is it insane to go on holiday a few weeks after the birth?

[spritzer]

Would a week self-catering in Cornwall be fun or hell on earth? Mr S and the boys would love to go away to the beach for a week. We'd take the car so we'd have the moses basket, steriliser etc. so I can do a home from home thing.

I'm just wondering whether trying to manage a holiday around sleepless nights and all those feeds is crazy or would the LO just tag along and it be no different/better than being at home.

thoughts and experiences please.

P.S. obviously we would break the journey up with lots of stops so the baby was not in the car seat for long stretches at a time.

[Faith]

I wouldn't. I went to visit my mum for a week when dd1 was about 8 weeks, and yes it was hell. I'd had a section, was traumatised, had a really unsettled baby, and was establishing bf. I felt under enormous pressure to be normal, go in day trips, go shopping, to the pub etc- which of course I managed easily enough with only one tiny one, but I was exhausted within a day or so but felt I was spoiling everyone else's time by wanting to stay in with Dd.

I think the beach, with all that sand and sun, sounds like a nightmare for a newborn :lol:

[One Sock]

I had a wedding to go to in Cornwall when R was about 8 weeks old, so we went down for a week long holiday. It was fine - we drove over night so that he slept for a lot of it, stopping to feed etc (although I suppose with two older ones that might not work so well). Yes, was still having sleepless nights etc, but would have had those at home.

As we were self catering it was fine as had everything we needed. We had a lovely time. They're so portable at that age!

Only thing I would say is take into account that you might go overdue - end up having a c-section etc.

[One Sock]

Ha, just seen Faith's response! I guess a lot of it does depend on the baby and how feeding is going too!

[*Marti*]

We went away when Jay was 5wks in a touring caravan. It was fine, even got the hang of cold water sterilising. It was just like being at home for us to be honest but better as girls were occupuied.

[Samba]

I'd do it :nod: As long as you can take all your paraphanalia with you, I don't see that its any different to staying at home. Plus, your DH will be around to help out, which is presumably a bit more help than if he were at work all day!

And the lovely sea air might have a fantastic calming, sleep-inducing effect on the baby :fingerscrossed:

(We went away for a long w/end when DS2 was only a few weeks, it was lovely! I had had a section too)

[ChelseaHarvey]

Having just had a baby & him being 3 weeks old, God no i would not do it,

I have booked us a weekend away in July & Zach will be 8 weeks im worrying that it is going to be hard then. I rember posting a thread about the same thing & the majority of people said they wouldnt....

Having had a section as well (as this could happen with you) going away on holiday as well would have been the last thing i would have wanted. I am only just starting to feel good & feeling like i am getting over the whole c-section thing. Well i felt ok about 12-14 days after

Here is the thread i posted

http://www.damsels.org/forum/showthread.php/206297-Booking-a-short-getaway-not-long-after-baby-is-born-is-this-to-soon

[claireh]

Despite reading the previous posts I think I would go for it (although I may say something different in three weeks once my lo is here!).

I am stressing about all the daily day to day house stuff that I am not going to be able to do immediately post birth. It sounds like my idea of bliss to get away from it all.

In my permanantly optimistic way I imagine your DH and old onces scampering around on the beach whilst you sit back and snuggle with your baby.

[irislili]

I went to centre parcs when Innes was a couple of weeks old and Murray was just 1 and I had a great time :nod: we broke the journey up we drove from cornwall to penrith. If you want to do it then i's say book it.

[spritzer]

I am stressing about all the daily day to day house stuff that I am not going to be able to do immediately post birth. It sounds like my idea of bliss to get away from it all.

In my permanantly optimistic way I imagine your DH and old onces scampering around on the beach whilst you sit back and snuggle with your baby.

Indeed! And, to be fair, that is Mr S's take on it as well.

I am worried about going over my dates and/or ending up with a C-section but I have had two normal births so I've got my fingers crossed for a third one.

I remember with Xander that 6 week baby fug being awful but with Zach it was only a couple of weeks as I suppose I had to get on with it.

I would imagine we would eat a lot of picnics and fish and chips!

Keep 'em coming please!

[Lilybett]

Do it! I don't know if you remember but I took L and B away to Spain on a long weekend (flying there on my own with both of them! :faint:) when B was 6 weeks old. It was fine, they are very portable at that age and tend to just sleep and eat! We all had a lovely time. You'll have Mr S around to help and the boys will be kept occupied with lots of new sights and things to play with. Go for it!!!!!!! :grin:

[Booh]

I am going to agree with Lilybett and say go for it.

After I had DD we went to cornwall when she was 7 weeks old, and then greece when she was 10 weeks old, scotland about three weeks after that then south of france about 6 weeks after that.

With DS we went to cornwall when he was 6 weeks, then south of france when he was 10 weeks. Then scotland when he was 14ish weeks.

