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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:
SecretNutellaFix · 13/01/2011 14:00

Well done Pom- so glad that people can come to the aid of strangers without pausing.

berri · 13/01/2011 13:59

Gosh what an incredibly amazing yet sad thread at the same time. So many kind people out there.

dilbertina · 13/01/2011 13:57

I must admit I did wonder if this was what was happening with the mum last night, espec. when the GP was trying and failing to track down the hospital admission, but since you had already informed the authorities and they were on the case I figured there was no point suggesting it, other than to worry you further. So sad about the mum, hope she is ok.

You did brilliantly Pom, I know you barely know then mum but you must have struck her as a wonderful, warm person who she could trust her baby with, and you have proved her right. Well done!

atmywitssend · 13/01/2011 13:48

Well done Pom - you are an amazing person. Thoughts are with the poor little baby, its Mother and family, really hope that it all works out well.

Eglu · 13/01/2011 13:46

It just goes to show that there are amazing people who will help. What a lovely taxi driver for example. And well done the mner and her family. You have been amazing pombear. Hope the Mum gets the help she needs.

aStarWithHerOwnWays · 13/01/2011 13:45

This has made me cry Blush People can be so amazing and the world can be such a kind place. I really hope the baby's mum can start to see that again soon. Well done everyone

Leo35 · 13/01/2011 13:44

So glad that the baby and his mum have some family support around now. Glad also that you had practical help from medics and other MNetters.

Hope that you get a chance to recover in the next couple of days (and that your DC is on the mend). Take good care of yourself. You have done a wonderful thing, although you must feel as if you have been through the wringer.

Thinking of you all.

PacificDogwood · 13/01/2011 13:44

Oh, my, I couldn't bear to post on this thread last night as I had no practical help to offer.

So sad about the baby's mother - I hope she will be ok.
I am so glad you got help and that people volunteered their time/money/effort.
It does restore my faith in humanity to hear about these kind of things in the midst of awful things happening Smile.

I hope you will get some rest and the baby will be well looked after and loved with its grandparents.

wukter · 13/01/2011 13:39

Well done Pom, you've been brilliant. People are so good. you, and everyone that helped.

How sad that a woman with a newborn was so low and so alone Sad I hope she pulls through.

sakura · 13/01/2011 13:38

oh, I've just read this thread! it blew me away. You're so kind, I hope the mother is doing okay.

BrokenBananaTantrum · 13/01/2011 13:37

This thread has been amazing.

I am so glad that baby is ok and that you got some help.

I hope mum makes a full recovery.

:) :)

Weegle · 13/01/2011 13:36

wow what an amazing thread - MN at it's best

Well done Pom Bear, and wishing you lots of strength. You've done something amazing.

Poor little baby and poor woman.

TanteRose · 13/01/2011 13:35

that is lovely Smile

well done, hope you can relax a bit now...

iskra · 13/01/2011 13:35

aw, really heartwarming. Hope that the mother pulls through & gets the help she needs. Well done Pom & everyone who helped.

Buda · 13/01/2011 13:34

OMG. What a nightmare.
Pom - you were a star. I know you were landed in it and didn't have much choice but you were/are a star.

The taxi driver not taking any money has had me in tears. What a nice man.

Glad OOH GP was so good too. They get a lot of bad press.

Poor mum. Hope she is ok and gets the help she needs.

pookamoo · 13/01/2011 13:34

Gosh how sad about the mum. I hope she is ok. Sad

I found your thread this morning and wish I had been able to help.

Do let us know how things turn out.

You are a fantastic friend to that family, even if it was all a bit of a shock!

Fimbo · 13/01/2011 13:33

What a wonderful thing you did Pom and to all those who were willing to help out. How very kind the taxi people were too.

And for all those w@@kers out there that slag off mn they should come read this.

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 13/01/2011 13:33

aren't people wonderful?

please pass on to the mother lots of love when you get a chance to talk to her, tell her there are lots of strangers out there who feel for her and care and hope she will be on the road to recovery (physical and emotional) soon.

Original poster
PomBearEnvy · 13/01/2011 13:29

Update
Baby is now safely in care of granparents who travelled through the night from the midlands to get here after being contacted by the hospital/social services??
Mum is in a bad way Sad I don't know details but it seems she attempted suicide Sad Sad

Midwife eventually arrived last night after 12pm Shock
In the mean time SS had finally rung to say that they were looking into circumstances and were going to sort things out. Unfortunately, they had no-body in the immediate area but would get somebody to me as soon as possible. Lady explained that as mother had made her own arrangements to get baby to me, it was basically not a 'priority' as baby was safe and being looked after by someone trusted by parent.

A LOVELY LOVELY LOVELY MNer who wants to stay anon managed to phone a family member who lives 20ish miles away, and was willing to drop milk off. She was a great emotional support, Thank you!

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!!

Midwife was great when she finally arrived, and helped me settle baby and feed, as the poor thing was battling with a bottle Sad and my youngest kept waking so I would have really struggled.
She stayed most of the night with me,the out of hours GP kept in contact also. Smile People who obviously care!
SS got a very nice man here in the early hours, who told me about mum Sad and agreed it would be best for baby to stay with me until Grandparents arrived (they had been contacted and were on way)

Phew that was long, I hope it makes sense. I am so tired and emotionally drained that I feel like im in a dream.

THANK YOU to all of you, especially the people who although not local were willing to drive miles and help. And a big thank you to the mumsnetter and her extended family who I'd never spoken to before last night, but were willing to help a complete stranger. Amazing!

OP posts:
atmywitssend · 13/01/2011 13:21

Hi - hoping all is ok today?

emmanana · 13/01/2011 13:11

Bump.
Another one reaches for the kleenex..
Hope all is ok with you Pom, you lovely lady.
Any news on Baby's Mum?

WimpleOfTheBallet · 13/01/2011 13:04

The OP may be dragging around the hospital today...or even having to see SS re what to do with baby. If the babies Mum is really unwell then they won't keep him with her.

atah · 13/01/2011 12:31

pom please update us on you, baby and baby's poor mum.
You have done an amazing thing, not many would

Partyof52010 · 13/01/2011 12:12

Just thought I'd see how you're doing Pom. My sister is fairly near to you if you need any help. She also has many a baby type thing if you need anthing e.g monitors, buggy etc.

Any news on babys mum? Hope you had a good night, and that things aren't too hectic Smile

DanceInTheDark · 13/01/2011 12:06

Another one popping in to see how things are?