What to do with children during labour?

[firethornuk]

My DP is due in 9 weeks. Assuming we are in lockdown, what can we do with my 2 children from a previous relationship? I am the only person with parental responsibility. I’d normally ask grandparents, but in the current climate I think that’s a terrible idea. I have some lovely friends and neighbours she would happily have them, I think this would be the best idea.

Any words of wisdom?

If your DP lives with you then the reasonable thing would be for him to look after them and you would have to give birth with only medical staff. Not ideal but difficult times mean difficult decisions.

I think options would be you look after your dc and your partner labours alone. Could she opt for a homebirth to avoid this? Or it may need a young, healthy friend looking after them for a minimal amount of time but as long as they’re aware they’ll still be at risk as there are a number of younger deaths than we first though.

You need to be with your partner. She needs your support. What is something went wrong? Likewise I’m sure you want to see the birth. Grandparents are high risk so bring the children to your friends. This is an extenuating circumstance. Is it anymore risky than the children of key workers attending school everyday, or going to the shops.

Sadly these are extremely desperate times and that means preferences have to be put to one side if they cannot be met safely. People are really struggling with the idea that we don't have the luxury of choice at the moment. The only possible way that I can see for you to safely accompany your partner while she gives birth is for you to create a kind of "isolation pod" with whoever you will leave the children with. That would entail both your family, and the person/people who would be caring for the children going into complete self-isolation for 2 weeks, thus ensuring that neither family has the virus. You could then leave the children with them. You would have to remain a minimum of 2m away from the babysitters and obviously not enter their property when collecting your children in case you pick up the virus at hospital.

If you can't adhere to this (which will be difficult to time given the nature of childbirth) then I think your partner will need to give birth with the support of medical staff.