Travelling with Baby - How soon

[carron81]

Hi

I'm 41 weeks preggers. If the baby doesn't arrive naturally over the next few days I'll be induced on Sunday.

Heres my dilema now....

I live in Shetland and my flat in Fife has just been sold and the move in day is 7th July. All my stuff is still in the flat so need to get it packed up and up to shetland before the 7th.

I really need to go down and pack up the flat as soon after the baby is born (if it is possible for me and i have a fine labour)

What are your thoughts on travelling with a baby so soon after the birth? Once I'm down there I have my family and friends to help out

Just a mad time to sell the flat but cant really be picky about dates just now.

[MrsTurner]

Hi Carron

As long as your baby is kept warm, is fed when needed and its bum is kept clean, he/she will be fine to travel. If your transport is due to be via air, don't worry as the altitude will be low so no pressure changes are an issue. Babies make thier ears 'pop' (like we do by yawning) by crying, so no damage can be done.

Hope this helps!

Mrs T

[warpig3]

I asked this question a while ago and the answer I got was 'the younger the better'.

At that age all baby will do is eat, poo, pee and sleep. And as has been said above, as long as baby has clean bum and is fed then he/she is likely to sleep so happy days. Also, it shouldn't be that long a flight so no worries.

I took the piglet back home on the plane when she was 12 weeks, so she was past the eating /sleeping stage and did cry initially then settled. There is not much you can do, and most passengers were understanding, having had kids themselves.

Go for it, it will be fine.

[carron81]

thats great.

i dont really find it a problem as long as i'm feeling fine and able and same with the baby. think a lot of family members up here may frown on it.

[warpig3]

Meant to add, send your keys on down to the relatives and get them to pack what they can, send a list of what needs to be done, then go down and be the 'project manager' as it were. No point in packing stuff if you can get others to do it, especially just after having a baby.

[carron81]

it would be the boat i get down which would be 14 hours (through the night) but it doesn't bother me as i'm awake all night at the moment and sleep during the day.

so by the time i meet up with family it'll be day time and i can have a wee sleep whilst my mum looks after the baby then i can get packing.

i really don't think its a big deal but everyone around me seems to act like its such a big thing. obviously if its a long labour or theres complications then i'll change my plans. but the midwife is happy with my progress and i don't see the problem with travelling with a baby, especially when its to get all my clothes, furniture etc up here.

my boyfriend will be with me, but i dont trust him to pack things right!!!

[warpig3]

Well if its on the boat then it really shouldn't be a problem, just a long journey for all but the baby will be none the wiser.

Only thing I will say is that after the piglet was born (naturally) I was a bit 'sore' below for a few weeks so dont be expecting miracles from your body, you will have to take it easy.

Not sure why everyone would make a big deal of it, you gotta do what you gotta do (body permitting), its not an ideal scenario but you really dont have much choice other than to get on with it. But do try and get as much help as you can, call in all your favours, I had an easy birth but I am trying to cast my mind back and imagine moving house when the piglet was 2 weeks old and it just seems a bit scary and the last thing I would want to do.

I wish you good luck with the birth and lots of help with the move.

warpig xx

[redcrx]

baby ought to be perfectly content as long as fed and changed and cuddled where needed. They sleep for much of first few weeks anyway.

BUT it may be harder on you. I had a quick natural labour with no stitches and yet i found it difficult to walk for a few days as my hips kept giving up and it was still sore to sit down.

You can also be hit by a wave of exhaustion after first few days and also baby blues so please make sure you have help around you when doing the work. Is your partner travelling with you?

Congrats on selling the flat so quick, must be different up there but from offer to completion usually takes minimum of 6 weeks down here.

[carron81]

hi redcrx - yeah, we were lucky. we got a cash buyer and we're not buying so everything is pretty straigt forward.

up here in shetland you can stay in the hospital for as long as you like after the baby is born. so even if i am induced on sunday, have the baby either then or monday. then take it easy in the hospital for a few days. then come home for a couple of days then head down south on the boat i've got a good few days to relax.

if i'd have still been living in the flat i'd would have the baby and i wouldve and been sent home the same day and still had to pack up the flat.

my boyfriend would be travelling with me. he's not keen on me or the baby travelling. think i'm more laid back about it because i was abroad when i was a few months old and always used to travelling so its not a big deal to me.