Travel restrictions in late pregnancy?

[Brie]

My EDD is September 16th. I'm hoping/planning on working up until the 14th, which is the Friday before, and then I'll be off for mat leave.

Between 38-39w, I am invited to some work events that are 1.5-2.5 hours from the hospital I'll be delivering at. They are day trips, nothing overnight, so I'd drive down in the morning, attend a 4-5 hour event, and drive home that afternoon/evening. I usually do these events alone and drive myself.

I need to RSVP soon, and I'm not sure if I should plan on going or tell my boss I'm not comfortable going and ask a CW to go in my place. (It's NBD if I do this.) So far, this pregnancy has been basically textbook and uncomplicated (knock wood).

WWMMMD?

[barefootcontessa]

Is this your first baby? If yes, then I would plan to go. I think 41 weeks is average time for FTM to go into labor and you will also probably have sufficient warning with early contrax.

[pugz]

I would plan to go but if someone HAS to be there maybe have her lined up as your backup in case you aren't feeling great.

dh is nervous about me going to LAWRENCE when I'm 38.5 weeks to see family visiting. He's all "so baby will be born in Lawrence?" Like I couldn't make the 40 minute drive back to the hospital, lol.

[Deleted]

I stopped driving to out of town work events after about 36 weeks. I definitely wouldn't sign up for anything at 38 weeks +.

You may not give birth until 40 w+, but driving gets to be less and less fun as you get huuuuuge. If it's just "events" and not things which are Mandatory, I'd skip it.

[cjeanette]

I wouldn't. You will probably not be in labor, but never know. The idea of a day trip when I was that far along sounds like hell to me. I could barely make it to work and home. I was so swollen and tired. And waddled.

[badtzmaru22]

Can yOu RSVP and send someone else at the last minute? I would have been fine to do that, but it's something you just won't know until the time comes.

[Brie]

Yeah, I suppose I should talk with my boss and CW about this. I don't like admitting I'm not Superwoman though.

It's really NBD for someone else to go, so I might just ask if we can make it a game time decision depending on how I'm feeling.

[egishere]

I would not commit to anything when you are that far along. Can you go? Probably yes but you won't feel like driving in the car that long.

[ijack]

The only thing that makes me hesitate is you going alone and driving yourself

[Ashley&Scott]

I would skip. My OB advised not to travel more than 1 hour away from my hospital after 36 weeks.

[af1212]

Jun 7, 2012 16:20:53 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

I would skip. My OB advised not to travel more than 1 hour away from my hospital after 36 weeks.

This surprises me! I know lots of people who live/work more than an hour from their hospital depending on traffic, time of day, etc.

[anna7602]

Jun 7, 2012 15:45:47 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

I stopped driving to out of town work events after about 36 weeks. I definitely wouldn't sign up for anything at 38 weeks +.

You may not give birth until 40 w+, but driving gets to be less and less fun as you get huuuuuge. If it's just "events" and not things which are Mandatory, I'd skip it.

This. I was a bridesmaid in an out-of-town wedding when I was about 34 weeks. I had my cousins drive me everywhere rather than renting a car because I just couldn't deal. Being out of town was no big deal otherwise, but the driving was something I wasn't up for.

I delivered at just over 38 weeks, so there's that to keep in mind as well.

[fortmyersbride]

Eh, I wouldn't commit to it. DS was born at 39 wks and I had a total of 4 hrs between "hmm is this labor?" to my water breaking and DS being born 20 min later. I certainly couldn't have driven myself once my labor started. This is by unusual for a first baby, but certainly not outside the range of possibility. I think I would stay closer to home after 38 wks, but that is purely anectodal to me based on when my kids were born.

[megs193]

You could ask your OB for their opinion. My ob said she would rather I not travel more than 1 hour away after 36 weeks. This is also my second baby so that may make a difference. If she is ok with it, I would go. I am almost 36 weeks and still comfortable driving, sitting or standing for at least 2 hours at a time.

[Deleted]

I would not go. I had an uncomplicated PG until 36 weeks, when I went into out-of-the-blue pre-term labor. Then again 2 weeks later. It would have been HORRIBLE to be far away from my hospital. The normal 15-minute drive was bad enough (I was bleeding profusely and worried sick I was having a m/c). It's not worth the risk. Everyone attending these work events will understand you're too PG to go. The baby has to come first, KWIM?

[minzy]

My insurance company at the time had a restriction on travel of not more than an hour from the hospital at that point in the pregnancy. Apparently, they would not have paid for the labor and delivery costs if I had to deliver at a different hospital. If your insurance has the same policy, I wouldn't go on the trip for that reason alone (though PPs have mentioned lots of other good reasons not to go).

[Becca]

I agree with the majority - I wouldn't plan on going.

[vanillacourage]

I would have been fine but every pregnancy is different. I'd tell your boss that you'd like to go but that obviously there may be circumstances beyond your control, so if they want to just plan on sending someone else at the outset you'll understand.

Eta- an hour, 1.5 hours is ok. 2.5 hours is probably more than I would have been comfortable with at 39 weeks.

[Deleted]

I had no swelling until 36 weeks. Then I was miserable. I would have been miserable sitting in the car at 38 weeks.

[Deleted]

Jun 7, 2012 20:35:33 GMT -5 minzy said:

My insurance company at the time had a restriction on travel of not more than an hour from the hospital at that point in the pregnancy. Apparently, they would not have paid for the labor and delivery costs if I had to deliver at a different hospital. If your insurance has the same policy, I wouldn't go on the trip for that reason alone (though PPs have mentioned lots of other good reasons not to go).

That would be really unusual - especially for a PPO. My insurance will cover anywhere.

[sewpinkgal]

Car trips became tough by like 36 weeks for me. Anything longer than a half hour and my back would feel horrible. I would plan to at least have a back up in case you just can't make the drive.

[nabum]

Jun 7, 2012 16:20:53 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

I would skip. My OB advised not to travel more than 1 hour away from my hospital after 36 weeks.

ditto this. I was way too uncomfortable to spend much time in a car toward the end of my pg. And I delivered at 36.5 weeks - you never know but driving 1+hours while contracting is not my idea of fun.

[lala]

Jun 7, 2012 15:53:25 GMT -5 Brie said:

Yeah, I suppose I should talk with my boss and CW about this. I don't like admitting I'm not Superwoman though.

It's really NBD for someone else to go, so I might just ask if we can make it a game time decision depending on how I'm feeling.

I would do this.

I traveled the weekend before my due date, so 39.5 weeks, 2.5 hours. No problem, cleared by my midwives. Now it was for my sister in laws wedding...so that might have made it easier to decide.

[whitterbugk]

You all have me worried now.

I'm supposed to go to a one-day conference about 2 1/2 hours away when I'm 36w6d.

My doc hasn't said anything about travel. Employers said, "If you're willing to go, we'd like for you to."

[vegas]

I had a textbook pregnancy until 34 weeks when I was put on bed rest for pre term labor. Up until that point I was working out every day and felt great. You just never know what will happen later in pregnancy. If the trip was 30-36 weeks I'd probably still go, anytime after I'd reconsider.

[froggy76]

No way would I go. And it has nothing to do with not being superwoman. Trust me, no one wants to deal with you going into labor on a work trip. I doubt your boss has made the connection.

[adamantium]

I would not commit to anything after 36 wks. Even if you are fine that is a long drive when you are tired and uncomfortable. FWIW I delivered at 39 wks w/o any indications, my water broke without contractions. Thankfully it was on a Saturday and I was not at work!