Travel 2 weeks before due date

Knottie83732320 · April 2016

I know every pregnancy is different but I thought I would ask. So I have a cousin getting married about 2 weeks before I'm due and it's a 3 hour drive. I don't know if I should respond yes or no to the invitation because I was told I shouldn't travel more than an hour away from my doctor starting at 32 weeks but I know plenty of women are active and out and about up until they go into labor. I don't really know how I will feel at that point but it would be nice to see family I haven't seen in awhile!

tgortney · April 2016

Honestly, I would say no. I actually had a wedding to go to at 36 weeks and my doctor said that should be the last time I'm more than 1 hour away from the hospital. If you are willing to give birth in that area, then take your hospital bag with you and know where the closest hospital is. Otherwise, it's not a good idea. My hospital does not stop labor after 38 weeks.

goldie987 · April 2016

If your doctor said no, I think that kind of should be the main ruling on the matter.

Personally, I have decided to not travel anywhere over an hour away that I would be unwilling to deliver and stay if the baby needed assistance after birth. I'm passing up some family events at 31-33 weeks but I would rather be safe than risk ending up with a baby in the nicu hours away from home.

J1D · April 2016

I was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia at 38 weeks and was told to go straight to the hospital and at the hospital they almost immediately started to induce me, didn't even wait to get me up to a room. So in my case traveling would have been very bad.
That's no way to know how you will be at 38 weeks, but I know for me I ended up not going to a wedding at 37 weeks because it was an hour away and I couldn't go that long without needing to pee and it hurt too much to be in a car that long. 3 hours in a car would have been torture and we would have had to stop so I could pee at least 3-4 times.
I would say it's not a great idea to commit to something that far away when you are that far along.

ecwk · April 2016

I was told I shouldn't travel more than an hour away from my doctor starting at 32 weeks

Who told you this?

saladflambe · April 2016

I would not, and I'm pretty liberal with the traveling

lm45678 · April 2016

If your doc says no, go with what they say.

I know I'm traveling 3 hours away at 34 weeks and then staying close to home after that.

AdorkablePixie · April 2016

I agree with PPs, if your doctor said no, then don't do it. I won't even be traveling the 50 minutes away to see my mom when I am that far along unless DH can go with me.

Knottie13257900 · April 2016

Well of course your doctor is going to tell you that you shouldn't risk giving birth anywhere other than THEIR hospital. I plan to travel up until 38 weeks (I have to for work). I'm not asking my doctor. There are hospitals in the places I go, so if I go into labor, I'll be fine. I certainly hope not to, but it's not the end of the world. I'm not going somewhere that's not close to a hospital...

SherlockedMom · April 2016

Also, the hospital you go to may not be in network with your insurance. Hello gigantic bill.

Jheaps · April 2016

For what it's worth, I live two hours from the hospital where I will be giving birth and actually relocated to a different city at 36 weeks so I can be closer to the hospital for the end of my pregnancy. Granted, my little guy has some special circumstances that need immediate attention, but 2 weeks is really close to your due date. On the April board, tons of moms have given birth before 38 weeks.

adiaz132003 · April 2016

I would say no. Even at 32 weeks even short car rides feel terrible. I turned down a trip to NYC cause my Floridian cousin, who has never been up north before, wants to see it but even 1 1/2 hours is just too far so I told my dad to take her. Better safe than sorry. Send a card/gift if you want but at 38 weeks I'm sure they will totally understand.

AOliveira11 · April 2016

Hey ladies. Fairly new to the third tri boards. 31 weeks here. The farthest i'm willing to travel at this point is 45 mins away which is basically work. The way i see it, if my water was to break or i was to go into labor, im hoping i have time to either get home or have my hubby come get me and take me to the hospital. Wishful thinking, but so far thats the plan

goldie987 · April 2016

If you do go, PLEASE get copies of all of your records from your doctor so that, if you do deliver, you don't end up having to get all sorts of tests redone.

One thing to also keep in mind, many venues require a final head count and payment 2-4 weeks out from the event. If you go early, it is unlikely that your spots could be refunded. Just something to think about.

delujm0 · April 2016

I went to my sister's wedding, which was 10 days before i was due, out of state. because i was too far along to fly, we had to drive - 10 hours each way. I was the MOH.

