Looking for Opinions on Whether or Not to Travel at 37 Weeks

Stay home! My former colleague near Pittsburgh tried to test it and gave birth to her second son in her company car.

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I can put myself in your shoes, up until recently, I lived in Mpls and my family 5 hours away in WI . . . and honestly, I wouldn't go - I would invite them to your home. We recently moved to the Madison area, and I was pregnant with my 3rd, we live 30 min from the hospital in Madison. My first two pregnancies, I was 2 weeks and 1 week over so fully expected this time to be the same - I delivered 2 days early and she was born an hour after we got to the hospital - it was close - don't risk it!!

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No way, I would never do it. Tell them your OB said you shouldn't go, put the blame on them. Not your fault.

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Oh I would definetly stay home. Their are just so many outcomes/scenarious to play into it that would result in a negative experience I am thinking of in my head. Best to ride it out safely in the comfort of your own home. I wouldn't risk it...Not at 37 weeks, not for anyone.

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Nope, That's a long drive. In potentially bad weather. Sounds risky.

We got stuck one Christmas when they closed the road for snow. We were lucky and just had to turn around and find a hotel for the night. If we'd gotten there a couple hours earlier, we would have joined the long line of cars who got stuck in the snow and had to spend the night in their cars, or at the red cross shelter if they were lucky enough to be found by volunteers going from car to car to walk people to the shelter. That would be no fun if you went into labor!

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I don't think you should risk it. Invite them all and if they come, they come. If not, enjoy your christmas with your family in your own home!

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My vote is you stay home. Your family should totally understand. 37 weeks is considered full term. Just because you've never gone earlier than 40 weeks before doesn't mean you won't this time. Mine were in order: 39 wks, 37 wks, 38 wks. Even if you don't deliver that early, you will likely be pretty uncomfortable by that stage. Stay home, and invite your family. If they don't come, just make it a quiet, relaxing holiday with your husband and kids. You can get back to tradition next Christmas.

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Nah.
I'd stay home.
I wouldn't push my luck.

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When I was pregnant with my son (due December 26th), I opted NOT to travel for Thanksgiving due to the fact that it was my 3rd pregnancy. With my first 2, I went past my due date, but once I was in labor with those 2, it went REALLY fast... so I wasn't taking any chances.

Personally, I say stay home, do Christmas at your house (but don't be bummed if no one shows)... you're going to be overwhelmed with family once the baby is born (and other visitors in general), so don't see it as a loss, see it as an opportunity for a little peace and quiet before baby gets here!! :)

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I agree that it's unreasonable to travel a long distance at 37 weeks. My OB said that I had to get out and walk around every half hour to prevent blood clots. That gets to be a pain on a long car ride!

Do what feels right to YOU. If I were you, I would stay home, but trust your instincts!

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I would opt to say home this year and invite anyone who would like to come to your house to do so. IMO, it's just too close to your due date.

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I wouldn't do it. If you lived in FL or Southern CA it would require me to think it out a little further. Considering where you live and how weather can get dicey quickly it's not worth it. You don't want to be stuck in a 10 car pile up with no way to get gas, take care of your kids, and worst case scenario, labor or irregular heartbeat again. Stay put, relax, and enjoy a quiet Christmas with your family. I would invite everyone to come to your house and if everyone says no so be it. No biggie. Download Skype and do your extended family Christmas that way. You'll be back on the road again next year! :)

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Our family had a Christmas like this. I was expecting, my SIL was expecting, and my niece was expecting. My dad, one of my brothers, and one of my nephews came to my house. We just made do. And the pregnant women all stayed home.

Christmas comes again next year and the next. I would stay home.

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Sorry to me this is a no brainer. Stay home! I'm surprised that your mom would even want you to consider doing this. Invite them to your home. If they can't or won't come then its on them. Congrats and Merry Christmas!

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There is no way I'm going that far from home driving 350 miles to see anyone at 37 weeks pregnant. Have a Merry Christmas tucked happily in your own home. Extend an invite you are up for company but if you are not just bow out gracefully and enjoy your Christmas.

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100 miles? Maybe, 350? NO way. Especially since you just had some problems.. and you know what your OB would say, which is why I'm guessing you're asking on here for opinions lol. Plus don't you want to deliver your baby in your city at the hospital YOU picked out? Can you imagine making that 350 mile trip back home, after getting out of the hospital? That's the way I'd look at it, I wouldn't want to deliver in an ambulance or at some random hospital and if your family can't understand that then pee on them. lol.

