Would you...

ready-or-not · April 2014

Go on an 8 mile canoe run at 7 1/2-months pregnant? At about 2 hours away from your chosen hospital?

theseaword · April 2014

If forced at gunpoint, I guess. That sounds like my version of hell. But I'm not athletic. And I chafed like a motherfucker while pregnant.

[Deleted User] · April 2014

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shadypines · April 2014

Nope

Nada

Hell now

Negative

Maebb · April 2014

I probably wouldn't because with DS I went from zero contractions and no dilation or any signs that he'd be coming soon to baby in my arms all within 6 hours. He was only 5 days before his due date, but my doctor was hesitant to give me permission to fly after 32 weeks, so a canoe run might be a similar thing because of not being able to get immediate medical attention.

If you feel good and have done canoe runs before and have a plan for what to do if you start having a medical concern halfway through, do whatever you're comfortable doing. Is it 2 hours from any point during the canoe run to the nearest hospital or 2 hours once you get back to the car? That's the part that would concern me.

ready-or-not · April 2014

For the most part you can float the current but there are a couple dead spots I'd have to paddle. I'm more worried that we'd flip at the wrong spot & I'd get pushed into a river rock or fallen tree or something. Hasn't happened b4 but Murphy's law & all. Probably a solid hour & half from any hospital I'd want to deliver in.

shadypines · April 2014

Do you have to go?

NarwhalBacon · April 2014

Hell to the no

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ready-or-not · April 2014

2 hours from the car & probably an hours worth of getting me off the water & back to a car if anything happened. Now that I've said it (or typed it) out loud it kinda sounds like a stupid idea. Its just one of my most favorite summer activities & I hate missing out on it....but all for a good cause I guess! I could probably find a closer, shorter run if I looked around some....

ToastieSimons · April 2014

With ds1, heck no. At 7 months I started swelling so badly. I couldn't even sit through church because my ankles would start feeling they would explode so a few hours in by canoe with bent knees, heck no. I ended up getting induced early for preeclampsia so my swelling was pretty extreme. With ds2, sure. I moved a few days before he was born, it was over 100 degrees and I still had to care for ds1. I was fine.

RondackHiker · April 2014

I love to canoe. I can see why you're tempted. I'd lean towards no.

Part of that is being involved in a water rescue when my mom was injured. Traumatic doesn't begin to describe it. Getting someone out of the water and to the shore is a bitch. I've also been involved in a few backwoods rescues. Again, no fun.

Now my anxiety is showing there. Pregnancy and labor isn't an injury. You wouldn't be passive and could participate if needed in your rescue by paddling ashore or walking out.

If you go, I'd study maps carefully. Know other exit points along the paddle route. Logging roads, parks, beaches, camps, access roads, etc. Even in very rural areas there's often SOMETHING. Make sure you wear a life jacket and have your phones charged up and maps so you can desribe exactly where you are if you need to dial 911. If you've got a gps (not the car kind) or can borrow one I'd do that so you can give precise coordinates.

It's do-able and not that silly, depending on your pregnancy and the river and the area. Is there ANY hospital closer? I know it may not be ideal but any port in a storm. Know where they are.

Oh and if you do it, buy a cushy canoe seat so you're not miserable!

ready-or-not · April 2014

Whoever said they couldn't hold their pee that long, silly girl, you pee in the river lol (showing my redneck side tonight!) Also this isn't my 1st baby, it's my 4th, & although the first 3 were all born past their due dates you just never ever know. I've had no complications with any of my pregnancies (knock on wood & thank you God), so I'm not too worried about that aspect. But again, ya never know.

I know the run pretty well, I've done it several dozen times over the years. We usually stop a lot to get out & swim/play/strech/eat. There are access roads (farms on either side of the river) & i'm sure a closer hospital if i had to go that route....I guess I'll just have to play it by ear & see how I'm feeling when the time comes. There's a group of us girls that always go & make a day of it & it's sooooooo nice being on the river with no responsibilities & no worries & nothing to do but laugh & talk smack lol