Minimum Safe Distance?

[Carlisle]

My usual plan is to evac New Orleans to Nashville because I have family. However, this time my wife is 8 months pregmant and not up to a 7+ hour treck. We will leave early (tomottorw if needed), but want to know how far north is safe. Right now I have reservations in Brookhaven, MS, which is about 40 miles south of Jackson on the interstate.

[wxman57]

My usual plan is to evac New Orleans to Nashville because I have family. However, this time my wife is 8 months pregmant and not up to a 7+ hour treck. We will leave early (tomottorw if needed), but want to know how far north is safe. Right now I have reservations in Brookhaven, MS, which is about 40 miles south of Jackson on the interstate.

Basically, you'd want to be anywhere out of that "bowl" where the storm surge won't reach you. Brookhaven would be fine as far as storm surge and winds that could destroy structures. Of course, it only takes 40-50 mph wind gusts to knock out power, so you'd be at risk of losing electricity for a while.

[MomH]

Question? Do you have other children going with you? If so, I would spend a night halfway between where you are and Nashville, then go on the next day. If anything happens to wife it would be better to be closer to family who can help out. Our local hospitals delivered more than double the normal amount of babies during Charley and Frances. Has something to do with BP I guess -- that and excitement. Stay safe and good luck.

[alicia-w]

We lived in the Philippines for 4 1/2 years. I was pregnant over there during part of that (duh) and when a typhoon came and you were in your last trimester, you had to come on base to the base hospital. What a pain in the patootie that was.

[TSmith274]

Hey I'm going to Brookhaven also(if needed). I've got a hunting camp 8 miles north of there. The only advice I can give is to relate the experience I had while evacuating there for Andrew. Brookhaven is about 160 miles from the coast, so for Andrew, the winds were still strong. I'd say easily tropical storm force. Electricity got knocked out quickly, but I'm back in the woods where there are plenty of trees to fall on the powerlines. Brookhaven is a nice little town with plenty hotel rooms. You should be fine there.

[Steve Cosby]

My usual plan is to evac New Orleans to Nashville because I have family. However, this time my wife is 8 months pregmant and not up to a 7+ hour treck. We will leave early (tomottorw if needed), but want to know how far north is safe. Right now I have reservations in Brookhaven, MS, which is about 40 miles south of Jackson on the interstate.

Hospitals are somewhat limited in the route you would take as well - lots of the rural hospitals have closed.

That said, my wife is an ICU RN - she just mentioned that 8 months pregnant in the kind of low pressure conditions you would see on the north side of Lake Ponchatrain might very well put her in labor.

I don't envy your situation - best of luck to you and your wife!

[TSmith274]

King's Daughter's Hospital is about 2 minutes up HWY 51 from Brookhaven. Keep that in mind.

[Steve Cosby]

King's Daughter's Hospital is about 2 minutes up HWY 51 from Brookhaven. Keep that in mind.

Oh, and by the way, take a copy of her medical records with you!

[Carlisle]

WOW!!! Thanks for all the responses and support! My brother in Nashville is a physician (lived in NOLA for 14 years, I just moved here 4 years ago) and he did warn me about low BP being a problem... I think I might take Momh's advise and keep going the next day... I do have another child (2 1/2), but she's used to travel so we're not worried.

First thing tomorrow morning is a call to Tulane Obgyn for medical records (thanks Steve Cosby!) and perhaps some en-route advise from Dr. Herrera. I also plan to leave my second car parked in their building.

Carlisle

PS: I apologize for the lousy spelling in my first post... I was running out to church when I wrote it!

PS2: Guess what my brother's name is... Ivan!!!

[BigO]

Dr. Herrera will take good care of you.

And yes, the low BP can induce labor. Another one of the Almighty's expressions of His wicked sense of humor...

[Steve Cosby]

I do have another child (2 1/2), but she's used to travel so we're not worried.

Oh, wow - 2nd child on the way? That just means that your wife's labor time will be shortened as well. Supposedly it is something around 1/2 to 2/3 the time of labor for the first child. Don't know what a low pressure area would do, of course.

[Carlisle]

All this has me thinking I ight be better off in Baton Rouge because better hospitals with infant ICU... I'm starting to not like this at all.

[gatorbabe79]

Being a nurse I know it is hard to get staffing during a storm.

[Pebbles]

I had to travel almost 3000 miles in a week 8month pregnant last August (went to visit family ..got home and had to turn right back around and go back for a funeral ) Doc said just to make sure to stop about every 90 minutes and walk around for 10 minutes or so to prevent/help swelling in the feet. And agree..make sure you have a copy of her records ...with all test results (test results are important). Good luck!