Childcare in an emergency?

[LauraPan]

Hello,
I had my baby 3 weeks ago and had a difficult delivery. I wanted to know what to do in case I have to go to the hospital urgently because I am unwell again (there's a slight chance of that). Obviously my partner can take care of the baby, but if he need to come with me too, how can we find some form of emergency childcare? We don't have relatives living close and our friends may not be the best choice to leave the baby. Is the NHS or the council offering any sort of service with very short notice?

I went back into hospital a week after birth and left the baby with dad. Sorry yes it's shit being on your own but it is what it is. This is parenting.

You cannot leave your 3 week old baby with a stranger. If you’re unwell and you need to go back into hospital then you go alone and the baby is looked after by his dad.

It’s hard, but the days of What you want coming first have gone.

You’d be expected to leave baby with its dad as realistically you can be by yourself in hospital but you’re baby can’t. I think you’d prefer your baby to be looked after by it’s dad than a stranger.

Sorry but I would have thought it was obvious.
Either you all go (ie you take the baby) or you go alone and he stays home with the baby.

Do you have any friends or family locally you could ask? If not look up some local nanny agencies. They usually provide emergency childcare. I can’t think of a situation, unless you were actually dying, where your partner would ‘need’ to come with you.

You go on your own and dad stays home with the baby. I had to go back into hospital after both of my babies because of my bloody pressure and this is what we had to do. Even pre-covid.

As an adult you won't need another adult in hosp with you so surely baby's dad can look after baby? In fact I'm sure in covid times unnecessary adults aren't allowed to attend with other adults

You could sign up to a local nanny hire company and see if there is someone/more than one you could hire at short notice for a short duration but whatever childcare you are looking for, you will be expected to pay because there is no reason why you can’t be in hospital alone and your partner looks after his baby.

Just to add i do know of situations where a baby has been cared for on the Children’s ward until either a family member or foster carer can come to collect if the mum falls ill with no one else around and needs emergency treatment but not when the childs dad is available.

Could a friend accompany you to the hospital so that you're not on your own whilst baby stays with Dad? Depending on what your in hospital for then your baby may be able to stay with you. I was admitted to hospital 3 times after having my first dc, you have my sympathy

You take the baby with you. If you're too sick to care for baby, dad stays home and you get an ambulance.

If neither parent can safely care for the baby, social services can get emergency foster carers... but it's a very last resort when baby is unsafe with either parents.

You cant be accompanied by anyone now any way so I wouldn't stress about it dad does childcare you go in.

You would rather leave your 3 week old baby with a complete stranger than with your partner? Purely because you don't want to be alone in hospital?