How soon can you travel after delivery?

[Anonymous]

How soon can you travel after a normal vaginal delivery? What about a c-section?

My parents are going to be in the country and I would like to take a trip (which would be a 5 or 6 hour drive) for a few days to a beach house while they are here. I am due on March 31st and they are in the States until the 24th of April, I am mostly worried about being late (especially since this is my first pregnancy) and then not having enough time to recover.
Do I have stay in town for checkups for baby and/or me? I anticipate that the baby would sleep most of the trip, but am not sure how I would feel about a long drive.

Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks

[Anonymous]

If you end up with a c-section they'll want to see you 2 weeks after you deliver, then again at 6 weeks. A vaginal delivery you go back for a checkup 6 weeks later.

Newborns are seen usually 2 days after discharge from the hospital, then 2 weeks, then 1 month, then 2 months.

I think travel will be pretty much up to you. I wouldn't stray too far from home the first few weeks if it was me though, especially if this is your first

[Anonymous]

I had a c-section and there was no way I would've been able to sit in a car for 5-6 hours three weeks after. And I consider myself to have had a relatively good recovery. If you have a very easy vaginal birth perhaps that would be ok. However, please remember that a normal/usual 5-6 hour trip will easily turn into an 8-9 hour trip with such a young infant. You will have to make frequent stops to feed and change the baby. When my daughter was that little, she would eat very frequently, each 1.5-2 hours. Also, as you mention, you could end up going late, so that will give you even less time to recover.

The normal check-ups for the baby are 1 and 2 weeks after birth, and then at 1 month. If you have a vag delivery they don't usually see you until 6 weeks pp. With a c/s they typically want to see you 2 weeks after.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Your doctor may want you to limit travel for the first month - for the baby, not you. If the baby gets sick and has a fever in the first month, baby has to get very invasive tests, including a spinal tap.

I went through the same thing with DD. I wanted to visit family two to three weeks after giving birth. Both OB/GYN and Pediatrician strongly recommended against it.

I traveled with DD exactly 1 month after she was born and had no problems. It took a lot longer than I estimated, because you will have to stop a lot more for diapers, feedings, etc.

[Anonymous]

I had a difficult vaginal delivery but went on an 8-hour car trip four weeks postpartum. No problems really. I had a vehicle adaptor for the breastpump and our daughter slept a lot of the way. We stopped every 3 hours or so for a feeding, new diaper, etc. As long as your delivery is OK and your baby healthy, this shouldn't be a problem (except of course that you will be very tired from the lack of sleep).

[Anonymous]

Everyone (and everyone's babies) are different, so if you want to plan to go, you just might want to be sure that you can cancel those plans if you need to. I had a pretty rough vaginal delivery, but we managed to pile all three of us in the car when DS was 8 days old to go up to my parents' for Christmas. It took us about 5 hours to pack the car -- and i'm sure we brought everything in the darn nursery -- but we made it. The travel itself wasn't anymore uncomfortable than sitting in a regular chair was for me at that point, but my husband drove the entire time. I just wasn't up for driving yet.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

ka: I am 39 weeks old (ie Due date is 30th May 2009), i have started feeling as if the baby is pressing my bladder and tiny twitch, or twist at the doors of my cervix. Is this a sign that in a few days i will be delivering?

[Anonymous]

We flew with the baby at 2.5 weeks post vaginal delivery. Ped and OB said it was fine and it was.

I dont know how long you are planning to go for, but I wouldnt shape it around your dr appts. You can go to the OB at 6 weeks or 7 weeks or to the ped at 1 month or 5 weeks - it really doesnt have to be exact.

[Anonymous]

I think you can try to plan something, but be really flexible about it. It will be hard to know in advance exactly how the delivery and recovery will go. Personally, I would rather stay nearby that soon after the birth, but I guess it also depends on your personality!

[Anonymous]

It's possible to travel, but I personally wouldn't plan that sort of trip for myself since it sounds like a hassle and a stress.

As a point of reference, my midwife recommended that a new mom stay in pajamas for two weeks after giving birth--not because she is infirm but because she can benefit from taking it easy, not doing the cooking, the laundry, the cleaning. Travel can be a lot of work, especially with a newborn.

[Anonymous]

I drove 6 hours with DD 3 weeks after a relatively easy vaginal birth. She slept almost the whole way, other than a couple of quick feedings/ diaper changes. It really wasn't that big of a deal for us. Of course, every baby is different, and every recovery is different, so I would suggest planning on going, but doing so knowing that it is possible that you will change your mind if you do go late, or just end up not feeling up to it.

[Anonymous]

Don't ask me! I'm heading to Africa when my infant is 6weeks old. I'm squeezing a 3 week vacation to visit my mom during my maternity leave. As a mom of 3 children already, I think the EASIEST time to travel with kids is when they are infants. I'm taking my 7yr old along with me (who is a tremendous help) and dad is holding down the fort at home with the other 2.

The only thing that will cancel my trip is if I have a baby with medical problems. The area in Africa I'm heading to has wonderful medical care, so if anything unexpected comes up there, I'm know we will have access to the best doctors Africa has to offer.

[Anonymous]

I traveled with my newborn and 15 month old and husband 3 weeks to the day after a c/s delivery. WE flew and had some driving too. I had good recoveries with both of my deliveries (both C/S) and by 3 weeks I felt great. Flying with a newborn is a breeze because they sleep and eat. My 15 month old is a different story He was with his dad the entire time. He is good but it takes every ounce of energy to keep him entertained! I think you can do it...

[Anonymous]

I drove for 6 hours with my two week old newborn. I had a vaginal delivery and felt fine. The baby slept all the way (except for feedings).

It's true that the younger they are, the easier it is to travel with babies, as they just sleep and eat.

I then traveled on an 11 hour plane trip (incl stop over) when baby was 2 months, and again, she pretty much slept all the way through it, or I could just breastfeed her in my seat whenever she was uncomfortable.

Now that she is 2 years old it is absolute HELL to travel with her!!