Has anyone had an elective section without DH as he was at home with other DC?

[Oddsocksforeveryone]

We have 3dc, the youngest has just turned 1. This baby was a surprise so no planning.
Dc 1&2 ended in emergency sections, dc3 was elective.
We are booked in for our elective 13 weeks today.
We are starting to get our plans together and were discussing the birth, the only person we have other than DH who could look after the children is my mother but she is not in the best health and has offered her help in any emergency in the last few years and to be honest I've reached a point where I feel it's unfair to keep turning to my parents.
Mil lives an hour and half away, has dogs and wouldn't be capable of looking after the children. Not going into detail and not interested in mil bashing, she just isn't an option.
So that leaves DH. He is obviously upset and worried about not being there but does agree that we have made the choice to expand our family and they are our responsibility so will stay with the dc. This combined with the fact we don't currently have a car means he may not see ds3 until baby and I come home.
I have said that if my mother offers to help we will discuss it but I am not asking her.
Has anyone been in a similar position?
I was home 24 hrs after surgery with the last one but obviously you never know how things will go.

Just ask your mum. I hear wilhat you're saying but the alternative sounds upsetting for both you and DH. It's not like having a baby happens all the time - it's very different from most other times you've needed to ask for help. Honestly I'd just ask her for help.

Could you pay someone to stay at home and look after the children with your mum whilst you are in hospital with your husband so as not to put too much on your mum.

Yes I would look into a childminder/babysitter combined with your mum, or a friend or other parent locally? You know the day you'll need them so it's not such a big ask as a natural labour where it could be any time of day/night.