traveling with a newborn

[zarapipe]

This all seems to premature but registration for summer camps for DD1 is in two weeks so I need to get my ducks in a row. I'm not going to register and pay (non-refundable) for camps if she will not attend. 

I'm due with baby #3 July 17th. School for DD1 starts August 19th. All of my family lives in Pennsylvania, including two grandmas who are 89 and 93 years old. By the time August comes it will have been almost 2 years since I've been home. It seems like a good plan to travel back to PA right before school starts with all three kids. Here is what I'm thinking.

My parents will be driving down to NC to visit the baby after it is born. I'm toying with the idea of them taking the two oldest (9 and 4yo) back with them, about a week before school starts, like August 10 or so? Let the girls hang out in PA, visit with cousins, etc. My parents are retired and can watch them for a few days. Then, baby and I would fly up to PA a few days later. Me and the three kids would stay at my parents house, visit family, etc. and then fly back down to PA. A return ticket for me and baby, and two one-way tickets for the older girls. 

Is this crazy thinking of flying/traveling with a 3-4 week old? I know I could be overdue, but honestly, at this point I'm all game for an induction. I've had 2 due to late babies, and I respond well. My doctor has already told me if it is easier to schedule child care, etc. she would support an elective induction. I can't believe I'm on board with this, but by July 17th I know I'm going to be d.o.n.e. 

[vamoose]

Does your school have any fall breaks when you could make the trip? It is certainly possible at that age, but it will be HARD. I just had my third (she is eight weeks old) and at 3 weeks, we were getting out every day, but by the end of lunch and an errand l, I was totally exhausted, lol. Taking care of the baby and making sure to give plenty of attention to the older kids takes up a lot of my energy. It sounds like you have great support and help from your parents, so I think you could make it work, but I also think it would be a lot more enjoyable if you waited two months.

[notsopicky]

I traveled w/ my newborn at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks. It was fine. The first time I had H with me, and the second time I had my mom with me. Do you think the 9 year old will be able to "help" the 4 year old (I'm thinking through security and the like) while you are tending to the baby? That would really be my only concern. I flew w/ E at 6 months by myself, and it was HARD getting through security--I was in Charleston, SC and thank God for some ultra-kind TSA agents who kept me from losing my shit on everyone--trying to wrangle the stroller and my bag, and the diaper bag, and him, and my shoes, and my electronics--I almost cried. In fact, I think I did cry with relief once I got to the gate because I was so grateful that those guys (it was three guys, lol) helped me and my boy.

[Susie]

Honestly I think making any concrete plans for 3-4 weeks postpartum is too soon.  I'm due 6/5 and not committing to anything one way or another that's before 4th of July.  Even if the baby is on time, at 3-4 weeks pp last time, I was still bleeding pretty heavily, we were still doing weight checks at the pedi, we were still going to the pedi for an umbilical stump that hadn't come off, I wasn't sleeping all that much, we were still getting the hang of BFing... and only some of that will be easier on subsequent times around, other stuff is particular to a kid you haven't met yet.

If I had to go somewhere for a family emergency at 3-4 weeks that's one thing, but just for a visit?  No.  There are other times and other ways, and I would figure out how to go that route instead.  We did our first road trip with DD when she was 7 or 8 weeks, and that was the earliest I felt up to it.  I was glad not to have the pressure of previously purchased tickets and a previously decided schedule.

[noodleoo]

I wouldn't do it. Or if you do, buy the "cancel for any reason" trip insurance. At 3 weeks postpartem I had some major, crazy bleeding that was super scary (huge amounts, had to call the on call OB at midnight and I really should have gone to the ER). I also got mastitis. Thank goodness my mom was visiting me so she took care of DD1, cooked and cleaned for me, and helped me get to the OB twice in one week. There is no way I would have been up for any kind of traveling, let alone with 3 kids. The baby is actually the easy part, the issues were more my own health and taking care of DD1. And honestly, I would not travel through an airport or on a plane with a 3-4 week old. Local trips, target, etc were fine but airplanes are way too big germ factories. It would scare me too much. I'd also be paranoid to be the only adult with 3 children that soon after delivery.

