How close to your due date would you be ok with your husband traveling?

[Anonymous]

So I'll be the dissenter. I would be fine with it. (more fine with it than my husband would be).
Call me crazy but just like I pretty much looked at our wedding as Day 1 of a whole life together, I look at the birth as Day 1 of life as a parent. He will have thousands of other days to be a great Daddy. If he is able to be there, great. If he couldn't make it for some reason, it wouldn't make me crazy. I would be sure to have a backup person. And chances are that a) you won't go into labor while he is gone and b) even if you did, he could fly back and be there for the birth.

[Anonymous]

Both my kids were born early - one at 38 weeks and one at 39. I would not be okay with my husband traveling that late.

[Anonymous]

I just gave birth to my first child two weeks and one day before my due date. From start to finish, my labor and delivery was less than 10 hours so, if I had been in your situation, my husband wouldn't have even boarded a plane back here before DS was born. If I were you, I'd veto the trip. Is DH comfortable doing that? I know it's easy to say he shouldn't go, but maybe he has to? I didn't have family here either, and I would have been alone or had to call a friend if DH was anywhere other than at home when I went into labor.

[Anonymous]

If you had family or a best friend (the kind who drops everything for you), then I might chance it.

My husband was boarding a cross-country flight when my water broke with our second baby. His cell phone was turned off. He was literally walking into the jetway when he heard his name being paged. Fortunately, I had my sisters with me. They gave him holy hell.

[Anonymous]

I know this is an unlikely case, but my water broke, and I had the baby when I was 33 weeks pregnant (after a completely normal pregnancy). I don't know what I would have done if my husband had been out of town. I'm obviously going to edge on the side of caution, but I think staying close to home starting at 32 weeks would be good for me.

[Anonymous]

OP here. My husband decided not to go on the trip, and his work was supportive of that decision.

Thanks everyone for sharing your opinions/stories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an unlikely case, but my water broke, and I had the baby when I was 33 weeks pregnant (after a completely normal pregnancy). I don't know what I would have done if my husband had been out of town. I'm obviously going to edge on the side of caution, but I think staying close to home starting at 32 weeks would be good for me.

Not as early, but similar experience. Completely normal pregnancies, but water broke early -- first child born at 36 weeks and second born at 35 weeks.

[Anonymous]

I am going thru that now Im 37 weeks and dilating and my hubby went on a business trip to Philadelphia for 8 days. I also have no family and I am very much upset that he even left when it could have been rescheduled to top it off Im a high risk pregnancy which makes it all the more nerve racking. I would strongly recommend he hold off. I hope things work out for you

[Anonymous]

Its a little different but my DH traveled for business the week before I was scheduled to be induced at 37 weeks. I wasnt at risk for pre-term labor, but I was on bed-rest for preeclapsia. I had lots of friends around but dont know what I would have done if DH hadnt been there.

[Anonymous]

I gave birth to our first child 2 weeks before my due date. My OB was SHOCKED given my status at my last appt the week before. I too have no family in the area and if my husband had been away for business I would have been so upset. You are not being unreasonable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My husband decided not to go on the trip, and his work was supportive of that decision.

Thanks everyone for sharing your opinions/stories.

Glad to hear it! good luck!

[Anonymous]

My former husband was in another country until 5 days before my due date for our first child (he was spending that year working in Europe.... he did not "have" to do this, but wanted to do this.) At the time I managed to convince myself that this was just hunky dory. I was in a new town, a new job, and had my first child coming but NO PROBLEM, i could handle anything! DH-- dear former H-- enthusiastically agreed that I could handle anything.

Well, now he is my former husband. Turned out that a man who is always ready to believe you when you stoically say, "sure, I'll be just fine!" is probably a man who doesn't take the concept of sharing childcare very seriously.