To want DP close by at 39 weeks pregnant

[Owchyleg]

My DP works about an hour and a half away for part of the week. I am currently 39 weeks pregnant and he has work away on Thursday and Friday of this week. We are not sure if he should go although he can't afford to not go indefinitely ie if I go over due by a couple of weeks.

This is my second child, first labour was 16 hours.

How would others feel about DP being away at this stage of pregnancy?

He needs to be at work, as long as he is easily contactable at all times! He will need to take time off after the birth after all

Of course you want him close by that's perfectly understandable but I'm guessing it's not feasible, try n relax & make sure you have every eventuality cover.

Good luck

Have you family nearby? I went into labour with number 2 when DH was on the other side of the country, eeek! Parents took me to hospital and DH went straight there. They took older child home. All was well.

Yep, you could still be pondering this again next week! If he is easy to contact then I wouldn't stress. An hour and a half travelling time is doable for almost all but extreme circumstances, so the likelihood of him not getting there in time is small.

If your financial circumstances are that tight then I would be sad but recognise that I am in a position where its best for the family that he does go to work on those days. So I'd look for some local support for the first few hours in case you do start labour while he's away, to give him the time to drive home safely and be with you. The chances are that he may miss the early part but it is likely make it for the main event (assuming he will be able to leave as soon as you give him the call)

Have you got family or friends nearby who can take you to the hospital and watch DC1 if you go into labour while your DP is at work?

That's really the main thing that would worry me about DH being a long way from me if I was heavily pregnant.

I would think that in most cases an hour and a half commute would still give a DP time to get home from work before the Baby appeared.

Do you mean he'll be further away than 90 minutes or just 90 minutes away? That doesn't seem far away to me, first labours take hours usually. Also very few men have a job where they can just drop everything the instant you phone so a couple of hours delay to get there isn't that unusual. Alot of women sort out getting themselves to hospital by taxi etc and their husbands see them on the labour ward.

If you call him on the first contraction, an hour and a half isnt too long to be away. Who is your childcare for DC1? Have them around asap so you can concentrate solely on you til dh gets there.