How far away can I be from the hospital the week before due date?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generally in life, I think I'd be comfortable with two hours.

However - if you're talking Manhattan to the Hamptons? Absolutely not. Even during Covid, traffic is unpredictable. That trip is generally 2-3 hours, but occasionally, it can take 5. If you want a beach, consider Fire Island or something.

This.

[Anonymous]

This post gave me some tense flashbacks...I had a precipitous delivery with #2 and could not make it to my hospital, I was in labor for less than an hour total and would have had the baby in the car if I tried to get to my OB, I had to go to the ER in the community hospital near my house and barely made it. I suggest rethinking this plan! There were no indications this would happen to me and my labor with #1 was 8 hours. Sorry and I hope this does not happen to you, but given my experience this plan does not seem wise.

[Anonymous]

A couple more factors to consider:

(1) There often isn’t an obvious start to labor. You could have rolling prodromal labor for days. You might make more than one trip to the hospital to find out if it’s “real” labor. You’ll also need to have at least one appointment with your provider, plus any additional testing you may need if you’re 35+ or having any complications. I wouldn’t want to be driving back and forth a bunch at that stage.

(2) Your baby may not come until 41+ weeks, at which point your inlaws will have burned their whole trip without seeing the baby.

If I were you, I’d find them the most affordable Airbnb nearish you, and I’d have them show up right around your due date or later, to maximize the time they’ll get with the baby. And I’d follow all the covid precautions others on the thread are pushing.

[Anonymous]

My OB said she would advise going to the nearest regional hospital if I were further than 90 minutes away, and if I were comfortable with that then to travel away.

[Anonymous]

So you’re going to visit with out of staters who just traveled and risk acquiring COVID right before delivery? Umkay.

My 20 minute drive to the hospital with contractions for my first was excruciating. The same 20 minute drive with my second was even worse. First arrived at 38 weeks; second arrived at 39 weeks.

Driving to the Hamptons is ridiculous unless you plan to deliver there.