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Original poster

To wake four sleeping children, then drag them to the shop in the pouring rain?

411 replies

PomBearEnvy · 12/01/2011 21:08

Okay I need advice, have posted here because its the busiest place. My Dc are all sleeping, aged 7yrs nearly3yrs and 18months.

I have an aquaintances newborn with me who I am looking after unexpectedly after a frantic phone call. Newborn is three weeks old, mum has been taken ill, rushed to A&E. She is a single parent and has no family nearby, I only know her through mother and toddlers.
Baby was dropped to me half hour ago by her very elderly neighbour, there was no-one else to take him when she was taken ill, he would have gone into emergency care Sad

I have nappies and clothes, but baby is usually breast fed. I am no longer feeding any of mine. I dont have formula.

Its pissing down outside, all the kids are fast asleep and will object to being woken or walking anywhere,I dont own a double buggy, no longer have a sling, and dh is working away.

How the fuck am I gonna get a newborn a 18month 3yr old and poorly 7yr old to the shop and back. aggggghhh!

Its a 6/7 min walk there, I could run in under 5mins, should I do that do you think? Leaving them sleeping? Or waking the seven yr old and talking to him on the homephone from my mobile? would that be insane? or is it more insane to try and get them all up and there with only one buggy and torrential rain.
Someone HELP!!!

OP posts:
pozzled · 12/01/2011 21:31

Post again with your postcode or area in the thread title and ask for help.

StealthPolarStuckSpaceBar · 12/01/2011 21:30

did you get it sorted OP?
This is really distressing...poor baby, poor mum and poor you. Please call someone - this is an emergency. Call a large Tesco and hope they think of the free publicity, or as someone else says, call the midwives. Surely you have friends, not even amazingly local, that could help? This is fairly serious.
Or even call social services, explain the situation and say you need practical support.
What's up with the mum?

thisisyesterday · 12/01/2011 21:30

no no, i meant a better way to deal with the whole situation than having taxi drivers sent to fetch formula and bottles and sterilisers at vast expense!!!

not at all meant as a breast v bottle thing at all

no, i am sure i've read before that if you are taken ill and you have a tiny (esp breastfed) baby then they have to allow baby to stay with you. as i said before though, this obv depends on just how ill mum is. if she's in intensive care or something it's clearly not going to work

goingroundthebend4 · 12/01/2011 21:29

Cm22 if any help

goingroundthebend4 · 12/01/2011 21:28

Cm22 if any help

PomBearEnvy · 12/01/2011 21:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

stoppinchingthedummy · 12/01/2011 21:28

thisyesterday please tell me you dont mean there is a better way because this baby is breastfed and giving him formula would be like poisen?!! I hope im reading too much into that sentence - and op will u come back and let us know your ok? please

Partyof52010 · 12/01/2011 21:28

BTW, I'm bfeeding and also have bottles steriliser and formula here but its 6mths up x

minipen · 12/01/2011 21:28

re taxi if you do not have cash to pay you may be able to owe them, they know where you live!

ballstoit · 12/01/2011 21:27

What do you have locally? ASDA or TESCO? Or a pub?

When ex had his pub he would have definitely sent a regular if a neighbour was in that situation.

TBH though, baby should be with mum if she's breastfeeding. Hospital has to take its mum if it's tiny.

DirtyMartini · 12/01/2011 21:26

Oh just saw Guac's post, yes brilliant.

pozzled · 12/01/2011 21:26

Can you give us a general area, I'm sure many MNers would be willing to help?

If not a taxi company or community mw as others have suggested.

thisisyesterday · 12/01/2011 21:26

OP... how badly ill is the mother?

have you rung the hospital? i would expect her to be able to have the baby with her, and breastfeed if she is able to do so

obviously if she is really very, very unwell then she may not be abvle to feed the abby anyway
but i honestly don't think the hospital would say the baby couldn't stay... i really don't.

ring them and talk to them. there has to be a better way than going and buying formula and bottles etc...

BikeRunSki · 12/01/2011 21:26

HD8, have bottles and 24 Tesco 5 miles away.

Dansmommy · 12/01/2011 21:26

Right, you need a taxi or an MNer.

Do you have no friends or family you can call? This is what I would consider a dire emergency. If it was you in A&E, who would have your kids? Phone that person.

minipen · 12/01/2011 21:26

Taxi is best idea, our local ones charge £1.50 delivery, I am sure if you ring & explain they will want to help, not like you are asking for a bottle of vodka

DirtyMartini · 12/01/2011 21:26

I have all the kit -- steriliser etc plus some emergency ready-made formula cartons on the side. Please be near me

sungirltan · 12/01/2011 21:25

yeh i reckon teaonesugar i'd try the co op

stewmaker · 12/01/2011 21:25

LN4 and happy to help....

solo · 12/01/2011 21:25

Guacamole's idea is brilliant imo!

HettyAmaretti · 12/01/2011 21:25

yy community midwife or OOH doctor.

mungojerrie · 12/01/2011 21:25

Yes - or call the out of hours number for your local children's services they should help you. You sound like you are doing a fab job hope baby takes bottle okay

TeaOneSugar · 12/01/2011 21:25

I'm sure a supermarket would take a payment over the phone and put some formula etc in a taxi, is that an option?

indecisiveone · 12/01/2011 21:24

I'll help if I can. What's your postcode OP?

DirtyMartini · 12/01/2011 21:24

North Edinburgh here.