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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Husband an hour and a half away at 39 weeks

22 replies

Owchyleg · 14/07/2014 08:38

My DP works about an hour and a half away for part of the week. I am currently 39 weeks pregnant and he has work away on Thursday and Friday of this week. We are not sure if he should go although he can't afford to not go indefinitely ie if I go over due by a couple of weeks.

This is my second child, first labour was 16 hours.

How would others feel about DP being away at this stage of pregnancy?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

rubyslippers · 14/07/2014 08:43

The day I went into labour my DH was an hour or so away

He made it in plenty of time

Not saying I wasn't worried and my labour was 7 hours from first cx to holding baby

Were you early with your first?

ACM88 · 14/07/2014 09:10

My OH will likely be an hour away during 37-39weeks aswell!
Can you try plan an emergency route? We are in London so have taxi numbers and friends on call if needed in an emergency (appreciate thus may not be as easy for all)
Unless baby comes shooting out like some ridiculous human cannon ball, he will get there in time. Perhaps ask mom/MIL/best friend to be with you until he arrives! X

Ludways · 14/07/2014 09:14

It's work so it wouldn't other me. I'd insist his phone was never on silent and that he'd have an emergency route organised.

I'd have my mum on stand by.

Marnierose · 14/07/2014 09:18

I think there are lots if people in the same boat. Especially commuters. I'm just banking on most labours kicking off at night so hopefully before my dh sets off.

Agree with others. Plan an emergency taxi trip back if needed and a back up birth partner.

BabyHaribo · 14/07/2014 09:23

I'm sure this is very common.

I'm due today and DH commute is 1.5 hours everyday. He can't not go to work until I have the baby. DS was 3 weeks early so we've been thinking baby might come for a while.

I'll just ring him as soon as I think labour is starting.

Marrow · 14/07/2014 09:27

Well my DH was ten minutes away and missed the birth (very fast!) However under normal circumstances it wouldn't have worried me having him an hour and a half away. Maybe have someone you're close to who lives near you to be on standby as a back up?

Marrow · 14/07/2014 09:28

Good luck BabyHaribo!

milkysmum · 14/07/2014 09:31

I think this is very common and like you have said he cant just stay at home waiting for you to go into labour as could still be a couple of weeks away. I think there is a very good chance he can easily make it back if you ring him when labour pains start but gave a back up plan just in case

Keenoonvino · 14/07/2014 09:54

My husband works away during the week. He leaves mon night and returns fri night. 2 hours away in London. We have figured out there is a period of 6 hours in the middle of the night where he won't be able to get any transport back. I'm just hoping I go into labour on a weekend or during the day!

There's not much you can do when it's work, is there :(

Em1503 · 14/07/2014 09:58

I'm in a similar situation, 38weeks and DH works an hour away. I'm just planning on calling him if anything happens and he'll come straight back (hopefully in plenty of time..!)

Blamenargles · 14/07/2014 10:00

im in the same situation my DP is 3 half hours away, you just have to make sure you have a plan in place, I have a few didfferent peolple on call for DS childcare and a few different people that could take me to hospital.

we also know there my be a chance that he may not get back in time depending on transport and length of labour but he has to work

MirandaWest · 14/07/2014 10:06

My DH worked between 1.5 and 2 hours away when I was pregnant - with DD labour had started when I woke up so he knew not to go to work that day. I agree that he needs to keep going to work - lots of people have this problem.

Branleuse · 14/07/2014 10:11

Do you have anyone else who can support you at the birth if your husband doesnt make it back? Mother, sister, friend, doula?

itsahen · 14/07/2014 10:13

Same here with both of mine. First was 12 hours, second was 4 hours. Not enough annual leave to stay off work just in case

petalsandstars · 14/07/2014 10:20

My DH works close by but would have to wait for a relief person before he could leave his job - no leeway with that. So we just made sure there were contingency plans in place with my parents/ siblings nearby in case someone else had to take me in if things were very quick.

He was on days off in the end though.

Slongette · 14/07/2014 10:25

DH works away during the week and was 2 hrs away when my waters broke. He came home as soon as I called him.

That was on the Tuesday.... DS was born on the Friday.

I did have backup if needed but it took so long that there was never an issue!

HappyAsASandboy · 14/07/2014 10:33

My DH works 2 hours away, as do I.

I worked for as long as possible (to 36+5) so that we were both in the same city every day and so could have gone to a city hospital and met there if went into labour during the day! But I couldn't work beyond that, so we had just under two weeks of him at work and me at home.

DH drove into work most of those days instead of getting the train as usual. That gave him more control over getting home as he wasn't at the mercy of the train timetables.

I don't go into spontaneous labour, and had my twins on the planned CS date, when DH had booked annual leave :)

Redling · 14/07/2014 11:19

My husband works in London and it's at least 1.5-2 hours door to door, also depending on a fairly crappy rail network! I'm 35 weeks now so his phone is always on ring now. I'm banking on the fact that the midwives at the unit I'm giving birth in have repeatedly told me that there will be some hours at home as they don't like you to come in until contractions are 5 mins or less apart, so I'm hoping he'll have loads of time! If not I'll get a taxi and meet him there! I can't imagine that I'll be so quick that he'd miss it, but it is my first baby.

Original poster

Owchyleg · 14/07/2014 15:47

Thanks all. I see we are in a fairly common position.

No family nearby but we have a couple of friends on standby if baby decides to make an appearance very quickly.

OP posts:

BlueChampagne · 14/07/2014 16:29

I think DH might have missed DS2's arrival if he'd been at work - luckily DS2 turned up on a Sunday morning!

FTRsGotAShinyNewNN · 14/07/2014 18:48

My DH is in the armed forces and works 6.5hrs away from home Sunday night to Thursday night luckily when DS1 (5) was born he was home on Christmas leave but DC2 is due end of Jan So he'll have gone back to work after Christmas leave this time, we're just hoping baby decides to make an appearance on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday He's also going to be deployed to South America between weeks 17 and 35 so hopefully no early baby arrival
Hopefully your little one will come on a day that DH is close by

barmybunting · 14/07/2014 18:59

Make sure you have back up planned and that you have contact details for him in addition to his mobile number.

My DH is in the forces and will be away in Israel from weeks 37-40 for me. If I go into labour then, he is unlikely to make it home in time due to where he has to travel back from. I am hoping baby either comes before he does or hangs on until he comes home and my Mom is coming to stay with me whilst he is away in case.

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