So many reasons, I think this is a bad idea. And I had a super fast, easy delivery this time around. I actually felt really good weeks 1-2, it was weeks 3-6 that were much harder for some reason.

[megamous]

We traveled with ds at 3 weeks. It was a 6 hour drive and a 3 hour flight, then back again. He was fine. Slept most of the time, so he was easy. It was not so easy for me. Getting through the airport was hard on my body and I bled a lot (I did have a third degree tear and an episiotomy though). It was probably enough blood that I probably should have gone to the doctor, but we were far away. Once we got there, we had lots of family help, but getting there was tough. If you have had easier births than me, and have been able to get around after birth pretty well, you will probably be fine.

[humpforfree]

Don’t forget you will still be recovering & what that means for air (any?) travel. With E I was still bleeding/hemmies, etc until 5-6 weeks out. Like I had 2-3 shelves of “supplies” I had to use every time I went to the bathroom. You might have to be prepared to carry all that nonsense onto the plane and bathrooms. Other than that aspect I would have been okay with travel after either kid, especially if you are nursing and don’t need to worry about bottles/formula/water. Is that flight like 2-3 hours for you?

[Mrs.flang]

I think it’s probably doable it just seems sooo stressful. Especially with two other kids and no other adult, although I guess the 9 year old could be helpful?

We did a 6+ hour road trip with DD1 at 7 weeks and she was a difficult baby and it was tough but flying probably would have made it easier.

Have you talked to the doctor about traveling that early? I thought before the 2 month vaccines you risk some chance of illness and I’m not sure if there are any guidelines about that and airplanes.

[zarapipe]

Thanks guys. I appreciate your thoughts. I think maybe it’s best to just not sign her up for camps and play it by ear. She can always stay home with me that week which she may enjoy. My transition to 1-2 was pretty easy so I think I just think it will be the same this time. It could be horrible going from 2-3.

[cricketwife]

I would do it. iI would rather be where there are people who can take care of/ entertain my older two, rather than stuck at home with all three. Even if you send them to camps, you have to pack all the lunches, have everyone ready and out the door. That sounds a lot harder than visiting family to me. And you have the added bonus that this plan gives you a few days of just you and your newborn without the older ones. I think flying up will be easy, flying home may not be, but you will survive. Is it a nonstop flight? assuming it’s nonstop, its a short flight and it’s not a time of year when people tend to be sick. I would do it.

Also, fwiw, I was 10 when my little brother was born and I was sooo helpful. My mom would say that too 😉.
Hopefully you will be to rely on your 9 yo.

[larzhope]

I traveled with my 4.5 week old on a flight from SEA to PHX (2 hrs), then we flew again at 6 weeks from SEA to DTW (5 hours). it was easy! so easy! she slept the whole time or nursed. it has gotten so much harder now that she is on the cusp of mobile and curious about everything. As long as you have support and have a good game plane for what you are going to bring vs buy, check vs carry on, you'll be all set! feel free to pm if you have questions/need travel tips.

ETA: I missed the part about flying back with all 3 kids by yourself. that's the only part that gives me pause. that is a lot to manage for one person. The baby will be the least of your concerns.

[dontlook]

I would do it only if I had a lot of help once I got to my destination and it sounds like you will. My kids are similar ages and I would do this in a heartbeat. I would be absolutely spent by the time I got there but that happens at the end of every day anyways.

[brooklyn]

I would not want to fly alone with so many kids so soon after giving birth.

Also, my pedi does not recommend air travel until after the 2 month shots.

