Homebirth and new window installation

[OlderthenYoungerNow]

Hi all

We have booked to have new windows and doors installed. The EDD for my 2nd baby is 24th Nov, and the company have said they can install the windows 25th - 29th Nov.

Now I think this is mad:

1. I'm hoping to have a home birth
2. My first baby came at 40+5
3. The level of disruption is going to be too big for me to consider having a newborn here even if I give birth the week before

For that reason I think we should postpone to the new year. My husband doesn't want to because:

1. The windows in our bedroom don't fully close at the moment and we need them sorted ASAP because otherwise the newborn is going to get too cold
2. He thinks they can get as much done as possible - prioritising the windows that are broken for example. They may get it all done in 3 days and not 5, and I might not go into labour those few days anyway
3. If I do, we can pre-warn them that we will need to postpone the last few days but at least some will be done
4. I could potentially go into the MLU so I'm not at home giving birth while they are here if worst comes to worst

I know neither of us is being unreasonable but what I'm wondering is, is my husband down playing the disruption or am I overthinking it?

Any advice from people that have had new windows and doors installed?

The windows can't be done the week before as the company only take delivery of them on the 23rd. This has been what has delayed the installation - we were originally booked in last month but we stupidly made some last minute changes to the design and its pushed everything back.

I dont think you're overthinking it but I think hubby is right. It is the best of the two options although it is soooooo not ideal.

I reckon you'll be too stressed to go in to labour while they're installing

I've literally just had windows installed and I reckon you could ask them to do the worst ones first and plan to have the birth in the room that's first on the list. You're more likely to give birth over night so they won't be there (hopefully). I totally get how it isn't ideal but fingers crossed they'll be done and you'll go in to labour when they leave!

OK, that's really useful. I think I will suggest having a chat with the bloke over the phone to put to him the order we'd like it on in and why. That should be useful!

It’s not that disruptive the take the window out they put new one in it’s relatively clean and simple

I would delay it, the weather is appalling atm, and you could do without the stress of the fitters in when you could go into labour or already have a newborn, from what I can remember of having windows installed in rain and wind wasn’t pleasant, also the smell of the mastick and nilglass cleaner wasn’t nice either. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I had something similar with dc3. Planning a home birth and we'd booked a painter to repaint all the window frames. It took her 3 weeks. My other two had both arrived 3 weeks early so I was expecting

...expecting the same with number 3. In fact, she arrived about 12 hours after the painter finished. I think it was psychological.

I think one it's done I'll be so happy and flooded with Oxycotin that my waters will break as soon as the last one is in 😂

When we had this done I asked if they could do a particular room first so I could have use of it again quickly. The man said he was just about to ask if I had any preference as to where they began so it's not an uncommon thing.
You will be glad when they have finished though :)

New windows are not that disruptive. I'd go with it.

I had a HB for DC2 and we were booked in for a new boiler but the date was pushed back and back... in the end it was a total nightmare. It took a day longer than we were promised, the total wanker that did it refused to take his manky boots off inside so smashed mud through every single carpet in every room and, because I'd pointed out how unhappy I was about that he also wiped his manky hands over every wall, radiator, light switch - there was dirt everywhere he'd been and it was obvious because I'd cleaned everywhere before he came. He also walked out after lunch on the first day having removed the old, working boiler and said he "might" be back on day 2 "if" the new boiler arrived. Why bloody start the job then? Why leave a heavily pregnant woman without heating or hot water in sodding January? Anyway he finally came back to spread mud all over the house and 72 hours later I had hot water and after two more days of scrubbing the house i went into labour. DC2 is 13 years old and i still hate that plumber with every bone in my body. and we had to take British Gas to the small claims court to get the boiler replaced because he fitted it wrongly

But I'm sure your windows will be easy and straightforward

I would plan to get some done if you can, but make sure they understand that you might need to delay or halt work. And make sure every day they tidy up with the expectation that they may not come back the next day. And then your dh comes home and sorts the house out for you.

