Traveling while in the third trimester. Question?

I'm just over 28 weeks pregnant (7 months) and we found out at the last minute (yesterday!!) that my husband was given leave, and we'd be driving home for the holidays. We'll be gone from Dec.16th until Jan.3rd. I've had a healthy pregnancy so far, aside from hip and pelvic bone pain (so bad sometimes I could barely walk or roll over in bed) and low blood pressure. I'll be missing my next appointment on Dec. 19th, but they rescheduled it for Jan.7th.

It's a 13 hour car ride one way, but we'll be stopping every couple of hours anyway, since my husband will be driving a toddler, a dog, and a pregnant woman. We don't get to go home very often, and haven't been home for a holiday for a few years, so I really want to go.

I'm waiting for my OB nurse to call back, I just wanted to see what others have experienced.

I've made a 12 hour trip at that stage in pregnancy so it can be done. But only IF you are having a healthy and low risk pregnancy.

Get out and walk around every 2-3 hours...walk for at least 15 minutes each time to reduce your risk of blood clots. That is the biggest thing.

Also...pour over a map and familiarize yourself with local hospitals along the way. Better safe than sorry. Same goes for a local OB where you are staying.

And last but not least...make sure there is room in your budget for a motel room. You may want to stretch it out into a 2 day drive. It will be much easier on everyone that way. Trust me!

(and BTW...Days Inns generally have good pet policies)

I went to Knoxille,TN for Thanksgiving to visit family. I live in Memphis so it was about a 6 hour drive. I was 31 weeks pregnant and by the time we got there that night I was so swollen and in extreme pain in my back and legs and I have had a very uneventful pregnancy (never sick once!). We stopped several times for me to get out and walk around and stretch. Your doctor will likely tell you its ok to go, mine did, and she even recommended that I stop every couple of hours to stretch but it was still the worst trip of my life. I was dreading the drive home and I was right to do so b/c it was just as bad. I can't imagine taking a 13 hour drive. I know you want to see your family so best of luck to you. I will never travel that late in pregnancy again though =0(

As long as you are stopping every couple of hours you will be fine! Also If I was you I'd get a list of all of the Clinics and or near by hospitals you will be driving by - Just in case you have an issue and you need to get checked on your way there or on the way back!

Good luck!! Happy Holidays!

I drove for 23 hours when i was about 21 weeks pregnant. We did stop midway to sleep though. I actually did a lot better than i thought i would. Although, after all the packing and moving house, i think my body needed to sit for that long. I would keep changing my position when i was passenger. I reclined the seat and put my feet on the dash board, just to elevate them. If you are in good health, i dont see why you shouldn't go. It cant be any worse than having a lazy day at home on the couch!

As long as you have regular breaks to stretch you legs etc you should be fine. I would mention the hip and pelvic pain to your doc next at ur next appointment as it sounds like you may have SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction) have a look at this website http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/an...

it should be fine as long as you stop and walk about a bit every few hours and fasten your seatbelt under your bump. remember to take your maternity notes with you too incase anything happens and you go to the hospital to be checked over.

I drove almost 10 hours by myself with my 5 year old son when I was 7 months pregnant (My husband and I were moving and he had to drive the truck!) It can be hard because sitting in the same spot for any amount of time puts strain on your body, but it really isn't too bad. I have back problems and I was ok, just REALLY tired by the time it was all done!