Plans for older children when you go in to labour?

[Belfa]

Hi

I know I'm only 19weeks but I started to worry about the logistics for when I go in to labour! I went in to labour at 36weeks with my son and that labour lasted 4hours so I have been warned to come straight to the hospital as soon as I show signs (i.e. waters breaking or contractions).

So, if I'm all panic stations I can see the stress level rising further if my parents don't answer their phones (a bad habit of theirs) or they faff around and take ages to get to us (another bad habit!).

If anyone can share their past or current plans for in-labour childcare that would be appreciated! xx

 

[Mayflower85]

The hospital is between our house and my parents house, so if I try for a VBAC as soon as we say we're going in they're going to meet us at the hospital and take my 2 year old back to theirs. They also have a key to ours so they can come and go as they need to depending how long I'm in for. The thing that worries me is that they both work, and I worry about the impact it'll have on their jobs!

Fortunately my Nan and Aunt live near the hospital, so if we're really stuck we'll drop my daughter with them and my parents will pick her up from there.

I'm tempted to opt for a c-sec, just so we know exactly when we'll be in and can plan accordingly!

 

[Beauandhamish]

I know I'll be having a csection so a bit easier for me, will be dropping my daughter at my mums the night before. My mum only works part time luckily x

 

[candymycandy]

Watching this thread as I'm stressing about this! With my 1st lb I was induced as overdue and have a feeling the same will happen again. We only have my mil to help so that's adding to my panic. Our plan is, assuming there will be some warning if labour comes naturally, to call her at the first signs (I realise it still could be slow from there but think my anxiety would be reduced knowing my lb was taken care of straight away) and have her taxi over to our house. If it's in the day I might consider him going to hers but think I'd feel more comfortable if he was home. Can you stress to your parents to make sure their phones are on loud and with them at all times?!

 

[Belfa]

I'm glad I'm not the only one stressing! My parents live 10 mins away so not too bad and my mum recently retired and my dad is quite obsessed so will make sure his diaries clear I think...

If it's during the day it's not so bad as I guess my mum can come and keep an eye on him and then take him overnight to hers as baby will soon be taking over our spare room. If it's during the night is it cruel to wake him up so he can go to my parents? I guess my dad could come down to the house and sit on the sofa (my mum wouldn't, she's precious about her sleep) until he gets up then take him home to theirs? x

 

[MrsS15]

I don't think it's cruel, it's one night you may have to do it, I'm sure he'd be absolutely fine. We'll be doing the same and dropping our son at my mums, regardless of time lol. I know they'll be on stand by no matter when it happens, and worse case something happens and they aren't there, my 2 sisters live right beside my mum so could easily drop him there!

I stressed about it for a while then decided I'm not even thinking about it. I can't predict the situation at all so why worry? I was on call for my sister when she went into labour and it ended up being so quick she gave birth on the living room floor while her other 2 kids slept through the whole thing who knows what could happen?? Xx

 

[Belfa]

I don't think it's cruel, it's one night you may have to do it, I'm sure he'd be absolutely fine. We'll be doing the same and dropping our son at my mums, regardless of time lol. I know they'll be on stand by no matter when it happens, and worse case something happens and they aren't there, my 2 sisters live right beside my mum so could easily drop him there!

I stressed about it for a while then decided I'm not even thinking about it. I can't predict the situation at all so why worry? I was on call for my sister when she went into labour and it ended up being so quick she gave birth on the living room floor while her other 2 kids slept through the whole thing who knows what could happen?? Xx

OMG!! That will be my next stress My floor's gross with a toddler and 3 dogs x

 

[MrsS15]

I don't think it's cruel, it's one night you may have to do it, I'm sure he'd be absolutely fine. We'll be doing the same and dropping our son at my mums, regardless of time lol. I know they'll be on stand by no matter when it happens, and worse case something happens and they aren't there, my 2 sisters live right beside my mum so could easily drop him there!

I stressed about it for a while then decided I'm not even thinking about it. I can't predict the situation at all so why worry? I was on call for my sister when she went into labour and it ended up being so quick she gave birth on the living room floor while her other 2 kids slept through the whole thing who knows what could happen?? Xx

OMG!! That will be my next stress My floor's gross with a toddler and 3 dogs x

it was quite an experience! But, it could happen to any of us. So don't stress about your boy, things will work out fine! Xx

 

[candymycandy]

I don't think it's cruel to wake him overnight for a one off but equally you'd probably find it easier if your dad could just come over? I thought about this but ruled it out as don't think I could cope with stress of my lb being potentially dazed and confused/upset (he loves his sleep!) and then quite likely not going back to sleep at nanny's house. Obviously appreciate your lb may take it better than mine would! Ultimately though I think do what you think you'll find easiest/least stressful as you're the most important person at that time! x

