Question for 2nd time moms....

deftonesangels · April 2011

I was wondering, my cousin Mason is graduating high school this year. My family lives far away from one another so I hardly see my Aunt's, Uncles, cousins, etc. In fact, it's been 2 years since I saw the Uncle and Aunt of the cousin that is graduating... And It's been over 8 years since I've seen my other 2 cousins, other Aunt and uncle. Well, the point to this is, his graduation party is in NC on July 11th... My due date is July 5th. If I deliver on time or early will I be in good enough shape to make the trip from PA to NC to see my family who will all be in NC for Masons graduation party? I would love to go and see my family while they are all in one place plus I'm afraid that's going to be the only time my family will meet my little baby boy. Do you think it can be done?

IU_baby · April 2011

You probably COULD do it, but you most likely are not going to WANT to do it. I wasn't ready to drive 1.5 hours away for my cousin's graduation party 3 weeks post-partum.

Besides, you could also go late and not deliver until the 11th. Make the plans if you really want to go, but make them so you can cancel if necessary.

Gina418 · April 2011

I gotta be honest - there is no way I would travel a week (or two) after giving birth. Not only is is a PITA to lug a newborn anywhere, it's physically tough on you too. I had a vaginal birth with ds#1 - I bled pretty heavily the first week or so and continued to bleed for over 5 weeks. The more I moved/did, the more I bled. It was sort of a messy, uncomfortable time for me.

dandi799 · April 2011

It really depends on a lot of things that you won't know about until after the baby is here. If you have an easy labor and an easy baby, it might not be a problem. If you tear moderately - severely or need a c-section and/or have a tough baby, you probably won't be okay to go.

I had a 3rd degree tear, mastitis and a very fussy baby and I just couldn't imagine going anywhere (except maybe a short walk a week after she was born.

madhatter2003 · April 2011

A week after delivery - no

LoCarb · April 2011

IU_baby:
You probably COULD do it, but you most likely are not going to WANT to do it. I wasn't ready to drive 1.5 hours away for my cousin's graduation party 3 weeks post-partum.

Besides, you could also go late and not deliver until the 11th. Make the plans if you really want to go, but make them so you can cancel if necessary.

This. Also, in addition to my body repairing itself from the delivery I was a wreck with the adjustment of a newborn and sleep deprivation.

loregopar · April 2011

do yourself a favor and don't count on it. It is suc a huge adjustment to have a baby --body healing, hormones going crazy, sleep deprivation -- I'd recommend giving yourself time for that and plan on seeing family some other time.

lilmommalcw · April 2011

I traveled a lot with my DS right after he was born. He was a great baby from the beginning, & I healed pretty fast. Even though all was well, it is really tough to travel with a newborn. Think of exploding poop, gas, inconsolable crying, trouble/uncomfortable BF in the car, not sleeping, & a healing/hurting vag. It wasn't pleasant & I wanted to rip my hair out. It was fun once I got to the places where I was going though & had no issues except the car drives. I went on one 10 hr drive(one way) when LO was 3 weeks, one when he was 8 weeks, & multiple 2 hour drives (one way) when he was 1 week old and on.

Nadiaz · April 2011

I would not plan on it. I had an unexpected c-section after induction at 41 weeks. I didn't feel like going ANYWHERE for several weeks. Even if you have a vaginal birth and/or give birth early, you do need some recovery time. It's also going to be very hot at that time of year - which may make you AND the baby pretty uncomfortable and crabby.

As far as meeting all the relatives, don't forget that your baby will not be vaccinated yet (2 month vaccinations are the ones that offer more protection). You may not want the baby around all those people at one time so early.

We christened DD at 6 weeks (we had to get it done before my brother's wedding at 8 weeks), so she didn't have her 2 month vaccines yet. This exposed her to about 50 of our relatives. DD ended up with a fever in > 100.6 (in the middle of the night of course) later that week and really scared us.

luvdv8 · April 2011

IU_baby:
You probably COULD do it, but you most likely are not going to WANT to do it. I wasn't ready to drive 1.5 hours away for my cousin's graduation party 3 weeks post-partum.

Besides, you could also go late and not deliver until the 11th. Make the plans if you really want to go, but make them so you can cancel if necessary.

This. And I COULDN'T do it. Between breast infections, repairing stitches (no way I'd sit on those for an hour) and PP bleeding I was lucky to make it to Walmart for diapers for the first month or two.

rssnlvr · April 2011

No way. I wasn't in any shape to get out and about until about 3 weeks after giving birth. And I wasn't until about 5-6 weeks that I WANTED to get out and about. Not to mention you aren't supposed to get a newborn around crowds the first 6 weeks b/c of germs.

flutenewt · April 2011

At one week post-partum, no way! If you're planning to fly, check with the airlines because some won't even let a baby on board before he's 2 weeks old (maybe they would with a doctor's note -- but good luck getting one!). And if they ask to see his birth certificate, you probably won't have it yet. I don't know how long the drive would be, but anything over 2-3 hours would be a PITA because you'll have to stop to feed and change the baby every hour or so. Add to that all the discomforts of your own recovery (plus all the potential complications that others have mentioned), and you're in for a miserable time.

Also, I went to a graduation (my own) just days after DS was born and it was absolutely crazy! It was hot and crowded, I got separated from my family, exhausted myself wandering around looking for them, DS was screaming with hunger, and I finally collapsed into a folding chair behind some bleachers to try and BF in public for the first time ever. While I won't say that I regret going, I definitely wouldn't want to do all that away from home after a long, exhausting trip!

Maybe if LO comes several weeks early you can reevaluate, but there's no way in hell I'd make that trip before LO is a month old.

ncbelle · April 2011

I wouldn't have wanted to and I had an easy L&D and quick recovery. I wouldn't feel comfortable having a newborn in a car seat for that long - not to mention how often you'd have to stop to feed baby. Plus, the idea of sitting in icky pads (sorry for the TMI!) for hours in the car - not cool.

Lisa Frank · April 2011

I'm going to say it's very unlikely. If you were to deliver on your due date, and ended up w/ a c/s for example, you will be in the hospital for 4 days.

I wouldn't plan on making the trip. You aren't going to want to that close to having a baby, trust me.

BecauseICan · April 2011

Not a chance. A week after birth I was still bleeding heavily, in pain from stitches, trying to nurse, having to go back to the pedi for weight checks for DD, horribly sleep deprived...there's no way I would've wanted to pack up and head that far out of town. Now if it were a half hour away? Maybe. But not that far. No way.

Idhreniel · April 2011

No way. I'm not particularly paranoid about germs, but assuming you were to actually give birth on your due date, we're talking about dragging a 6 day old baby from PA to NC for a party? Besides, two or three days after you get home from the hospital you are not going to be in the mood to pack up your car and drive for 8 hours, or whatever it is.

jerol · April 2011

BecauseICan:
Not a chance. A week after birth I was still bleeding heavily, in pain from stitches, trying to nurse, having to go back to the pedi for weight checks for DD, horribly sleep deprived...there's no way I would've wanted to pack up and head that far out of town. Now if it were a half hour away? Maybe. But not that far. No way.

This exactly.

aussiebabies · April 2011

I'm usually the type to say 'go for it!' to anything BUT...1 week pp I still couldnt sit in a chair to eat dinner. Don't want to scare you but chances are you'll be more sore down there than you can even imagine. A car ride could be rough. Sorry! GL.