1 mom found this helpful

I would not travel that distance at 37 weeks and in winter weather I would think you were crazy reckless to do this. I would not invite or host christmas at 37 weeks, unless your family is willing to come and do everything from the grocery shopping to changing the sheets before they leave. I would choose to put baby first. As well, put your life first, so your older children can still have a mother. It is what it is, you're at the end of your pregnancy at Christmas. No body said having a baby wouldn't be inconvenient. I am also recalling our last cross state trip in winter weather and getting stuck for three hours on the same mile before we were turned around and had to stay overnight in a hotel because of a mountain pass closure, not to mention our car was broken into and we were driving in snow with plastic on the drivers side window. To much can go wrong when you travel.

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To be quite honest I was feeling great at 37 weeks and would not have thought twice about it... BUT I also gave birth at 37 weeks and 2 days... so if I had gone on such a long trip I would have ended up giving birth in some random hospital with some random provider... NOT what I would have wanted.

I say invite everyone to your home and otherwise just enjoy Christmas with your own little family and see your relative when baby is a few weeks old.

Good luck.

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Nope - I absolutely wouldn't travel that far by car in the winter at 37 weeks pregnant. You'd probably be absolutely fine, but that's a lot of stress on your body that you don't need just a few weeks before giving birth. And there ARE a lot of things that could go wrong. You'd end up beating yourself up if your trip jeopardized your pregnancy in any way, why take the chance?

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No! Dont travel. Stay home. It wont hurt anyone if you stay home and have Christmas at your house one year.

Sure, your mom may be disappointed, but ultimately she should care about your well-being and the well-being of her grandbaby.

There is no way I would make the trip. Have a relaxing Christmas at home this year.

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I would do it. The worst thing that could happen is that you deliever in your hometown with everyone in your family close by. :) How would that be so bad?

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Personally, I wouldn't. All mine came at or before 37 weeks and were really fast labors. You just never know. I'm sure a low key Christmas at home would be nice!

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Every delivery is different. My first came 2 weeks early but was a textbook delivery. The second was 2 days early but an emergency C-Section. Plus there can be complications with the baby and you are stuck there. You never know! Go with what you are confortable with. Me...I would stay home. I wouldn't want to deliver my baby in a strange hospital..or on 94 for that matter! My first was due Jan 18th and family came to us that Christmas. If they really want to be there, they'll make the trip. If not, enjoy your time with your family before baby comes. By the way... we ordered the Byerly's/Lund's dinner for last Thanksgiving (gave birth 2 days before!) and it was awesome...very easy and tasted incredible! Just an idea :)

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I had a high-risk pregnancy (high blood pressure) and was told in no uncertain terms by my OB that I would not be able to go home to attend my godchild's Baptism when I was about 4.5/5 months pregnant. That was a drive from Madison, WI, to Norwood Young America, MN. Since I ended up on bed rest for a week at home and then two weeks in the hospital and my daughter came three weeks early (at 37 weeks), well, I was willing to listen to my doctor.

It's you, your baby, and your family. It will be you and the baby who will suffer if anything goes wrong. The baby won't be here when you go to visit for the holidays; wouldn't it be better if you were both well and safe and you have a healthy and happy baby to take home after the holidays? Maybe set something up so you can travel two or three months after baby is born.

I'd rather be safe than sorry. I see you do plan to remain home. Good for you!

This year, we're stayed home and won't be doing any holiday travel. My husband fell the end of August and had a tibia-plateau reduction surgery done. He had the worse break a person can have and is still walking with a crutch; hopefully he'll transfer over to a cane this week. We told both sides there was no way he can sit in a car for 4.5 or 5.5 hours one way. Just isn't happening. Thankfully, his side came to visit the first weekend of Nov and my parents will come to visit the first weekend of Dec. We will be home this year for the holidays--our home--and we're really looking forward to it. Since we're the "ones who moved away" and always go home for the holidays, we are so excited to have Christmas and New Years by ourselves!

Good luck on the new addition to your family!

To be fair, just ask your OB. He or she will give you the best advice for your health and preganacy.

Personally, I would stay home and enjoy some quiet family time before the arrival of a newborn.

My second was born at 36 weeks and 6 days........I know everybody's different, but.......37 weeks IS considered "full term" by some doctors. That, and with the cruddy weather probability...my personal vote would be to stay home. Better safe than sorry. It's a nice idea to invite them to your house, but just be prepared for the possibility of going into labor with a house full of guests!

If you DO decide to travel, be sure to have a charged cell phone, tons of warm clothes, blankets, food, water, etc... in case of an emergency. And read up on delivering a baby by yourself (what to do with the cord, etc...) incase it came to that.