I've had two home births. My first was born at 37 weeks, so was expecting the 2nd to come earlier as well. They were repairing the only road in and out of where we live for like 6 weeks before I was due. It's literally the only road. It could be closed for up to an hour at a time. I was so worried that I would go into labour and midwives wouldn't be able to get to me (and I wouldn't be able to get out either). Thankfully my midwives assured me that they would get out of their cars and climb over road works and walk to me if they needed to! I think my worry about it just held things off. Second baby was born at 40+5 (nearly four weeks later than my first!), at home, all very uneventfully after the roadworks were complete.

Postpone the windows! It’s one extra bit of stress you really don’t need when you’re about to give birth, hopefully at home

We had our windows and doors done and really it was fine. There's not that much mess really, they tend to pop out the old ones and in the new ones ASAP - it's just the smell of the sealant is a bit strong. I'd have it done but ask them to do the room you're going to birth in first, then bedroom, then bathroom, then rest of house - and if you do go into labour on the day, just head for the MLU. It will be fine

We had the ones done in this house in the summer, a couple of days it was rained off so took longer than anticipated, dust, lots of banging and the fitters in and out all day with doors open gaping windows, the smell of silicon...... not something I would want doing with a newborn or whilst in labour op.

In our first house we had them done in the October. It was freezing. I think you would be crazy to go ahead.

Go to birthing unit for the birth and leave window appointment as it is.
Come home to windows done and warm for baby. Also don't need to clean birth mess up. Win win.

Ah, this is all such a bloody pain 😣

I agree with the suggestion to keep the window appointment where it is. It will be stressful trying to keep the house warm for the baby when the really cold weather comes if you have windows that don't shut properly and it will increase your heating costs. New windows aren't that disruptive to fit and better now then one you have a new born.

I was up all night thinking about it 😣 I actually do believe there might be some truth to the point that I'll probably hang on to give birth while it's being done (what with all the cortisol!) and if they finish on the 29th, I could go into labour that night with new windows and doors and my husband having finished a set of night shifts and it all be hunky dory. If only these babies would apply rational thinking to the situation!!

I'm going to chat with the installation people, suggest the order they need to work in, tell them they may need to split the job if I'm giving birth. If I give birth overnight towards the end of the week (most likely), then hopefully it'll just be a day or two of being holed up in my bedroom, feeding and shutting the world out while they complete the job. Hopefully my in laws will keep my toddler for an extra day or two. If I give birth the week before, then I'll need a plan B! Perhaps going to my mums for the week...

I feel invested in this now. Please come back and update us when windows are done / baby is here

PS my window installers left the place spotless each night and cleaned up really well after themselves. In fact I hadn't hoovered in a while (slattern) so they left the place CLEANER than it had been

They might not be so happy to book it in if there's a chance it'll be postponed/cancelled at short notice, as it's likely to mean loss of income for them for those days especially if it's literally a case of "don't come back tomorrow".

OP I did a post similar to this last year.

"Baby is due 24th December. I've booked for the family to go to a pantomime on 21st, my other two babies were two weeks late. It will be fine, won't it?"

MN said no it wasn't fine. I asked for my money back, thankfully they issued a refund.

He was born on 20th and we were in hospital the time we should have been in the pantomime.

So, following suit, i really wouldn't be getting windows installed while you're potentially crowning.

@ditsybag, I'll be sure to let you know! No sign as yet.

We have emailed the company to explain the situation (they've actually been aware if the due date for some time as it factored into our decision making when getting quotes). If they don't want to install because of it, then that's their decision and we will have to discuss with them an alternative.

@DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou The situations are really 100% comparable because you got a refund and just missed the pantomime. If we don't have the windows done, we will have a broken set over winter in our bedroom with a newborn which may be worse then having to go into the MLU if I go into labour while they are here. If they've done the bedroom first, then as above, not ideal, but when discharged I can hole up in the bedroom for 1 or 2 days with the baby while they finish.

Anywho, just repeating myself now which I know is dull so I'll keep you in the loop 😂

Update: Window installation starting today and no sign of baby (yet). They think they'll be done with upstairs by the end of today which will give us a nice warm shower room and three bedrooms to use. Phew.