What do I do about having ds minded when the time comes?

[working9while5]

No family (both of ours are abroad) and of our combined close friends that we would have asked/had offered before we conceived:

• 1 couple is away in Australia
• 2 couples are getting married (1 when I will be 40+7, 1 when I will be 40+10, so both pretty busy!)

AND the babysitter is ALSO getting married when I am 40+7!

Timing! I honestly can't think of anyone else who can do it.....

Working9while5, whereabouts are you based?

If you contact your local NCT or call HO for the number of some tutors you might get a student 'birth companion' or antental student to come and help in some capacity.

we were in a very similar situation when pregnant with DD2. family living abroad. we eventually sorted childcare (nursery) for the day I was supposed to be induced. But I went into labour before the induction late in the evening and gave birth in the middle of the night. nursery was closed. DH drove me to hospital with DD1 with us. I went into the delivery room whilst DH walked the hospital corridors with DD1 (2.5 then). I had the baby just with the midwife present. DH and DD1 came in 5 min after the delivery :) have to say I found it quite liberating not to have DH around. but we were also lucky because I had a very speedy birth. baby was born within 1h of arriving to hospital.

basically, just wanted to say - did you consider giving birth without DH?