I had easy newborns and dont find that stage too hard, plus mine slept really really well.

[Woodstock]

I think maybe you should wait, and if the baby is settled etc, then book something last minute.

My DS2 is now 6 weeks old, and he would be fine to take on holiday right now :nod: I dont think I would have wanted to have booked something beforehand though.

[Stropypop]

If you booked and the baby wasn't settled or you didn't feel up to it could someone else take the boys for you? I know if I booked a holiday my mum would take ds & dd away for a few days and they would love having their nanny giving them full on attention for a few days.

I'd probably still go for it though, even if the nights are still bad and you're still not 100% I'd probably find it easier to amuse my children somewhere a bit different - even a different tv can be more fun!

Although mine were like booh's - good sleepers which can make anything easier to deal with.

[Bikerqueen]

I had a section with awful recovery and took a 6 week old baby to devon to stay in a mansion with 20 adults, 2 other kids and 2 dogs. It was brilliant and really cheered me up :)

[Rosa]

Personally I wouldn't, I need home at times like this. And being away isn't really a home form home for me, I like having all my stuff and the kids stuff etc, being on my own turf.

Also depends how your birth goes... I couldn't sit for a good few weeks after DS1 was born, nevermind getting in a car for a long journey.

I guess I just see that new baby as a really special time, and holidays a special time as well and I'd rather they were two separate special times rather that one potentially rubbish time iyswim.

[DillyDally]

Personally I wouldn't, I need home at times like this. And being away isn't really a home form home for me, I like having all my stuff and the kids stuff etc, being on my own turf.



Yes, I agree.

And when I had my first DS he was very ill, hospitalised and then had major surgery in the first three weeks of his life - you just never know what's going to happen :shrug:

[bernardeena]

Tbh I think it depends mainly on the type of person you are rather then the baby. It depends if you are someone who needs home as a sanctuary or can find it anywhere.

DS1 was an emergency section but I recovered fine and went to france when he was ten weeks old. Yes there is always the possibility of the unexpected, but there is at any age and it depends how you'd feel if you did have to cancel.

From my experience though I'd go for it.

[Rosa]

I'd consider it at 10 weeks, if it wasn't my first :nod:

[Lilacgirl]

How quickly are you thinking of after the birth?

Also it depends how good your OH is at organising things. I know it would be left to be to sort out what we needed to take and get it packed up (else half the important stuff would get forgotten!) which would be a right hassle after giving birth.

Can you book anything with a shortish cancellation policy or does that just not happen?

[Abbie]

We went to Centreparcs when DD2 was 3 weeks old and it was fine.

I would say that she was far easier to cope with than her 4 year old sister

[violet wallop]

Not with my kid, I wouldn't have done. We did go away 12 weeks post birth but would have been grim a few weeks post birth. Leakage, puking, crying. And that was just me.

If you're planning on doing it very soon after the birth probably best to book post birth. I'd also buy travel insurance in case of complications resulting in cancellation.

[Chickster]

As lovely as it sounds, I don't think I'd go :happyno: What if you encounter complications and need a c/s? Would you be able to sit in the car for howwever long it will take for you to get to Cornwall? The baby would be fine - s/he'd just eat and sleep for the majority of it but what if you're below par?

We're off to Dorset for a week's self catering holiday at the beginning of August when my LO will be approx. 8/9 weeks old and that'll be more than enough for me!

[Faith]

Also it depends how good your OH is at organising things. I know it would be left to be to sort out what we needed to take and get it packed up (else half the important stuff would get forgotten!) which would be a right hassle after giving birth.


ANd how good your OH is at cooking, cleaning, picking up after everyone, and how good you are at letting him. If you know you can sit back and he'll do the general chores and watch the boys, so you can concentrate solely on the baby , fair enough. In my reality it doesn't work like that though :happyno:

[Minky]

I went to Cornwall when T2 was 11 weeks and it was a total disaster. I didn't want to go, got screaming gastro at the hotel and spent most of the holiday vomiting or sh*tting myself.

:yeahright:.

however, I go loop the loop with little bubbas and grow roots, I just don't want to leave the house, so another, more normal person might be fine :nod:.

BTW I was thinking of you today honey - was it you who was after the comfy sandals for holiday? I saw a lovely navy patent pair in Clarks, a notch above the normal sports sandal type variety :nod:.

[spritzer]

thanks Minky, it was me but we've already been on holiday so I am sorted for sandals - and they were a godsend.

I have a feeling that, on balance, we will go. Mr S is rubbish with all sorts of organising, cooking, clearing up etc. so I am used to that. The feeling is that if he is going to take some time off this summer to help me look after the boys there will be more for them all to keep busy with on holiday/at the beach than at home - allowing me a bit more space from them all.

Having said that, I am now facing a huge bill for my car so I guess we might not be going anywhere!