want a homebirth but where to take kids???

[blossom2]

i'm in a real dilemma. i really want to have a home birth this time round with number 3, however i have 2 DDs and no real family nearby. so where do they go?? it may only be for a few hours but i feel its too much to ask friends.

i dont want a hospital birth just because we dont know where the kids are going to go.

what do you think i should do??

what about hiring a doula that way there is always someone for you and someone to be with children Or you could see if their are any fellow mumsnetters in your area how old are the children are you against them being there with you

girls will be 5yrs and 19mths. i dont particularly want them to hear my screaming in pain and i wouldnt feel to comfortable about them being in the house.

I was in the same situation -planned homebirth for dd 2, but family are min. 1 1/2 hours away and having had a quick first labour, was nervous they wouldn't make it in time! I think its not too much to ask friends - I did, and everyone was really happy to offer to help - after all, you're not exactly going to be asking them this particular favour every week!!
If you think dumping two on one person is too much, could you split them up?

NB I had a 'rota' so I knew who was availble on particular days, and actually ended up ringing a dad who didn't have his kids with him, so could drop everything and ran over!

I was also 'emergancy childcare' for a mate who had a homebirth, and she never called me, as she went into labour at 11pm so her son didn't wake up until well after the baby came along! Do bear in mind that night is prime popping-time!! Having said that, I didn't want ds in the house in case I woke him up - didn't think I could comfort him whilst in labour!

~Good luck - planning childcover was the most stressful thing in the whole birth for me!

thank you samnbabes. i dont really want to split them up as they do like being together. DD2 is often okay if she knows that DD1 is with her.

thankfully i've got a few months to think more about it.

Mine dd and ds sat watching Toy Story II when I was in labour with ds3. Then I had ds4 while the other three slept.

I must admit though, it was a bit stressful wondering where they'd go and how things would pan out while I was pg. So I think you're wise to have a plan even if you don't stick to it.

IME friends are only too happy to do this for you. It's a fun and exciting favour.

Good luck BTW. [wmile]

Oh my word Blossom - you're having another baby!! I cant keep up! lol It seems no time since you were here parting with Ronnie and Charlie (who incidently are doing great) with dd1 who was just 2yo! Many congratulations.

As for the home birth. I had the same problem, but I had my sister living with us at the time who said she'd take them out during the day, but wouldn't have been able to do much at night. As it was my twinges started at tea-time, so I carried on as normal and put the kids to bed. They went to sleep as usual and I carried on with the labour trying not to be too noisy. Ds2 arrived before midnight and they never woke. They were greted in the morning by their new little brother and it was such a wonderful experience. I'd recommend home birth to anyone. Oh, and I was less noisy because I was so relaxed in my own home so all worked out fine.

A big hello Aero, really has made me . i'm very early and it was a very big surprise.
i'm still in shock but getting excited.

i'm glad that Ronnie & Charlie are well. we were just talking about getting a pet as well as DD1 keeps going on about it. her favourite line is "we cant be a family without a pet"!!!

I have no family nearby so asked a friend to be on emergency call. She was only too happy to do so. Failing that, I would have asked my neighbour had it been in the night or if friend hadn't been here.
Worked out that it was 5am, and friend was thrilled to see me grunting!! She had DD1 fior the whole day, until my sis came to relieve her.