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Original poster

Toddler and labour

14 replies

Beachwaves127 · 25/04/2025 22:25

I’ll have a 2 year 10 month old when I hopefully give birth to dc2. With dc1 I was in labour for 4 days - contractions were 5-10 minutes apart the whole time and other than day 1 not really manageable 😂 to be honest it was quite horrific. I was only in hospital for the last day (arrived at 10cm dilated whoops) so I had a long time at home.
I’d hope for a quicker second labour obviously, but what do people do when in labour with a toddler around?! Obviously DH can do bedtime etc, but I just wouldn’t feel comfortable being in labour at all while dc1 is around nor would I want her to see me uncomfortable as she’d worry

What do people do?!

OP posts:
SingWithMeJustForToday · 25/04/2025 22:33

Most people seem to give their toddler to grandparents. We don’t have any, so we had a friend have him - we dropped him off at 7:20am and DH picked him up at about 2pm. They came back to meet new baby at 7pm-ish, and then DH took him home again for bedtime etc. I stayed on the ward by myself. I was the only person by myself, but it was okay.

idontknow54789 · 25/04/2025 22:36

Who have you got covering you when you’re giving birth? You might just need to call on them earlier. Prior to that plenty of screen time and snacks they’ll be quite happy. You’ll probably have a quicker labour second time so might just need to call on your childcare earlier.

idontknow54789 · 25/04/2025 22:38

And yes, agree with above. My first two were home births but third was in hospital and I was quite happy being on the ward by myself - he went home for bedtime and mornings.

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Original poster
Beachwaves127 · 25/04/2025 22:41

Thanks. I’m happy to be by myself on the ward I can cope. It’s the labour and not wanting to exposure my toddler to it or any drama that is worrying me :( x

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idontknow54789 · 25/04/2025 22:47

Honestly you’d be surprised how much you can cope with and how little a toddler will notice. I remember being very worried about these sorts of things while pregnant with DC2 and DC3 but it’ll work out. Have some fun snacks and their favourite things in the tv and they’ll be fine. Be prepared it might be much quicker this time though!

Jigsawasaurus · 25/04/2025 22:48

Laboured at night so DD was already in bed. But had baby on my own as DH was with DD out in the maternity triage reception. We'd already decided I would labour alone if necessary. I didn't want her seeing me in labour as that felt less comfortable for me than labouring on my own (which actually was totally fine and I found it very empowering).

Hyperquiet · 25/04/2025 23:00

I had the same labour experience with my first!! It was horrible. Sorry I've never spoken to anyone with the same labour experience as me before.

USaYwHatNow · 25/04/2025 23:21

I was induced and chose my induction date for convenience but also due to concerns with the baby (not sure if being a midwife helped this along...) husband and mum were with me whilst my dad and brother looked after my 2.5yr old. Probably a good job I was induced as my labour was 45 minutes long (which is how long the journey from home to hospital is on a good run!) was up on the PN ward by 5am, at which point my husband and mum returned home to my house. Husband and mum slept til midday to recover and then my husband took over from my parents who then went home. We're very lucky to have lots of supportive friends and family around.

Original poster
Beachwaves127 · 26/04/2025 07:06

Hyperquiet · 25/04/2025 23:00

I had the same labour experience with my first!! It was horrible. Sorry I've never spoken to anyone with the same labour experience as me before.

Sorry to hear that and me either. I really can’t comprehend when people talk about labour being a day. I hear other people say they had a long labour and then they mention something like 12 hours 😂 to which I normally remain neutral and provide sympathy but 🤯 It was days of intense and regular contractions the whole time. Which is what I’m worried about if I have a shorter labour with dc2 are we talking about 3 days this time which obviously won’t work with a toddler 😂 I am debating a c section for this reason as just not confident in a shorter labour actually being short ie 24 hours. Sorry waffling now. Hope you’ve recovered xxx

OP posts:
Hyperquiet · 26/04/2025 15:11

Beachwaves127 · 26/04/2025 07:06

Sorry to hear that and me either. I really can’t comprehend when people talk about labour being a day. I hear other people say they had a long labour and then they mention something like 12 hours 😂 to which I normally remain neutral and provide sympathy but 🤯 It was days of intense and regular contractions the whole time. Which is what I’m worried about if I have a shorter labour with dc2 are we talking about 3 days this time which obviously won’t work with a toddler 😂 I am debating a c section for this reason as just not confident in a shorter labour actually being short ie 24 hours. Sorry waffling now. Hope you’ve recovered xxx

Show quote history

No idea but people do say the second is smoother usually well shorter anyway! So hopefully thst means within a day! I would be interested in your labour experience if you dont have a c section! Yes thank you hope you are too. Xx

Phunkychicken · 26/04/2025 15:16

If it's any consolation DS was a 38 hour labour and still needed hoovering out (finally born 3pm), DD was a 8 hour overnight labour and born at 6am with no extra help. We were lucky in that DMIL had DS the evening before as hospital had kept me in as waters had gone.

Emma543 · 26/04/2025 15:25

I had a long first Labour, went into labour quite suddenly at home with my 2 year old and called my mum to come and watch her whilst me and husband went to the hospital.. longest 45 mins of my life waiting for my mum to arrive with contractions 3 mins apart, on all fours and a toddler who didn’t give a shit and was using me like a tunnel / pulling my trousers back off my legs while I got dressed 😂
Was only in hospital for 20 mins before second daughter was born!

MyNiftyBear · 26/04/2025 18:24

I also had a long 3 day labour with my first, in and out of hospital multiple times, awful! Second was quicker at about 8h with the last half in hospital

Original poster
Beachwaves127 · 26/04/2025 19:28

Thanks @Phunkychicken @Emma543 @MyNiftyBear all three of you that’s really positive to read about your second labours :)

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