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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:
alicet · 13/01/2011 14:54

Really glad all turned out well under the very sad circumstances.

This thread has really restored my faith in humanity - so many people who just pitched in when it mattered. Pom (you are a star), the anonymous MN and the taxi driver especially. MW and GP were doing their jobs granted but sounds like they went over and above too.

Another forum I frequent (not parenting related) was bitching about MN recently. Think I might just go and post this thread to show them what the people here are really like!

MrsKitty · 13/01/2011 14:54

Poor Mother.

Well done Pom, and everyone else involved. Been following the thread since last night, hoping everything would be OK. It was the Taxi driver that finally had me in tears. Lovely man.

PhishFoodAddiction · 13/01/2011 14:49

I had tears in my eyes reading this thread it's lovely the way MNers offered their help. Well done POM, I hope that the mum is recovering and that baby is happy with grandparents. Such a sad story, but the response so heartwarming.

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/01/2011 14:44

well done pom

just found and read this and thankfully all ended well, what a lovely taxi driver and also the mner who wants to remain nameless

so sad about the mum,hope she gets the supports she needs and least baby is with gp's now

storminabuttercup · 13/01/2011 14:43

i've just read this and have to say pom, not only are you an amazing person for doing this but you must have already been a wonderful person before for this poor lady who knew she could send her baby to you to be safe, you have obviously touched her in a way you werent aware of for her to feel that she could rely on you, you sound lovely!

i hope the mum pulls through and makes a full recovery and that you can be there for her as a friend, sounds like she'll need you.

SixtyFootDoll · 13/01/2011 14:43

What a lovely story,well done to all involved. I was working nights last night and kept checking in. Glad baby is ok and hope Mum is better soon.

SixtyFootDoll · 13/01/2011 14:43

What a lovely story,well done to all involved. I was working nights last night and kept checking in. Glad baby is ok and hope Mum is better soon.

MumNWLondon · 13/01/2011 14:42

Although I agree what Pom did was great, surely we'd have all done similar - if a newborn was placed into our care late one evening.

(Of course if POM's DH had been at home or if one of the neighbours could have babysit for 15 mins it would have been much easier in terms of POM getting some milk - but I doubt the mum considered this.)

I don't think its anything to do with mumsnet, just what any decent human, especially a mother would do. And of course if anyone could help someone in this position they would. Mumsnet is the medium for speaking out to other mothers. I'm sure you would have had similar response posting on facebook (but much narrower audience).

TBH I thought suicide as a possibility when I read the original posts, as generally newborn would go to hospital with mother if she wanted.

Very very sad that the only person she could leave her baby with was an acquaintance. And even sadder that someone with a newborn was so alone as it is tough.

diddl · 13/01/2011 14:37

Well I hope the mum gets through this & gets the hep/support she needs.

Hopefully the fact that she thought about care for her baby is a good sign.

moocowmrs · 13/01/2011 14:33

Any chance mumsnet towers have something in pettycash or a sponsor / advertiser gift style thing that could be sent to pom as a treat it was wonderful what she didfor this mum and baby x

moocowmrs · 13/01/2011 14:33

Any chance mumsnet towers have something in pettycash or a sponsor / advertiser gift style thing that could be sent to pom as a treat it was wonderful what she didfor this mum and baby x

cestlavielife · 13/01/2011 14:31

sad for the mum... but thank goodness mum had the presence of mind to choose pom to hand over the baby too...well done ...

MinnieMummy · 13/01/2011 14:25

I've only just read this and I'm amazed on all levels, so heartwarming. HUGE well done to you Pombear and to the anon MNer as well.

Poor poor mum though. Hope she gets stronger soon and is able to be back with her baby soon. When she's well again do tell her to come on here and join us! (not to update her situation, I mean just to be one of us)

CoronaAndLime · 13/01/2011 14:24

Blubbing like an idiot at this.

Some truly lovley people on mn.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 13/01/2011 14:22

I read part of this thread at 5 am this morning. So heartwarming that so many were trying to help.

Such a sad situation, I really hope the mum is ok and gets the help she needsSad

I'm so glad you got as much support as you did Pombear.

Poledra · 13/01/2011 14:22

What a sad and also heart-warming story. Pom, you are a wonderful, kind person and the taxi driver and the MNetters and theri families who were such a help.

The poor mother though Sad; the only person she could think of to look after her baby was an acquaintance. It sounds like she was very isolated and lonely. I hope she gets the help she needs to get through this.

bluesheep · 13/01/2011 14:22

There are some truly wonderful people in this world, and that poor woman found one of them last night.

Pom you are amazing, as is the wonderful MNetter who helped, the brilliant and generous taxi driver (name and praise the firm I think!) and the lovely GP and midwife.

I hope you can get some rest today Pom, and if karma is true then I'd buy yourself a lottery ticket as well.

Finally I have my fingers crossed for that poor mum and her baby. Hope mum is recovering well and gets the help she needs, and that she's back with her baby soon.

welshandproud · 13/01/2011 14:19

Another in tears here! Wishing the mum lots of help,love and support so that she can see just why her life is so important.

Keep us updated Pom.
You are so very kind.

MsKLo · 13/01/2011 14:17

I feel for the baby too who myst have felt so bewildered to not have mummy there. Hope baby managed to feed ok in the end as that must have been weird for him too.

MsKLo · 13/01/2011 14:15

That poor lady to feel so desperate

My best wishes to all involved x

allfurcoatandnoknicks · 13/01/2011 14:13

Just when you think the world is a horrible place, something like this happens, to prove that yes there are some decent people still out there. What an amazing thread it has had me in tears, for the baby, the mum and you pom and im a cold hearted bitch lol

Seriously though you did an amazing thing pom. That poor mother must have been so desperate.

2blessed2bstressed · 13/01/2011 14:11

I never cry - but this thread had me in tears. I saw it last night but felt too useless to post as I'm hundreds of miles away. What a kind, sensible and warm person Pom is (which this poor lady must've realised), and how lovely of the taxi driver. Also, to the "wishing to stay anon" MNetter and her family - you are all fabulous too!
I just hope now that the mum gets help and makes a good recovery x

hatwoman · 13/01/2011 14:08

blimey what a story. well done pom. and well done to the mn-er and her family and the taxi driver. it really does go to show that the world is FULL of good people.

I hope the mum recovers and that the baby can go home soon

Vallhala · 13/01/2011 14:05

"In the end a localish friend who doesn't have a car rang around and got through to a taxi firm who got formula to me from the 24hr garage, they refused to take payment for journey (which would normally be £20ish at that time of night) and the driver insisted on paying for milk out of his own pocket!!"

That's just had me in tears. What a darling!

And you are too, Pom. You must be exhausted, you poor love.

I hope so very much for a full recovery for the baby's mum and that she gets all the help that she needs.

Val x

Guacamole · 13/01/2011 14:01

How terribly sad. Pombear you did an amazing thing for someone in desperate need, well done!