Traveling for Christmas - yes or no?

Hi ladies,

This is my first post on Twinstuff Forums! I have a 21-month-old son and am expecting twin boys in April 2010. My pregnancy with my son was textbook -- as easy as being pregnant can be, and he was born on his due date. This twin pregnancy (23 weeks tomorrow) has been going well too. Definitely more of the first trimester ickiness, but overall I'm doing well so far.

Then on Wednesday we found my cervix had gone down from 3.4 cm to 2.8 cm in two weeks, but no funnelling or dialation. My doc wasn't freaking out, but she wanted to make sure this wasn't the beginning of a big slide. She put me on a low dose of Procardia twice a day, recommended that I cancel activities and rest as much as possible (I'm a SAHM), and asked that I come back in two days for a recheck.

At the recheck yesterday, my cervix was 3.49 cm. I was shocked at the improvement in 48 hours but obviously pleased. I do feel fine and no contractions (I'm not sure I've felt ANY contractions this whole time, honestly.) My cervix has been at or around 3.5 at every check but the 2.8 on Wednesday.

(For the longer version of what happened, read my BLOG POST.)

My husband and son and I are supposed to fly across the country to spend the holidays with our families, whom we rarely see. My MIL has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and started chemo, so we have been extra anxious to get home and spend time with her. When we planned the trip months ago, my OB did approve it, pending everything looked okay.

Unfortunately, my OB is about to go into labor any minute so I can't consult with her on what to do now. The current plan is for another cervix check on Tuesday... we are scheduled to fly on Wednesday. After the check, I will meet with another OB in the group practice and get her opinion on whether or not we should proceed with the trip.

I am really struggling with this and I'm hoping for more perspectives. Obviously the main priority right now is baking these boys as long as possible. I don't want to put them in jeopardy. HOWEVER. Spending time with our families is very important to us, especially with DH's mom having cancer, so I don't want to just cancel the trip without really assessing whether there is a real risk (other than the already-known risks of flying for any healthy pregnant woman). Hubby and son won't go without me.

Thank you so much, I am having a bit of a freak out right now!

 

I may have the ultra-conservative perspective here, but it's based on my past experience. I went into PTL with my son at 24 weeks and ended up spending over a week in the hospital followed by complete bedrest at home. Had I gone into labor far from home, it would've been terrible! This pregnancy, at 8.5 weeks pregnant, I drove 6 hours to see some family for the weekend...wouldn't you know it I started having cramping and spotting while I was there. It was soooo terrible to be away from my peri and worse to make the 6 hour trip home! I ended up with a HUGE bleeding episode, that luckily waited until the day we got back from the trip, but it definitely put the nail in the coffin for me about traveling with a high risk pregnancy.

So, I guess I would say I'm not traveling at all, but of course that's just me. If you do decide to go, take a wheelchair through the airport and make sure to drink LOTS of water! Also, look up the best hospital near you that you could be seen at if you start having problems.

GL on your decision!

 

1: Are you okay with possibly sending your trip in a strange hospital?
2:are you okay with delivering in another state and having to stay there until the babies are able to travel?

If the answer to both questions is yes then by all means go. I on the other hand wouldn't risk it. I flew at 22 weeks but we didn't know it was twins at that point. I probably would not have made the trip if we had know it was twins because of their health. Is there any way for his parents to fly out after christmas to see y'all?

 

Thanks for the responses, ladies, I really appreciate the input.

We are planning to head back to our hometown for Christmas, where both DH and I grew up and where both sets of our parents still live. So the hospital isn't exactly strange, it's one that DH and I (and our families) are all familiar with. And while it's not ideal to have to stay in the hospital there, because DH would have to fly back home to go to work, and of course the OB who knows me is here at home... I would actually have LOT more help if I was with our parents because our moms would both help with care for me and our son. Out here it's just me and the friends I've managed to make since we moved out here two years ago (great women but certainly not lifelong friends yet).

So much to think about. :gah:


ETA: Unfortunately his parents can't fly out because his mom is in the middle of chemo. Won't be done with treatment until after the twins are born. They will come out as soon as his mom is strong enough, whenever that may be.

 

Sunny...you silly!

I replied already not realizing this was you, this is Eve from Infertility Rocks! I'm going to go post on your blog too. I'm sorry things aren't going 'perfectly peachy' with your cervix....we do not have the best luck, now do we? This is a GREAT site to get a helpful and honest twin perspective.

I also think, if you're prepared to stay out near family if need be...well then traveling is not so terrible. I don't have any fam near me either...and earlier in the pregnancy I toyed with the idea of spending my last 4 months living with my mother. But of course that would be pulling my ds out of preschool and leaving my dh here by himself.

I'm sending you LOOOOOOONG cervix vibes, my friend!

 

Eve! lol I didn't know it was you either. :laughing:

My hubby and I had the same conversation -- if I am going on bedrest, should Bean and I just stay in Michigan with our families? I would have so much help it would blow my mind, I'd probably end up weighing 400 pounds because I'd have so much food and no one would let me lift a finger. But boy would I miss my husband, as well as our co-op preschool here. We're going to just wait and see what the doc says on Tuesday and play it from there. In the meantime, I have to pack and prepare like we are going, all the while freting about whether we actually will leave. It will be a blast.

 

I agree with this post. I personally would not do it, but I had a cervix length under 1cm from about 22 weeks on (even with a cerclage placed at 16 weeks). I did travel before that, twice for work.

 

Just to give you a little info on my experience. I too had a shortened cervix at 24 weeks. It went from 3.4 to 2.8 as well with no funneling or dialation. Now by all means everyone is different and I am not saying it is ok to travel, but I did. I drove 8 hours away for a weeks vacation. My cervix never went back up. I am also a SAHM with three kids under the age of 6. My husband works during the day and I tend to the kids. I am now 34.3 weeks and my cervix is still at a 2.7 as of 30 weeks. Was your bladder empty when you had your cervix checked when it went to a 2.7? I have heard that can make a difference. I would just suggest that if you are going to travel, make sure you avoid heavy lifting and try to stay off your feet as much as possible. It is ok to request a wheelchair and you should see me when I motorize myself around Walmart on thier motorized carts just to grocery shop. My 2 year old son sits on my lap and he loves it. Good Luck