Calculating the date

3 weeks early is not premature as 37 weeks is classed as full term - pregnancies tend to follow a similar pattern ie before due date or after due date but as said before all babies have their own agenda and may be completely different. DD1 was 1 ½ hours after due date, her brother a week before and sister 5 weeks before (I was lucky to not go well beyond!) DGS1 was 9 weeks early and his sister 3 weeks early but my DD1 had a cervical suture in place and baby arrived the day after it was removed so possibly would have been earlier. I'm so glad I didn't have to plan flights etc so good luck. 5 ½ year olds like play parks, skate parks, woodland adventures, collecting shells, swimming or maybe sports if he likes that, cinema, baking - it will be nice for you both to spend special times together.

On another thread, a MiL is worried about the new parents needing "bonding time" with the new baby. I know these two certainly didn't like visitors with the first child, especially as he was in an incubator.

So I will make it my job to get DGS no. 1 out from under their feet as much as possible.

It shouldn't be too cold in California at that time of year. Any ideas how I can entertain him outdoors? I am not very agile, but there are plenty of lovely playgrounds near where they live. He will be 5 1/2 in December.

The open ticket option was far too expensive.

Thanks to everyone for your input. But the due date being nearer Christmas than I originally thought left me with little choice.

(When I say "he's not too much trouble", I mean the little one - it's going to be a boy)

Well, I've booked.

I had misheard the date (dodgy Skype connection?) and it is due on the 19th! So I booked for the 13th to the 23rd. That means I land back here in Frankfurt on Christmas Eve. There will be no shops open until after Boxing Day (they're very strict about that here). It will mean I must have all presents and cards bought, wrapped/signed and posted before I leave (which is not a bad thing). And all the Christmas food in the freezer. Depending on the jetlag situation, I should still be able to get to church for Midnight Mass, which is an absolute highlight for our choir.

If the baby is early, I shall still be able to help out with 5-year old DGS and take him off their hands, and for the first few days of the Baby's life (until I get there) just hope that he's not too much trouble and that they manage. If the baby is late, DiL will be glad to be able to get some rest if I take over the older brother. So either way it will be a help for them. After Christmas, DS can take over.

DiL's Mum thanked me again quite profusely - she was worried that her English isn't up to getting round on her own, and, as I said, she doesn't have any more holiday this year. (She is supposed to be retired from the bank but they won't let her go!)

DiL is here at the moment with DGS because his kindergarten has shut down for 4 (!) months. We are having a lovely time with him and getting lots of cuddles. DS is coming over at the end of the month on business and they will be going to a friend's wedding then flying back together in early October. After which, DiL will be too pregnant to fly anywhere again for a while!

Exciting times!

Why don't you ask them which dates are the most convenient for them?

I can't speak to California specifically, but my experience as a nurse in a few different hospitals has been that generally mothers stay in for a day or so for a vaginal birth, and 2-4 days for a C-section (standard is 3 days but some mothers elect to go home after 2, especially if it's not their first section, and others occasionally stay for 4, if there are problems). I can't see that it would be so very different, especially because people are required to pay for their care in the U.S., unless they have insurance.

I would have an open ticket and also be happy to stay for Xmas.
You can always have a Xmas back in UK at another time.

I won't overlap with the other grandmother as she is going in October.

Well, I'd mainly like to be there to take over the older son whilst the new parents are in hospital and for the first few days when they come home with the baby. If the baby is already there when I arrive, I suppose it won't be much of a problem as newborns sleep most of the time.

It depends more on how my DiL feels and if she needs much rest. If the baby is premature and has to be in an incubator (as with the first one), she may have to stay in hospital and there will be no one at home to look after big brother.

Does anyone know how long mothers normally stay in after birth in California?

Make sure you buy a changeable ticket and dont overlap with her Mom. To be honest unless she delivers early it all looks a bit close to Christmas. If your son has pat leave how about going over after the holidays ?

Not all advance bookings give deals and as no airline wants empty seats and you are not too fussy with who you travel then shop around. Its surprising what can be found nearer the time of your intended travel.

How lovely to hear for once of a daughter-in-law who is thrilled her mother-in-law is coming to visit when the expected baby arrives!

I hope you have an enjoyable visit and that the wee one doesn't inconsiderately decide to wait until you have gone home again to put in an appearance.

Best wishes for an easy birth to you all.

I think I would book to arrive four or five days prior to the due date and certainly book a ticket that can be changed.

Lots of first babies are earlier than expected. Do you know for a fact that that child was really three weeks early, or could the midwife and the mother have miscalculated? Probably not important, because many prem. babies are followed by sisters and brothers who waited the full nine months.

Hope everything goes well.

Could you stay over the Christmas period if needed by the new parents by buying an open ticket? If you have a partner maybe could fly out at a date nearer Christmas.

Our grandson was due at the beginning of December and flights were arranged to arrive during that week . In the event he arrived on the last day of August. We stuck to our previous arrangement as he was in hospital and we arrived on the day he was discharged. A very traumatic time, but we have one gorgeous, bright and healthy lit grandson. We feel very lucky.

We have also had the same issue. Our granddaughter came just 5 days after we got there but just a little early. Maybe book a week before it's due and leave a week later if that's possible.If the baby comes early then that way at least you'll be there longer to help with the baby. I know it's vv expensive to change dates of flights - a dilemma I have experienced so I feel for you.

Think you have to book to cover all bases. Go say a week before due date but not much you can do following the 13th if you want to be home for Xmas.

My youngest daughter's first child was born in Mexico and was 3 weeks early. We booked to go out when the baby would be 3 weeks old, but of course she was 6 weeks. Her second baby and her third both went 42 weeks plus. You simply cannot bank on any date. Good luck!

We had a similar issue when our grandchild was born, not knowing when to book the flight, but needing to book it in advance. As we all know, babies tend to arrive whenever they are ready, and that can often be a couple of weeks either side of the due date! I'd suggest booking a return flight to depart around a week before the due date, with a return date to get you home just in time for Xmas. Make sure you book a flexible flight that allows you to change the dates (some of the cheaper fares don't allow changes!). And, if baby arrives earlier/later, you can change your dates accordingly. You'll have to pay a fee for any changes, of course, but it won't be as much as paying for another flight if you book a cheap ticket that doesn't allow changes.

Not much you can do if you need to book flights soon apart from guesswork unfortunately. As you know each baby has its own agenda and will come when it’s ready. If you want to be home for Christmas then ideally book to arrive between 5th and 10th that way you’ll be there if it comes a bit early but home in time for Christmas.
I hope it works out and you get to spend time with the new arrival.