 

[Eryinera]

With my 2nd the labour was looooong (48hrs) so when it started getting more regular and frequent at 7am my mum came over and took him to school. Hubby came home from work. I laboured through the day and did a belly cast (who else can say they did a belly cast in labour lol) then hubby picked son up from school midwife came round checked how far I was I was 3 cm but she wasn't happy about babys movement so had to go to hospital.

so MIL came round me hubby and mum to hospital MIL prepared to stay the night at mine when I got discharged we brought mcd home for all my mum went back to hers so weird having mcd and contractions! Then MI back to hers. I had contractions all the night. son was asleep. by 7am pain was really bad but had to wait til 9 when the ward opened. So I called both mum's let them know what was happening.

my mum met us at hospital and MIL came round to ours to look after son. I was "lucky" in a way as my mum was on compassionate leave after her mum had died 3 days earlier on my due date. But her work was aware she may have to go at ant moment

Anyway Anya was born 12 hours later at 99pm hubby was back at home at about 11pm( but MIL was preparing to stay the night) to look after son and both came to us and bring us home the next day.

 

[kumber]

I'm massively panicking too because only my mom can realistically get to us on time, or possibly my granddad if he's feeling up to it and gets a chance to get away from building this new house! My mom is also away most weekends between now and the end of September, and she works all over during the week, so not a clue how we will manage it.

Generally the idea will be for someone to pick my boys up immediately contractions start, so at least if I go quick or slow they are sorted. Hubby doesn't drive but only works a half hour walk away or a 5 minute taxi ride, so he will hopefully get here in time and then someone can take us to hospital.

My biggest fear is giving birth at home with no assistance. DS2 was induced and hubby was off uni for summer so was much less stressful.

 

[JoeyClare]

I'll be having a section as I had an emcs with my first. We live 2.5 hours away from any family and friends, so it also means I can give my parents a date for them to arrange time off and come down. They will be taking my daughter to school and picking her up.

 

[CARNAT22]

We're just going to wing it.

Both my folks and in laws are a 5 minute drive away.

With number 2, dad dropped mum to look after the eldest and then took us to the hospital. Will do something similar this time.

X

 

[Belfa]

I'm thinking it might be good to pack DS an overnight bag at the same time that I do my hospital bag? X

 

[mylullaby]

That's what I'm doing Belfa. Hospital bags for me and baby, overnight bag for DS.

 

[Mayflower85]

I'm thinking it might be good to pack DS an overnight bag at the same time that I do my hospital bag? X

Yes I thought I'd do this too.

 

[Rose83]

With my second baby I was induced so I was booked to go in at 8am and my OH's sister came to our house and took my daughter (15 months) away to hers along with an overnight bag. She ended up staying there two nights and thoroughly enjoyed herself whereas I had worried she'd be distraught staying overnight as she never had before.

This time I'm more worried because currently I'm expected to just go naturally and now have a 2.5 year old and a 17 month old who is extremely clingy and absolutely terrible at sleeping. We live 25 minutes from the hospital and 40 minutes from my OHs sister (not in the same direction). So I think originally we had been thinking that SIL would do the same and drive to our house and take the kids away and I was worrying it wouldn't work because baby 3 could come very quickly. Last night cemented this theory: short version of the story is I had an ECV at hospital and they monitored me and sent me home saying I was fine. Got home and they called to say they had changed their minds and shouldn't have let me go. So had to call SIL and grown up niece back to take me to hospital/watch sleeping babies as OH had work. Two hours after we called them they finally arrived at the house. Not sure they realised how serious the situation could have been but obviously it was all fine. But this just proved that when the time comes if it's a natural labour (I.e not induced) then I will be packing the kids in the car no matter what time it is and taking them to the hospital and she'll have to meet us there. I am not chancing a baby being born at home, In the car or with or an epidural lol! X

 

[Lander]

Will have to consider getting DS used to sleeping elsewhere without us... He's never had a night away from us. Not because we've avoided it but because mum's 70miles away, step mum is 150 miles away and MiL is disabled and Dad and FiL both still work. They're all 63-67yrs old.

 

[mrs_cookie]

I really need to think about this one!! We live in a remote village at least 45 mins to nearest hospital. All our friends and family live 2 hours south so we either pick the closest hospital which is 45 mins north but that means it will be 3 hours before anyone can come and collect DD from us or we choose the closest hospital south which is an hour and a half away but means family can meet us there and take her straight away. If we go south tho wed have to kennel our two dogs on the way as we dont have anyone to look after them. A logistical nightmare haha! Im leaning more towards going south,can only hope I dont have a super quick labour or I'll be giving birth in the car! X

 

[kinkers]

I literally have no idea what I am going to do. I'm just kinda hoping that when I go into labour there will be a family around... it's hard to Plan!