Has anyone had a homebirth with older children in the house? What did you do?

[LaWeasel]

DC2 is not due until December, but I'm veering toward a homebirth for this one.

However, we're in new area haven't got any friends here, everyone that could watch DD (2yo) are more than 2 hours away... now partly, that's why I want a homebirth, so I don't have to wait 2 1/2hrs to wait for a babysitter before I can go to hospital.

But - do you think it's a good idea to ask someone to make the journey as soon as I go into labour just in case I end up transferred to hospital?
or would it be better to ask someone to come and stay with us around the time.

Baby being due at christmas time we will have to get on with asking people to do this asap.

Also - did your older children wake up, or did they sleep through it if you laboured overnight?

If you're getting one from DUK or NB then they're checked out, that's the point of organisations like them. They're not going to be an extra stranger either, they're often the only person there - other than partner/ mum/ etc - who you know, you don't usually know which MW or doctor will be catching your baby in advance. A Doula will have interviewed with you - usually as well as several other Doulas - then worked with you through the pregnancy, at least two antenatal sessions and support when you need it through the pregnancy. They're not just turning up on the day.

My first was unassisted in hospital, second was a crash section and I only know that the hospital director did it, no idea who anyone else was as I didn't see them in my next pregnancy I went in during the pregnancy for prem contractions and the doctor said "Oh I remember this one" looking at my notes, I'd never met him before (that I knew of). My second was delivered by a doctor who was actually part of my team and I've seen her a bit through this pregnancy.

In your own home you have a lot more room to be left alone, you can tell people to go and sit in the kitchen, lock yourself in the bathroom etc. You don't have to call anyone until you're ready for them to be there.

Often women will wait until the time is right to go into labour, most women with children upstairs will wait until their children are asleep before delivering. It's likely to be quicker than a hospital birth and quieter. If children do wake up you're not on your own, so someone can go to them.

Oh and I missed the point about what a Doula does. We're not there to "do" anything, we're not medical professionals, we're there to support you however you need it and if we've done our job in pregnancy that should mean sitting back during the labour and letting the parents get on with it. If I ended up being emergency childcare I wouldn't be fussed. I'm there to support you and enable you to have the birth you want/need, not to deliver a baby.

Apologies accidentally posted instead of starting a new thread!