I didn't read the other answers-I'm sorry if I was completely redundant! :)

ETA: Also, if you travel, you need to get out and walk around every 30 minutes to prevent blood clots (which are very common and potentially deadly)...and if there is a snow storm or blizzard, getting out for a walk would be miserable.

A woman gave birth this morning in the restroom at BWI just after her flight landed! I know you're not talking about flying, but the same principle is true. You just can't be sure when or how quickly things will get started that close to the end.

I'd skip it. Can folks come to YOU?

I wouldn't do it. I just think it's too risky and stressful, especially given your recent irregular heartbeat episode. I was 38 weeks on Christmas 2009 and it was so nice to stay in my PJs most of the day and have just my husband and 2 kids around. Our son arrived January 9th, 2010, plump and healthy. Nurse Midwife Mom of 3

I think you should have a "Nice Warm Christmas" at home. Actually I have heard so many people say; "we always travelled for CHristmas and my kids loved it; so we thought....." They go on to say, the first year we were forced to stay home, we found out our children were sooooo much happier that year we stayed home. The sparkle in the kids eyes as they woke up on Christmas morning and ran to the livingroom in their own house, rolling out of their own bed; PRICELESS"! So, I too think you should stay home. I do not like pregnant women traveling any great distance by car when the weather is bad. If you were driving to Apple Valley maybe; (lol).... Not MW though. I do agree if you were to go into labor while in the MW area, there are hospitals there, but don't you want to deliver your bay here? Also I should not say this outloud, but in the OB world, we have a superstition.... We call 3rd babies "Jenky threes" LOL.... They never seem to follow the rules of any of the previous pregnancies.... I would enjoy home this year and tell your relatives you are preparing to give them one of the most amazing gifts ever.... A NEW BABY! Congratulations...

I wouldn't go anywhere if I were you. I like your idea of inviting them all to see you, even if no one comes. The bottom line is, no one should expect a 37 week pregnant woman to drive 350 miles to visit them! I hope your mom calls you and tells you to stay home. :)

I was due last December 27, and my family came to me. Which was great, since we live in far northern MN and were not super-accessible to my family from California, WI, SD or Chicago. My mom came up early to help get things ready, my sister and her family (including 4 month old twins) flew in from CA right before Christmas...stayed through my less than 24 hour hospital stay, and got to meet their new cousin/niece before they left the day after Christmas. My parents-in-law came the next day, helping me transition from one family to the other, then my sibs-in-law showed up a few days later, and stayed for the new year. It was great. I asked my doc's advice regarding travel--she wasn't too worried, as it was #3 for me, and I've typically had long, slow-starting labors. On the other hand, I just wasn't comfortable being far enough away that I'd have to be in the car for a LONG TIME if I was in labor. I also get a lot of long, false starts, where I have contrax for a good 6-7 hours and then nothing--which would have made me super-anxious. Travel from the Cities to Milwaukee is long; unless you're super-relaxed about thsi whole thing, and ok with the idea of delivering in Milwaukee, I wouldn't do it.

I would NOT travel there if it was me. I wouldn't even fly at 20 wks. because I wanted to be near home if something happened. (So my husband and I didn't go to his cousin's wedding.)

I had an emergency c-section when I was 30 and a half weeks. I was taken from my hospital of choice which was under 2 miles away by ambulance and went to another hospital 40 minutes away since they had all the equipment necessary for premature births. My twins did fine and now are almost 10 years old. Wow! Where has the time gone?!

Stay home and enjoy Christmas at your own house. I can't understand how unreasonable your family is about this issue. They should just understand your circumstances.... end of story. Sounds like they are being selfish!

Good luck to you!

If the weather was nice, I would. ( and have, but it was summer. We drive from here to the Chicago area for my dad's family.)

You know how your body is and you know how your deliveries are. If you know that you normally dont go early then everything should be fine. But if your feeling at all off... don't chance it.

For the time being, I would tell your mom you don't know your plans until the day you leave. You will decide that morning based on how you feel.

I would absolutely not travel that far from home that late in pregnancy. My oldest was born at 36 weeks.

I know that stretch of 90/94 very well and I would NEVER drive it in the winter time in my 3rd trimester.

Invite them to come to you, but under no circumstances would I travel that far from my hospital.

Between getting out to walk around to prevent blood clots and having to stop to pee, that will be a 12 hour trip if the roads are good! lol. I hope you stay home guilt free. Enjoy a nice and quiet time with your little family.