Who is looking after your children...

[Jadefeather7]

whilst you give birth? If you already have an older child/children

Lots of people will jump to tell you that your partner should stay home and you should birth alone - but I would ask my mum. You are allowed to care for relatives. Your partner will be caring for you in medical need. I wouldn't have been without him. (Cue pitchforks)

I would ask mum to self isolate (which they're doing anyway) before the birth and then once then get home. my DH and I would do the same once returning home from hospital.

I'm due 22nd May. My brother who has been working from home will look after my 3 year old at our house, even if we are still in lockdown...to me its essential. I don't see how else I can do it. It may mean that I have to go to hospital on my own at first as my husband will have to wait for brother to come over. Which could take 1-2 hours due to limited public transport now, brother doesnt have a car.

I was going to use nursery or local friends for that bit but that's not going to happen while on lockdown. Then husband will join me once my brother is at home. And I'm crossing my fingers and toes that mu husband will be able to stay with me for as long as possible once at hospital.

I'm going in alone. There are people we could ask, and my mum is really keen to help, but I just feel like if my husband is in hospital too, if he's going home to take over from someone once the baby is here, then he might carry something to the babysitter.... and if it affected them badly then I would be devastated to have been the reason. Especially as my mum is older and not 100% fit herself.

Given that he could only be in with me for the final bit of labour anyway, we've decided it's not worth the risk to him, our kids, a babysitter, the midwife who would have 2 of us in a room instead of just me...

But that said, I'm not someone who is particularly bothered by hospitals/ giving birth/ needing support etc, and if I were then I would 100% be taking up offers and having my husband there. So for me it's more that I'm not wanting to risk so many interactions between other people for the sake of me essentially having company for a couple of hours, as honestly in my last labours he was only good for company ;) I didn't need back rubs or emotional support. So I'll just call him at home and chat on the phone when I'm bored between contractions ;)