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Original poster

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

411 replies

PomBearEnvy · 12/01/2011 21:08

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 Sad

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!!!

OP posts:
ihavenewsockson · 12/01/2011 21:45

Glad the MW is on her way.

Take it as a compliment the lady nominated you to take care of baby. Smile

DirtyMartini · 12/01/2011 21:45

Oh god, thank god.

I am crying Blush

Good for you, well done.

jonicomelately · 12/01/2011 21:45

Dysgu. Is there a Tesco or Asda nearby we could ring and beg them to send supplies to the house?

atmywitssend · 12/01/2011 21:46

OP did you see the post @ 21.40 - Dysgu has family in your village.

VJay · 12/01/2011 21:46

What a relief for you and well done on getting that all sorted Smile, I hope the babys mum is ok.

thisisyesterday · 12/01/2011 21:46

I wondered if perhaps the mum just assumed she wouldn't be able to take him and was perhaps worrying and panicked and just thought to send him to a person she knew could care for him?

obviously with hindsight emergency care may have been better because they'd have had everything he needed! but what's done is done...

is there any way of getting him to the hospital so they can be together?
I would call them and ask their advice. They will be able to ask the mum if she'd like baby to come in... and if so you can try and arrange that now somehow, or in the morning?

FreudianSlipIntoMyLaptop · 12/01/2011 21:46

Wish I was near enough to help has anything been sorted yet? Hope all are ok :(

Guacamole · 12/01/2011 21:46

As OP has disappeared temporarily maybe she has found a solution. I'm hoping she has... Feeling quite distressed about the hungry little newborn away from it's Mummy.

Sirzy · 12/01/2011 21:46

glad your gtting somewhere, sounds like a great gp

ballstoit · 12/01/2011 21:46

Yay for Poms lovely GP Smile

spiderlight · 12/01/2011 21:46

Oh thank goodness there's help coming!

jonicomelately · 12/01/2011 21:47

Phew. Poor mum obviously panicked. I hope she and the baby are OK.

Jacaqueen · 12/01/2011 21:47

Fantastic news

You are doing really well.

Keep us posted if you can

Ohforfoxsake · 12/01/2011 21:47

Brilliant news!
And thank God! I was holding my breath there - phew!

Keep us updated, won't you?

Strictly · 12/01/2011 21:47

Thank goodness! I was about to cry

solo · 12/01/2011 21:47

Dysgu may be able to help you Pombear

minipen · 12/01/2011 21:47

Glad you have got help, the GP should have more contacts and weight to get things in action for you.

thisisyesterday · 12/01/2011 21:47

sorry i totally missed the last paragraph of your post!
must stop reading too quickly!

hope baby is fed and re-united with his mummy quickly, and well done you for coming to his rescue Smile

on a slight tangent.... are you enjoying having newborn baby snuggles without having to have a baby?? Grin

Northernlurker · 12/01/2011 21:48

Oh that's good that the GP was so helpful. It's lovely of you to try and help but baby and mum need a huge amount of support and it's asking too much of you on your own with three bairns.

CubaCat · 12/01/2011 21:48

What about calling your nearest late opening branch of Boots? Some open until midnight, esp if they have a late opening pharmacy, and if you explain the situation, I'm sure such a large parent-friendly company like Boots would be sympathetic and helpful. You could tell them what you want, pay over phone and either get a taxi to pick it up, or ask if they have any members of staff who could drop it off on their way home (give them a fiver or something).

I'd also give the hospital A&E dept a ring to see how your friend is, when she may be released and whether the hosp would let her have the baby with her. My friend is currently in hosp and they let her take her 2 wk old in with her so she could bf. It may also be a good idea to ring the hosp and get them to tell your friend her baby is safe and well as she must be distraught at having to leave her newborn, which won't help her recovery.

Good luck.

pinkem · 12/01/2011 21:48

Update for those that missed it:

PomBearEnvy Wed 12-Jan-11 21:44:11
Okay. have got a phonecall back from out of hours GP, who was GREAT! He is confused about situation, (as am I), says that in normal circumstances children are taken in with mother.
He can only think that mum has asked neigbour to bring baby to me, knowing she was going to be ill as she didnt want him in hospital. Or that she has been taken seriously ill and nominated me as next as kin

I have no idea what is wrong, i am seriously fretting, i hardly know this lady she is lovely but just a casual friend. Gp is going to contact local community midwife to come out asap.
He told me to expect a call from hospital soon, and also social workers. has told me to keep in contact and midwife will be with me in the next hour. phewwwwwwwww

Guacamole · 12/01/2011 21:49

Phew! I've been glued to this thread, desperately worried about the poor little thing.

Dysgu · 12/01/2011 21:49

I have sent you a message with my contact number. Can you manage until midwife is with you?

DanceInTheDark · 12/01/2011 21:50

Thats good news pombear :)

pozzled · 12/01/2011 21:50

Really glad to hear that help is on its way.

I agree that the mum may have panicked and assumed that she couldn't take the baby. I hope that is the case rather than her being too ill to have the baby with her.

I hope that you hear from the hospital soon- please keep in touch and let us know how things are going.