Childcare during labour when in lockdown

[Ch3rry]

Hi!

I'm 37 weeks pregnant with my second child. Before lockdown we were planning on having our friends look after our daughter when I go into labour. However, now, in the current climate, I don't want to put anyone's health at risk. Does anyone know what the guidelines are or if there are any in place?

Worst case scenario my husband will have to stay at home with her while I go to the hospital on my own. But right now I can't imagine going through childbirth without him by my side. I suppose I'd better keep my phone charged for facetime just in case!

One of my good friends is due a baby any day now. Both sets of grandparents have underlying health issues and are self isolating so they can’t have their ds. We have offered to have him as we live round the corner. We’re all self isolating as much as physically possible aside from buying food. I know households shouldn’t mix but I couldn’t imagine giving birth without dh there and would hope that our friends would help us out in such exceptional circumstances if we needed it. Maybe speak to them, they could still be willing. I’m a stickler for following the guidelines but I think a situation like this is very different.

Hi OP,

I’m 37 weeks too and have been thinking about this. I’ve planned a homebirth from day 1 for several reasons and have been really lucky so far that our local trust is still supporting them and actively encouraging them (hopefully that’ll stay the same for the next 3 weeks!)

I have 2 dds already and have been wondering what to do with them. My DM is happy to have them if needed and I’m hoping that DP can stay off work long enough so that both households can self isolate for as long as possible.
My gut feeling is to keep the girls here if possible but I’m sure that if needed, no one will have a problem with them going to DM’s. If anyone has symptoms it will be a different matter but as long as no one does I think it’s enough of an ‘emergency’ situation to justify it.

Thank you both!

I've reached out to the friends and they're still willing to look after her so we'll probably take the risk. I'm sure if we just walk over there it should be pretty safe. We're self-isolating too, except my husband who does the occasional shop. So hopefully with every precaution taken it'll all be ok.

Xx