To wake four sleeping children, then drag them to the shop in the pouring rain?

[PomBearEnvy]

Okay I need advice, have posted here because its the busiest place. My Dc are all sleeping, aged 7yrs nearly3yrs and 18months.

I have an aquaintances newborn with me who I am looking after unexpectedly after a frantic phone call. Newborn is three weeks old, mum has been taken ill, rushed to A&E. She is a single parent and has no family nearby, I only know her through mother and toddlers.
Baby was dropped to me half hour ago by her very elderly neighbour, there was no-one else to take him when she was taken ill, he would have gone into emergency care

I have nappies and clothes, but baby is usually breast fed. I am no longer feeding any of mine. I dont have formula.

Its pissing down outside, all the kids are fast asleep and will object to being woken or walking anywhere,I dont own a double buggy, no longer have a sling, and dh is working away.

How the fuck am I gonna get a newborn a 18month 3yr old and poorly 7yr old to the shop and back. aggggghhh!

Its a 6/7 min walk there, I could run in under 5mins, should I do that do you think? Leaving them sleeping? Or waking the seven yr old and talking to him on the homephone from my mobile? would that be insane? or is it more insane to try and get them all up and there with only one buggy and torrential rain.
Someone HELP!!!

Ah weel done Pom, been itching to get back to this thread an found out how it all went! Hope the Mum ends up ok how nice though that she "trusted" you enough to have her baby sent over to you as she must have been having a terrible time, poor thing.

Wow, what amazing people!!!
Think the anon poster who helped Pom deserves a huuuuuge hug- what a kind person you are- you obviously will have a friend for life in Pom :)

it's incredible to think that all these seperate people were so kind and helpful, mumsnet at it's best :)

I hope the poor mum hears about this one day and sees that she doesn't have to be alone and there are many many kind people in the world x

poor mum,how awful, hope she recovers soon

Im thinking pom should be wearing a halo today, I know it was a bit panicky last night, but you did good by the baby, making it a fact that she left her baby with the right person

Also forgot to say also anon MNer, who helped pom also needs to be wearing a halo today too

I'm so glad that Pom got the help she needed and that the baby is ok and with its grandparents.

But how terribly sad for the mum- she must have felt so alone. I do hope that she is ok and gets the help and support that she needs. Those first few weeks are so hard even with a partner and family close by etc.

I've just come across this thread now - I'm crying my eyes out! Pom, you are wonderful as are all the Mumsnetters on here! It's so wonderful to know there are such good, decent people around.

I hope the baby's mother will be OK.

I have never cried so much at anything I have read before and didn't think it possible to cry any more, until i read about the taxi driver then I sobbed out loud!
Who says society is selfish and uncaring?

Apart from the poor mother, who i hope will be OK very soon, this is such an uplifting story.

WOW, I have only just seen this thread for the first time. What an extraordinary sequence of events, OP you are amazing, so strong in a very difficult situation. And the others who have helped and advised,, the taxi driver, the anonymous poster's friend..... well, bless you all.

I have tears in my eyes!! Just hoping that the Mum is ok, and thank goodness the GP's were in a position to come straight over.

OP, you deserve a bloody medal.

Once again, the power of mumsnet.

update

Well not really an update as unfortunately there isn't much to relay. I just wanted to keep you all informed, since I think a lot of you, like me, are feeling very upset and involved.

No news on the mum, she is still very poorly, but seems to be stable. The grandparents are keeping me updated as the hospital won't divulge any information to me.

Baby seems to be okay, grandmother has had to struggle to give baby bottle, so he's probably unsettled and missing his mum
I got his age wrong yesterday hes infact 5weeks not three, although there is little difference really I suppose.
From what I gather (from GPts) mum moved into area in late pregnancy, to make a fresh start from ex partner, who had been treating her badly (I didn't ask as they are understandably upset but I suspect DV was involved )
I didn't realise any of this as, as I have said she was just an aquiantance, and had only met her through baby group 3 or 4 times, she seems lovely and we swapped numbers with the intention to meet up. Had I realised she was feeling so low and isolated I would have made more effort, somehow life just seemed to get in the way.

I could kick myself now!

Thank you for all your kind comments, but they really are uncalled for, I did what every other person on here would have done in the same circumstances!

I don't think anyone would have turned away a tiny baby! The real stars are you lot with your help and support. Of course the most credit must go to the generous taxi firm, the driver, the MNer who although a complete stranger talked to me and reassured me that she could send help if it was really needed.

SO THANK YOU ALL XX (ohh I did kisses, most unMNetty )

"I could kick myself now!"

Oh, don´t do that, you couldn´t have known.

Woud it be awkward to visit her?

Perhaps you could send a note/present?

oh the poor woman

DON'T kick yourself PomBear - look at all you did for that lady. You came through when she needed you, when her situation came apparent. You're not a mind reader but you are reliable & good-hearted. Thank goodness the mum already had your measure after only a few meetings.

pombear you are amazing and do not be kicking yourself. The mum will get the help she needs. The anon mumsnetter and her family that helped also deserve a medal. Fantastic people restoring our faith in others. Awk i'm blubbing again. Any news please let us know pom x

When she comes out of hospital she will have a great friend in you.
Who was the taxi firm? The taxi driver deserves recognition!
I feel so sad for the grandparents - what a shock to find your daughter in this state and be caring for a teeny baby.
Well done Pom - this is the other Pom story then!

Oh, poor woman. Poor baby.

Pom, were the grandparents nice? Did they seem capable? Just thinking, my mum would have struggled to care for a newborn in such circs -- hope you felt they would cope ok.

And well done, again.

Well done Pom. Fantastic effort. Glass of wine and quiet night in tonight?

Hope the grandparents are ok with the baby and the mum is ok too.

Well done you're a star!! So nice to hear stories of people being kind. Glad all is okay!

Don't be silly Pom - how on earth were you to know - you were there for her last night when she did need you. Hindsight is a wonderful thing - you were never to have known anything like that!

Well done Pom. You could not have done more. Had a heartwarming weep whilst reading this thread. Hope your poorly DC is feeling better too .

Pom - no kicking of oneself allowed. Patting on back?? Absolutely.

Seriously, you could not have known.. Can you go and see her in hospital, or send a note/card, or may be just "be there" for her a bit when she comes out??

Wow, only just seen this.

I agree that anybody in that situation would have done the same BUT you had the forethought to post on here and ask for help - I don't think that would have occurred to me.

This is really heart warming that the baby had so many 'strangers' looking out for him (her?).

Nice to see a 'good' story about SS too - they are few and far between and have a very hard job to do.

Finally, much respect to the taxi driver, how utterly wonderful.

Take some time to relax this evening Pom, you did everything you could and should not be thinking "if only I'd...." as hindsight is a powerful yet useless thing in such situations.

XX (I'm sorry, but this deserves a virtual kiss )

I was lurking on this thread last night feeling completely useless (not much I could do from across the Irish Sea :( ) I just wanted to say that I brought this to the attention of MNHQ for inclusion in MN Classics. I think it's the perfect example of how a crisis can bring out the best in people.

I hope it gets included.

I agree that you weren't to know that she was feeling so low.

Hopefully she will get the help she needs now.

I also agree with the poster who suggested you get her to come on here. If she has moved away from family and friends she must be feeling very isolated. Knowing that there are a bunch of vipers (!) on here day and night might help her a bit. You might need to namechange though or get this thread pulled if you want to stay anonymous.

Poor thing. She must have been feeling really desperate to do such a thing.

What an amazing story of kind hearted people who have made a real difference.

Well done pombear, anon MNetter and the taxi people, they are fab.