Giving Birth Alone

[lebin]

Hello! Does anyone have any practical advice for getting to the hospital/ giving birth alone?

Im due in six weeks and not really getting anywhere with arranging childcare for my little boy (2.5) so I think I need to prepare to go it alone while is father stays home with him.

If I go into labour during the day it won’t be too bad, I’m sure the grandparents will pop over for a while so my partner can take me in etc, but if it’s the middle of the night what do you do? I’m thinking I’ll have to get a taxi (but what if my waters have broken?!) and just hobble in with my bags - is this what happens or am I missing something obvious? First was an induction so journey to hospital was very calm!

My husband didn't drive so I had to get a taxi to the hospital at midnight and had £100 cash in my bag and sat on a towel in case my waters broke. Good luck!

OP, wouldn’t the grandparents be prepared to pop over while you and DH go to the hospital, and stay overnight if necessary?

Nursery won’t help if she goes into labour in the day and is still in hospital in the evening, will they?

Yes he does attend nursery - so the ideal would be if I need to be admitted during a weekday, my partner will take me in and just stay until he has to go and collect him. It’s just the middle of the night Im worried about.

Surely DH would lob DS into car and get you settled in before taking DS back home to bed? Or could he drop DS at grandparents?

I’ve tried talking to grandparents a couple of times and they’ve been very dismissive/ changed the conversation. I think they would be fine to come over on a Saturday daytime but don’t seem to want to do overnight help and 2 of them still work. I’ve read a million threads on here from angry grandparents being forced into childcare so I don’t really want to push it any further!

Thank you - I hadn’t even considered that we could have DS come to the hospital with us and then go once I’m in. My brain is not working at the moment!

We brought dc with us, then dh had to go home with the dc and i gave birth peacefully alone. It can be done, so dont stress

Do you know your neighbours at all? I'd be more than happy to look after DC for my neighbours in this situation even at 3am. Might be worth asking.

My DD is that bit older and I'm actually alone, so I'm just going to get a taxi in. I checked and the ones round here will take you if you're in labour (do check; some won't!). I think bundling up your toddler and taking him in the car with you, then your DH scooting back home with him, would be fine. It's one disrupted night.

Similar situation here! We have very very tentative childcare plans right now but, if that falls through, then DH and toddler will be dropping me off at the hospital to give birth alone.

Can’t you just ask Grandparents to have a phone on loud and you be able to contact them at any time to come drop DS off at theirs?

Yes it’s not great that they might be woken up in the middle of the night but it’s a one off.

Not giving birth but following the birth of my twins (they were still in special care). I was at home with DH and DD3 and had to be rushed back into hospital due to bleeding and infection at 2am. I was advised by the antenatal ward and ambulance service the wait for an ambulance was too long so needed to get to hospital asap another way. So we wrapped DD in a blanket and put her in the car for DH to drive me in and a midwife met us at the entrance with a wheelchair.

Could you afford a doula? It’s a bit late to start looking but they can be there to support/ advocate for you. Ours cost around 1500 including 2 sessions after the birth to help with baby.

I would have a very frank and open conversation with the grandparents and lay it on the line. Tellvthem you need help.