosen to deliver at rather than taking a chance.

MaraBelle28

I went to Disney World 34-35 weeks with all three pregnancies. (Im going week after next and I will be 34 weeks. It's 4 hours away for me. Im not at all worried. However, there is a professional conference that I have attended every year for the past 6 years and I can't go this year bc I will be 38 weeks. It is literally the weekend before my c-section. I would end the conference and give birth 5 days later. THAT is a little out of my comfort zone!