I have a friend in the town where the wedding was held that is an OBGYN. I checked my insurance and she was in-network. I spoke to her, and she said of course, if the worst was to happen, she could deliver my baby. I had a very straight-forward, low risk pregnancy.

I scheduled my weekly OBGYN appointment for the day before we left. I asked her what she thought. She said i wasn't dilated at all yet, nothing looked eminent, and as long as i was comfortable with the possibility of delivering a baby away from home, to go ahead and go. We drove 10 hours there, stayed in town for 36 hours, and then drove 10 hours back. It was uncomfortable but otherwise fine. I had the baby 8 days after we got back, at 39+6.

This is not a good idea for everyone, and if my doctor had specifically told me not to go i would not have gone. but she gave me the go-ahead so i took the chance and went. That said, i probably wouldn't chance it again, and if the wedding had been for anyone other than my only sister, i probably would have declined. That drive was hellacious.

mclorn · April 2016

Like @Sgoldberg247touched on, you should consider the bride, etc and the chance of you bailing last minute. I would RSVP no, and IF your doctor says it's fine and you are comfortable going last minute, then go to the ceremony and part of the reception that does not require a final head count or associated cost. That way you can keep your options open without a formal commitment and potentially still see family!! My cousin did this for my wedding and I thought it was very nice, honest, and reasonable of her!

marajay6 · April 2016

PugLoveBug said:

Yes, because the other hospitals won't have access to your medical records, including RH status, recent LAB work, GBS status, and your general over all prenatal health.
That's why it's a big deal. That staff will be in a sense, working blind.

When I chose to travel 4 hours away for a funeral at 37 weeks, my doctor gave me a copy of all my prenatal records just in case I had to go to a different hospital. I had an OB appointment a couple days before the trip and thoroughly discussed the trip with my doctor. I feel like I made a well informed decision and I was willing to accept the risks. That said, if I were OP, I am not too sure I would travel for a wedding.

Knottie83732320 · May 2016

I had switched practices at about 28 weeks because I moved so it was my first OB that told me she doesn't recommend that I travel more than an hour away from the hospital after 32 weeks, and she had said this the day my pregnancy was confirmed so very early on, I asked my new OB about this and she was completely fine with me traveling since it's a car ride not an airplane ride. My pregnancy has been completely complication free and now we are almost a week to the wedding and I really don't think my little girl will be here anytime soon. My insurance is really great so I wouldn't have an issue with going to the hospital if I did end up going into labor 3 hours away.

AdorkablePixie · May 2016

Knottie83732320 said:

I had switched practices at about 28 weeks because I moved so it was my first OB that told me she doesn't recommend that I travel more than an hour away from the hospital after 32 weeks, and she had said this the day my pregnancy was confirmed so very early on, I asked my new OB about this and she was completely fine with me traveling since it's a car ride not an airplane ride. My pregnancy has been completely complication free and now we are almost a week to the wedding and I really don't think my little girl will be here anytime soon. My insurance is really great so I wouldn't have an issue with going to the hospital if I did end up going into labor 3 hours away.

Enjoy the wedding!!

I'm 3 days from my due date and I don't see my LO coming anytime soon either.

clairemwalker · May 2016

If it was me i would plan to go. If something happens on the day/close to the time im sure your cousin would understand. In saying that though thats just me. You do whatever you feel comfortable. I went 4 hours away from my hospital when i was 36 weeks, but i was okay with the unlikely event of going into labor. If you hate the thought of a long car ride in early labor, or the slight possibility that you may have the baby out of town, then dont go.

Alygohome · May 2016

I was induced at 35 weeks so no, I wouldn't travel. we had to stay at the RMH anyway since we lived in a small town but it would have been nice to be at a nicu close to home/family

BumpasaurusRex · May 2016

Eh, I wouldn't go and I wouldn't think twice about it.

Things don't happen until they do. There is no way to know if any complications will pop up and you could be completed closed up one day and dilated the next. Pregnancy is unpredictable and unfortunately, it's tough to schedule things when you're so close to the end. Having great health insurance doesn't mean it will be in-network at every hospital. I'd scout the local hospitals in the area and call your insurance provider to triple check.

However, it's your call. Just be sure you've done all your research and prep if you do decide to go and hope baby stays put.

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