Support in labour when DH looks after DC1

[ReadySteadyDrink]

hi,

I was just wondering what those of you with little support network plan to do or have done regarding babysitting for your first child and support during your labour of your second/subsequent child?

Basically, we live miles from family and don't have many friends in the area as we've just moved for DH's job.

So DH will need to watch DS while I go into hospital. I have said I will be ok on my own, but DH and my Mum aren't sure. But I don't want to leave 2 year old DS with anyone he doesn't know. Unfortunately, a home birth isn't an option.

Thanks for your replies!

Hi could you hire a doula to support you in hospital? Or could your mum come and seat for a while either side of your due date?

I'm in a similar position. I'm hoping my lovely MIL can come and stay with us but if I end up giving birth early we may not be able to organise it in time (she lives 3 hours away). So I'm definitely going to have a doula, and then if DH has to stay at home with DS, I'll have some support.

I'm in same boat dc3 with dd2 I ended up giving birth alone I stayed home as long as I could bear it then when my waters went stayed home a further half hour then my dp took me 2 hospital. I gave birth just as he left :(. Mind you was a very quick labour its been noted down as 1hour. I nearly gave birth in car park

This time around I'm thinking of a homebirth if not then will prob do the same stay at home until I can't bear it anymore. I do have few friends but none would look after my 2dc. Also my family leave 3hour drive away.

Is there a local childminder who could help you out? They'd need to be registered for out of hours minding I think but you could do a little settling in so that your DS knows them before the birth.

We live abroad from family so we're using our childminder (well, actually her 17 year old daughter who'll be able to mind DS in our own flat, we've started using her for night babysitting so that she's able to put DS down for the night and is used to our flat). DS will be 2 a week before I'm due in late March.

We'll be paying five pounds an hour for the minding when I'm in labour (we're in London).

I also want to say that I'd be delighted to mind anyone else's kids, even kids I didn't know that well (if you know what I mean), to help the father be present at the birth. My friends in London don't have kids (and all work comedy late hours) which is why we're not asking them. But I personally would love to help a family out this way if I could.

Perhaps you could post in the MN local area for your area and see if anyone would help out?

Thanks for all your replies. All the friends that would help out have kids of their own so if it's a weekend it's ok, but weekday too difficult.

I guess I Just wanted to know that others have given birth solo and so I can do it too! Obviously women have done it on their own all the time and for centuries. But I guess it feels more real hearing it here!

Hopefully it'll work out that it'll be over a weekend or near my due date so both DH and my Mum are here. It's just the unknown that is a bit worrying. Like if I go in labour early or something!

Thanks again!

We live in rural Australia and don't have any family here. My folks are due two days before my due date so it might go to plan but who knows. I have one friend who we could drop dd round too, but they have a daughter same age and my friend is often away with work so it's no guarantee. I'm really crapping it about it all being stressful for dd I must admit. My dh says bollocks to it if she has to come to the hospital shell have to come and someone will have to entertain her for the last bit!! God seems like an awful situation for her but last time I only had to push ( and was quite noisy oops) for half an hour so we'll have to take the DVD player and hope they're helpful! She hates seeing me in pain at all though, my hips and veins hurt so I'm walking bizarrely and she notices that already. Aaah what a nightmare we're in!