Because there is no way to predict when an expectant mother is going to have her baby, American Adoptions always recommends that families wait to travel until she is going to the hospital. This is one of the most exciting times in the adoption process, but it can also be nerve-wracking – especially if you have a long way to travel.
Luckily, there are plenty of steps you can take to make sure you are prepared when the big day arrives. Here, we’ve compiled some of the best tips and strategies to help your adoption take off without a hitch.
Packing
As the birth mother’s due date draws closer, you can benefit from having a lot of your travel items already packed and ready to go.
While you don’t want too much baggage to weigh you down, you should also make sure you have everything you need for you and the baby. Some of the things you will need to remember to bring with you include:
- Weather-appropriate clothes for everyone
- Blankets/swaddles
- Diaper bag
- Baby wipes
- Burp cloths
- Pacifiers
Other items, such as diapers and baby carriers, can be more conveniently purchased once you arrive to meet the baby. As long as you’ve got the essentials with you, you’ll be ready for when the baby arrives. For more information on what you’ll need for the big day, check out this list.
Travel
If you’re travelling to the birth mother by plane, you have plenty of options for booking last-minute travel. Techlicious offers some resources to help you, and while some of them are specific to vacations, there is plenty of useful advice for all kinds of travel. You can also often find last-minute hotel deals on sites like Hotwire and Hotels.com, which can help save money.
We recommend that you do not book any flights until you get the call that the birth mother is in labor – that way, you won’t risk losing funds or having to miss work longer than necessary.
Although travelling on such short notice can seem hectic at times, it certainly can be done – and on the other end of your journey will be your new bundle of joy.
