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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Childcare while in labour!

11 replies

aliceedwards · 02/10/2014 20:49

Our 3rd baby is due on Dec 21st. Our older children will then be 3 and 4. Due to ill-health, we have no relatives able to provide reliable childcare and, as I am a full time mum, we have no existing childcare arrangements other than pre-school. We have been inundated with informal offers of help from friends but, given that they all have families of their own, and given that the baby is likely to arrive over Christmas, it does not seem sensible or fair to rely on this. We'd be happy and able to pay for childcare but are at a loss as to how to arrange this, as it would need to be available 'on call', for up to 4 weeks (and that's assuming it transpires to be a 'normal' birth) for an unknown length of time, once I am in labour. Any suggestions gratefully received.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

PepsiTwirl · 02/10/2014 21:26

Agencies......

Are you in London?

TwoLittleTerrors · 02/10/2014 21:34

How about a doula? They usually supports the mum in birth but I think they must also be happy to support the children too? Of course you can have it that the doula supports you and your DH looks after the children (I'm more happy with this as my DD isn't good with strangers). Maybe you would find one happy to work over chritmas?

Have a look at www.doula.co.uk

DesperatelySeekingSanity · 02/10/2014 21:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Karoleann · 02/10/2014 23:15

I think friends are the best way forward - if you have a few offers, do a 4 week rota when people are available and then see which days you can't cover and then maybe seek paid childcare then.
Doulas and maternity nurses are REALLY expensive and you'll have to pay a retainer for even when you don't need them.

MissMooMoo · 03/10/2014 08:54

op where are you located?
I am a nanny and I am off for 2 weeks over xmas and available if you need someone/I am close by.

busyDays · 03/10/2014 13:07

I would just go the friends who have offered. I once looked after a friend's children when she went into labour and was really quite chuffed that she chose me. It was all very exciting on the day and I would have no problem doing it again.

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 03/10/2014 13:11

Presumably when the friends volunteered, they knew it would be over Christmas, and they knew they have their own children.

Use your friends, and make sure you repay their kindness when your able to.

juneau · 03/10/2014 13:14

A doula is to help the labouring mother, not to look after her DC while she trots off to hospital!

Agree that you should take up your friends on their offers of help, but if you need them make sure that one won't get stuck for ages on her own and that the others are primed to take over at regular intervals. Or contact a nanny or babysitting agency and see whether they could provide you with cover.

lovelynannytobe · 03/10/2014 14:22

Use friends or ... take the children with you to the hospital. As you keep saying 'we' I assume there is a partner available to look after them during your labour.
I had both of my children present at my third birth. They were aged 5 (nearly 6) and 18 months. There was just no time to ring anybody and anyway I'd hate to do it at 3.30 am on Saturday night. My 18 month old was asleep most of the time but my 5 year old was very awake and participating in everything. She held my hand and gave me a lot of encouragement during the labour. Hospital staff were very understanding but they did say that if they start being disruptive my husband should take them out of the room. It wasn't planned (I hadn't considered taking them with us) but I am so glad it happened. I was a lot more relaxed knowing where my children are and what they're up to and could fully concentrate on labour. It was also a good sex education lesson for my eldest.

FlorenceMattell · 03/10/2014 16:02

Taking your children with you I would not advice.
Most hospitals will not allow them in the delivery room they will be sitting in the corridor with your husband and then he will miss the labour.
If you are in labour and start to haemorrhage or have another emergency, this would be very traumatic for your children.
I speak from experience and have seen many husbands have post traumatic shock from labours.

TwoLittleTerrors · 03/10/2014 19:45

I actually have my 3yo with me in the MLU. But it was by chance because everything happened very quickly. I gave birth within around 20-30min of arriving at the MLU. DD1 sat in the reception area outside my delivery suite. The midwives got someone to sit with her. Friend lived 20min away from hospital but didn't arrive before baby came.

I wouldn't recommend this unless you have a super fast labour!

(I know someone gave birth of her second in the home bath tub and a colleagues wife on the motorway. So it happens)!

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