Helping out family late in pregnancy/early days of new babies

[TeaorcakeTeawins]

Looking for some advice and this looked like the best place to ask. Please let me know if it should be moved to another place.

A cousin of mine (lives in a different country, but we've always been very close) is due to give birth in a few months to her 2nd and 3rd. She and her husband have a B and B, which she does a lot of the work for (he works outside the home too, so most of the load falls to her). They have a 1 1/2 year old.

She will be nearly full term at the busiest time of year for them. I will be changing jobs with a few months gap over the last month of her pregnancy/first month of the babies being around. I spoke with her and asked if she'd like someone to come out and do the "heavy lifting" so she doesn't over-exhaust herself, though said if that sounded a nightmare, absolutely say so. She said absolutely yes please, and I was welcome to come anytime either before or after the babies are born or both, and for as long as I like.

I absolutely believe she means this, and as she already has one baby, she has some idea of what will be happening, though of course going from one to three will be a shock. My inclination is to go before, so I can do "her" work when she is 8 months pregnant, and then leave before she gives birth so she doesn't have extra people around then (I've said I'm happy to stay somewhere else so she doesn't have to accommodate me). Obviously if she gives birth early (which apparently is quite likely) I may still be there, but can make myself scarce and do some touristy stuff elsewhere in the country.

The question is (because I have to book flights fairly soon) does that sound reasonable? And might she feel I'm abandoning her when it gets really difficult, given I can stay longer and help for longer? I just don't want to impose on them. I know the answer is talk to them, but I want to have an idea of what you all think is reasonable before I do (I don't have children so know I have no idea of what she might be thinking).

I really doubt she would feel like you would be abandoning her, helping her out like you have offered is a very nice thing for you to do and I'm sure she will appreciate the help no matter how big or small x

I think it's a lovely idea and if she has jumped at the chance and said stay longer she genuinely means it and knows how much help it will be. Just to say, you say she will be full term when they're at their busiest but do you mean full term ie 40 weeks or full term for twins which is 37 weeks? Also, the official stat seems to be 50% of twins arrive before 37 weeks (not that mine show any sign of appearing just yet) so depending on when you are able to go and visit, she may have already had the babies so you'll be going straight into looking after the toddler and newborns with her. If she hasn't yet given birth, I can say based on my own experience from about 28 weeks I wouldn't have been able to run a B&B and look after a toddler (and judging by a thread over on the multiples board this was the point we all started to crumble). I'm just throwing these things out there because you may actually want to think about going out earlier if you can if you want to help with the heavy stuff of their business.

As for staying afterwards, I'd maybe plan to leave her and her husband to it for the first couple of weeks after the birth but plan to come back after that unless anybody will be stepping in. What are they planning on doing with the business thou throughout all of this? I assume they are still taking bookings so th may be a very real,possibility she gives birth when they have people staying with them-could you offer to take over this part of her life so she and her husband can just focus on the babies? That might be too much to ask if he is also busy helping them plus trying to keep the business going.
You sound like a lovely cousin and she is very lucky to have you around to help. The best of luck to her and you