Emergency childcare falls through when you're in labour, so what happens if you load other dcs into car?

[NigellaTufnel]

Am 37 weeks pregnant, and have ds who is 2.5.

We have the in laws coming this weekend just for a couple of nights, and then three days before due date to whenever the dc2 comes.

But am in a bit of a panic of what to do with ds if we have no one here when labour starts, especially if it's in the middle of the night. It will take the inlaws about 2.5 hours to get to us.

We moved not so long ago so don't really know anyone very well. There is a really nice woman across the road, who has volunteered to help out in an emergency, but what if we need to leave for the hospital at 2am? (Initial labour with ds was very speedy) and we can't get hold of her?

Has anyone had to take older dcs into hospital until reinforcements arrive? what happened?

I'm going to raise this with MW but was just after anyone else's experiences.

Whereabouts are you based? Just wondered, since 'Tufnel' is in your username, whether you're near Tufnell Park, in which case I'm up the road if you need emergency childcare!

I think most people would be excited and pleased to be needed, even if it is at ungodly o'clock. We were relatively new in the street when I had dd2 (and parents 6hrs drive away), and lovely neighbour offered unasked (although was not needed in the end because I am so frightfully efficient and do stick to schedules!). I think anyone who's been a parent would see the problem and be happy to help.

Thanks RockSocks - we used to be in Tufnell Park but have now moved outy of London.

I miss the hot chocolate at Flavours...

You mentioned M25 too - can we be really nosy and ask exactly where you are based? There might be some of us on here that can help - albeit I know we are all strangers - but cyber friends !!

I have been worried about this too, my DS is 3 and think we will just have to take him with us.

I remember my mum telling about the same problem when she had my younger brother. Only just moved house, he was 4 weeks early and she asked the neighbour (who she had never met) to look after me (18 months)until my Nan could get there (2/3 hours away by train). My nan was horrified when she arrived and found me in the dog basket with 3 labradors. Apparently I was having a lovely time!

ha i think i beat you all for odd childcare in emergency !
EX -DH refused to look after our 3 kids, when i was in labour,
DH family were on holiday (PIL)
couldnt get best mate on phone,
DH`s EX-WIFE , looked after my 3 children from my first marrage. Not only did she take them when i was in labour, but she kept them for a WEEK , because i was stuck in the ospital with two very sick newborns.
.
She is a star! and we have "bonded" , DH is a bit when we crack open a bottle and start talking about his annoying habits ....lol .
Would have been lost without her !

Homebirth? I did this although I was planning to have DD taken by my mum while I gave birth but it happened very quickly at 4am before the midwife even got there (DD was crying in the bedroom but we had to ignore her as we were busy delivering a baby). I did wonder how badly she was emotionally scarred by being woken up by my groans of pain then hearing a baby cry and coming into the living room to find me lying on the floor with a naked baby on my tummy

She seems to have gotten over it

Can you chat to your midwife/hospital about what would happen in this instance. Think it would be preferable to take your child than to leave with a neighbour in the middle of the night - might be too unsettling for them.

no that was my parents on the M25, not NigellaT's

We are lucky in that we have PIL three doors down, although I am sneakily hoping to go into labour tomorrow night as my parents are staying over, and I know I will want my mummy! Also PILs driving leaves a little to be desired, and I'm still at the being overly polite stage with them, so they might be a bit shocked at me roaring and bleeding everywhere! Hopefully DD will go to play with FIL and MIL will give me and DP a speedy yet safe ride to hospital, then go home (it is not entirely unlikely that she will try and hang around the hospital till the baby is born - I love her, but I don't want to be worrying about her being bored in the waiting room! I'm having a section, so luckily I don't have the awkward situation of getting her to leave the delivery room if she annoys me.)

DD1 came with us - My dad was 1.5 hours away.
I had to go to hospital as soon as anything started due to complications with dd1

I was admitted & DH waited outside with DD1 until my dad arrived.

I would go with the kind neighbour. If she has offered she won't mind, I know I wouldn't.
You can always make it up to her with wine /or chocolate after the event