[sillygoosegirl]

I think I'd do it, assuming you are comfortable breastfeeding in front of people. For me, the challenges of the early weeks mostly came down to being exhausted from lack of sleep and boredom/loneliness of a baby who wanted to nurse about 18 hours per day and be held all the rest of the time... and being stuck at home for all that just felt like it was making me more miserable than I would have been if I'd had somewhere to go and people to talk to while I was stuck on the couch.

[lacey]

We traveled at 10 weeks with both of my kids and think it's a fantastic time to travel, but I think 3-4 weeks is too soon. I was still uncomfortable at 3 weeks. From a logistical perspective I would consider it if my husband could come to wrangle the other kids on the way home and be the pack mule for the luggage and stuff, but my pediatrician also did not recommend air travel until after the 8 week shots.

[namasteak]

I would not travel with a 3-4 week old. Even if you aren’t overdue the hormone crash around week 3 is rough.

[dcn]

We flew with ds2 when he was 3 weeks old but only bc MIL was in the hospital and then passed away. I wouldn’t have done it for just a visit. The baby was fine, he was happy to chill in the K’tan, but it was exhausting for me. And H was with his mom 24/7.

[hopecounts]

Doable but hard and with the current measles outbreaks I’d be very nervous flying a newborn around in the Petri dish that is a plane.

I’d opt for a fall break or T’giving trip unless time is critical

[miamigirl]

I wouldn’t. It sounds really stressful. Baby won’t have its vaccines and you’ll still be recovering.

[moonriver]

I flew with my son at around 6 weeks I think? It was right after he had his first round of vaccines, which was the recommendation of our pediatrician. I wouldn’t fly before starting vaccines (this is assuming you vaccinate, I guess).

Another consideration: if you’re having a boy, and having him circumcised, that might happen around 2-3 weeks pp. We had some minor complications with our sons circ (it turned out to be nothing, but there was a lot more bleeding than I expected/than what they said there would be) and we took him back to the dr a couple of times after it. I wouldn’t have wanted to be away from the pediatrician so soon.

[steamboat185]

I traveled at 6 weeks with both kids and it was fine, however when we booked the flight my kiddo was supposed to be 8 weeks old. I’d be nervous that if the baby comes a little late the timeline will be even shorter and you are flying with a 2 week old baby.

[aprilsails]

I had retained product and hemorrhagic bleeding that started at 3 weeks and took a week of going to the hospital and trying solutions before I got a D&C. Week 3-4 was worse than any other part of my recovery. So yeah, I would not be travelling in that time period.

[Shreddingbetty]

We flew with DD at 10 days old because my SD was graduating high school. I actually had a scheduled induction because of that ( in retrospect that was a blessing as I ended up with HELLP syndrome without any symptoms) . The reason was two fold. I wanted to be sure to deliver before graduation (I was due The Weeknd of) because I did not want to deliver on my own obviously and Xh could not miss the graduation for obvious reasons. We figured worst case I will at least have had the baby and stay home while he goes to graduation out of state. But I felt fine and so I went with. I had had very little bleeding...until I set foot on the plane. I started bleeding heavily and my XH had to put an IV in me on the plane (he is a doc) and they were ready to divert. I ended up having a D&C on our layover in Chicago (ended up staying one night in the hospital and one night in hotel before continuing on and making it to the graduation just on time). DD was totally fine. I felt totally fine until I started bleeding. They had recommended that I go back home but either way it was a 2 hour flight and I figured it would be better to be with my XH than fly home by myself. And they have hospitals in Maine after all. It worked out fine and I didn’t do much that week because I was pretty weak/tired from the blood loss (i ended up with a blood transfusion and almost a hysterectomy since I continued to bleed still after the D&C) and the way back went smoothly.
I think if you plan on doing it I would definitely be sure that you can cancel your flight. You never know what happens. Plus if you end up with an unexpected c section they may not want you to fly because you’re not supposed to do much for 6 weeks so wrangling 3 kids through the airport probably isn’t recommended. Or maybe you can just send your oldest with grandma and have her fly back as a UM. She may think that’s cool to get GM to herself for a week.