How late is too late to travel in the third trimester?

gadzooks_3 · June 2016

Any STM have advice on this (others wel come too) - when in your pregnancy would be too late to travel by car about 6 hours away from home?

Background: My Mom and a friend are throwing a baby shower for me at my Mother's which is one state over, about a 6 hour drive. They have been trying to set a date and my sister would like to come out from across the country, which is sweet. But she keeps shifting on the date and hasn't bought tickets. The date keeps getting pushed back. We settled on end of June so she could bring my niece after school gets out. But, she never bought tickets, so now she wants it to be 4th of July weekend as the tickets are cheaper. That will be 36 weeks for me. Baby is measuring big, and that late in term makes me a little nervous. I also wonder whether my other friends will all have plans, but that is secondary.

She just brought this up and needs to make a decision ASAP or ticket prices will go up.

Has anyone travelled that late in their pregnancy? Am I worrying for no reason?

Curls919 · June 2016

It's not 6 hours but my bff just travelled to a wedding 4 hours away last weekend. Her c section is scheduled for next Monday. She brought the car seat and her hospital bag just in case and her SIL planned to just call her own OB if my friend went into labor while she was there.

How the baby measures doesn't really matter much, I've found. I had DS at 36+3 and he was small. There are other people with big babies that go full term.

Just be prepared and have a backup plan and I'm sure you'll be fine.

lblu43 · June 2016

I would suggest discussing this with your doc. At 36wks I can imagine a car trip will be more uncomfortable than anything. How far is the hospital and do you have a contingency plan for labor? Personally the last thing I'd want to deal with are just the unknowns- (Hospital route/time of travel/ who is driving/ where are the cleanest bathrooms/ road food options....). But then I am also a planner.

We live an hr away from both of our hospital options so car travel is already a factor in our birth plan. With DS it wasn't as much as an issue (2days of labor). They say 2+ babes though typically come quicker.

bearsandbeets7 · June 2016

The main thing when traveling by car is making sure you stop plenty and walk around, get the blood flowing, taking plenty of bathroom breaks, and drinking plenty of water. My doctor told me this when I was pregnant with DD and going to the beach.

KMeredith82 · June 2016

I just asked my dr about this at my last appointment as I work on projects throughout my state, and sometimes need to drive to mtgs a couple hours away. She suggested that I go no more than an hour from home (and hospital) after 35 weeks.

kwilliams3402 · June 2016

My OB has told me no more than an hour away after 36 weeks, and I too travel routinely for work. I've got to say though, at 30 weeks a trip to the airport for a 1 hour plane ride makes me tired and feels like an ordeal just with getting through the airport, etc, and I get uncomfortable about 3 hours into a 4 hour drive, even with breaks. I can't imagine wanting to travel past 36 weeks when already it seems to be a bother at 30 weeks, frankly!

Its really nice that they want to throw you a shower, but I'd really push to have it before 36 weeks. Blame not wanting to have to cancel if something comes up with your pregnancy that leaves you unable to travel, which I feel like is an increasing risk with every week further you go towards the due date. I insisted on having my out of town (4 hours away) shower before 36 weeks, which would be about July 10, and was so glad we had it last weekend and didn't wait.

Nikkoli98 · June 2016

I'm planning to travel by car 6 hours from home between 34 and 35 weeks, but I won't be driving alone. That part would make a difference in my comfort level. I might also reconsider if heading through very rural areas without hospitals. I think @Lynnlove28 made excellent points!!

gadzooks_3 · June 2016

Thank you for the responses. My spouse would be driving with me and it is to a town where I used to live so we know our way around there. But everything there is out if network for my insurance and it would be 6.5 hours home. Part of that is through desert, part mountains and a lot of rural areas. I will talk to my sister again and my Mother, maybe we can help her get the more expensive tickets a little sooner.

I am a tad annoyed she has continually put off getting the tickets and wants me to change the shower date later and later.

And I will talk to my OB Monday.

Curls919 · June 2016

I just reread your post and realized they want it that late because your sister slacked off on buying tickets. Yeah I wouldn't go that late then. I'd tell her to just buy the friggin ticket before it gets even more expensive.

kiwico14 · June 2016

Another vote for staying close at 36+ weeks. DS was born at 36 weeks, and we needed the services of the NICU. I wouldn't have wanted him born in my hometown, where they just don't have the resources/experience to handle some premie issues.

gadzooks_3 · June 2016

My sister called back today and has decided to not come out until after the baby is born. So, I can set the date for the shower a little earlier.

Thanks for all the advice!

AliKay20 · June 2016

We are planning to go to our friend's wedding in NJ on 7/9. My edd is 7/30...and it will be about a 4 hour drive from DC to NJ. I should have asked my doc at my last appt if this is okay (with frequent rest stops here & there).

I know several people who had their babies 2+ weeks before their due dates so I don't know if I should chance it, pack a hosp. bag, and car seat to our trip or just be safe and stay at home. Decisions decisions...

edited bc grammar at this late hr*

kristynmac · June 2016

We just traveled about 5 hours away this weekend and I am 30 weeks. BRING PILLOWS or whatever else you might need for sleep. I was fine with the drive, we stopped a lot (mostly because I needed bathroom breaks) and I drank a ton a water, but getting comfortable in a hotel bed was not happening. I got really lucky and after DH's second trip to to the front desk, they gave him a large stack of pillows.I was more worried about the hours in the car, that I didn't think to prepare for actually sleeping away from home. We usually spend 2-3 weekends a month on the road, but this was the first time that I have been that uncomfortable.

michelle_shelle · June 2016

I'm traveling a few hours away from home at 36 weeks to celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday. I'm not worried. I probably will have the hospital bag, and my natal papers of course just encase but I'm not worried. I agree with pp to bring wtv to make yourself comfortable.

SkiChic626 · June 2016

I definitely would not go that far away at 36 weeks. I'm going 3 hours away at 36 weeks, and it's a home away from home type of thing, but I don't think I'd venture to go further than that. If nothing else, you may find that you're extremely uncomfortable sitting in a car for that long. I would talk to you doc about it and figure out what's best for you. With DD we were invited to a wedding when I was 38w in Boston, which is about a 4 hour drive, and we opted not to go. The wedding was on June 14th, and I was admitted for induction on June 13th and had DD on June 15th soooo.....lol

Stephanie7693 · June 2016

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christineehh · June 2016

I got cleared to fly from Alabama to California right at 34 weeks, I go in about two weeks. Doctor had my cervix measured and I have one more appointment before I fly. I'm visiting family so my doctor was (reluctantly) satisfied that if I had the baby I wouldn't be on my own in the middle of nowhere. She warned of swelling and some braxton hicks. We'll see how it goes!

carstekj · June 2016

I like this thread! I'm planning on going 3 hours away (camping in a cabin) at 36 weeks. I never thought about "what if the baby comes" until DH said he doesn't want me traveling alone. He won't be with me, I'll be meeting up with my brother and his family and I'll have our 2 children. I'm scheduled for my c/section at 38 weeks and all my babies have always been big. I'm not worried too much... just about my comfort, but I don't want my comfort to come in between the fun our other 2 kids can have before having another sibling.

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