To not know how to do Christmas since I might be in labour

[TitusAndromedom]

My due date is tomorrow and, despite all my protestations to the contrary, it seems like the baby might come on Christmas. I’ve never gone into labour naturally before so I don’t have any sense of how quickly things might progress, but contractions are fairly regular and seven minutes apart at the moment. The problem is that I have three year old twins who are very excited about Father Christmas coming tomorrow, and now I’m not sure if I’ll be here for Christmas morning. I know this is selfish but I would feel so sad to miss out on their excitement in the morning, but equally I don’t want them to wake up expecting something that hasn’t happened. My MIL and SIL will come look after them if we have to go, and I could get everything ready tonight for FC’s visit once the boys are in bed. Is there any other other way to deal with this than the two options I can currently see?

As sad as it would be for you to miss them opening them I think this is just one of those times when, for one year, you're going to have to put your grown-up self second and make sure everything's arranged for them to have all the magic they would usually have at Christmas. Maybe ask PIL to film stocking opening?

Can you get all t heir gifts onto your bed or make sure its clear where they are so your mum can get them all under the tree an d ready for xmas morning.

Good luck and merry xmas!

All you can do is get everything ready as you are doing and wait and see.
If you and dh are not there in the morning, mil and sil will have to wing it and distract with food and presents.
They can tell the boys that you had to go on a special errand and they will see you soon.
How lovely for them to get a new brother or sister!
With luck your labour will be quick.

Actually, I would get mil and sil round asap in vase things speed up. My second labour was 2 hours.

Home birth?

Labour could still slow down/stop again. Try having a bath and see what happens.

I think the best you can do is to get everything ready for the morning so it can be shoved under the tree. What time will the twins go to bed? You should have time to whack everything under the tree before you go off to the hospital- I think you’ve probably got a couple more hours before you need to go in.

Good luck :)

You can tell them father Christmas brought them a new brother/sister! Good luck, get everything in one place so MIL/SIL knows where to find everything and can them soon, if you're already seven minutes apart do it now, mine sped up really quickly after a certain point

*call

Omg! Sorry I'm not much help (except to suggest home birth) but this is so exciting good luck!

My second labour was two and a half hours. I went to hospital at midnight and was home by 6am. My eldest slept through it all and didn't have a clue! (A friend looked after him, I didn't leave him alone ) So fingers crossed you might be quick!

I think you're going to have a Christmas Day baby! What a fantastic present for your children. I would tell them now that it's likely you won't be there in the morning and tell them exactly who will be and what will happen. Best of luck!

Clench those muscles op!! I was due Xmas eve. Managed to hold dd in til nye!!
Sheer determination I am sure!!

I suspect not seeing them open their presents will soon be the least of your worries. It's one year.

They go to bed at sevenish so I do plan to get everything under the tree and ready to go. I’d also like to vacuum and steam clean the floors but recognise that might not be possible. I definitely don’t want MIL and SIL here yet as I want to stay as calm and relaxed as possible and their presence is not conducive to that!

Probably a bit late for a home birth, but I’ll be five minutes up the road at the MLU.

I’m just so sad that I might not be here to see them excited about their gifts. It’s the first year they properly get it.

Name changed just for this reply

My birthday is tomorrow! I have a sister who is 4 years older. She has not been scarred for life because neither mum or dad were there on Christmas morning. Santa got her a very special present... her baby sister

She did ask Santa the following year not to do that again--

Have you phoned the MLU to check if there’s room at the inn?

As an aside, I know a family who have two birthdays on Xmas day! Crazy round theirs at Xmas

Aww :(

I know it's different as I'll physically be here, but I have such bad morning sickness I won't be able to do anything anyway, like help the DC build their presents and play with them. I think I'd rather be in labour as I'm quite productive then ha

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox, how do you celebrate? Or does it get lost in Xmas day?

Thank you, xo, that really helps. I’m already full of guilt that we’re about to turn their lives upside down, and now feel that I will have ruined their Christmas and also that this baby is going to be destined for a life of joint Christmas/birthday gifts! Happy Birthday to you for tomorrow!

Call the new baby Jesus or Rudolf? It will be the best Christmas present ever for the twins. Best wishes.

I haven’t, Santa, but my midwife told me previously that they were expecting it to be pretty quiet at Christmas, and I told her that wouldn’t be an issue for me regardless because I wouldn’t be giving birth on Christmas Day.

Also, vacumming & steam cleaning floors are not an integral part of anyone's Christmas. Sit down & crack open the Heros.

It’s possible that you could be back home in time if things progress! I had second child in 3 hours from first contraction. He was supposed to be born at home but there were no midwives. He was born at 9pm and I was home by midnight, having had a couple of stitches. I think they were delighted to let me go because I had been supposed to be a home delivery and had arrangements in place as a consequence for him to be checked over at home. Which happened the next morning.

Why isn't DH doing the vacuuming, steam cleaning and getting presents ready, while you just get on with the business of being in labour?!