What is the best way to do this?...Possible Induction

[Lavenderdays]

All along I have had childcare issues in regards to my other two dc's ( secondary and pre-school age) when I go into hospital to give birth to DC3.

No extended family. Various friends have offered to look after my dc's which I have had to accept though not totally 100% happy. Don't wont to delve into too much but my friends (bar one) who lives slightly out of the area are not exactly the maternal types. In fact it is fair to say that I am weighing up whether I value them as good friends or not for various reasons (again don't want to go into that here) and would actually like to find other friends if truth be told in the future. BUT, currently, I am in a situation where I am dependent on these 2 or 3 people to help get me through this very tricky situation. I have never really asked for help in the past and this was a very difficult thing to do. It has been rubbish actually - just today, I got an e-mail saying that friend x will not be available on a certain day because they have planned a totally adhoc and last minute trip which is weird because they have other commitments to attend to themselves. Nobody, seems to realise just how stressed I am about leaving my dc's behind (I would prefer to have dh with me). Anyhow, I have managed to arrange adhoc day care for my youngest dc - wrap around care 8am - 6 pm, again not something I would wish to do due to long day but needs must and I know that dc will be cared for and feel more comfortable with this arrangement.
Consultant has informed me that induction is advised at 39 weeks if baby hasn't put in an appearance before then. Obviously, I want things to hurry up so that dh can return to collect youngest dd. Has anyone got any advice as to how to best utilise the day care provision...i.e would it be better to go in a few hours before 8 am (if I could request this). I'm stressing and don't know what to do...I was talking to a woman today and her induction took 3 days! Obviously in this scenario, I wouldn't expect dh to hang around and take care of our dc's though I hate the prospect of hanging around in the hospital on my own but my dc's come first. Could really do without the additional stress of childcare around this...any advice on how to work this to best advantage or is it totally out of my control? Will be discussing with the consultant next week (at 38 weeks!). DD2 was 10 days early and dc1 a day late...this whole thing is stressing me, never mind the actual pain of childbirth...that's almost becoming secondary.
Just wanted to rant a bit, thanks for reading x

Sorry to say this but I think it's quite out of your control as in there is no way of knowing how long your induction would take but generally if you are being induced before your due date things can often take a bit longer. It's really impossible to tell though.
It's worth letting the hospital know that you have childcare issues to see if they can help in anyway by scheduling times/dates that can help you. Even that would be subject to change though if they happen to be very busy on the day.

Thanks Blue...that is what I thought too unfortunately...it's impossible to know what might happen. Honestly, the childcare aspect is causing me more stress than the actual birth at the moment but I am guessing that once I am in the throws of labour...I'm probably going to be oblivious as to what's going on elsewhere anyway! I know it sounds awful about the friends thing and I know I am not perfect...I think part of the issue that I have had my children later, whilst others have had theirs close together and/or their children are older now...I am worried about how they are going to tolerate a pre-schooler now their homes are no longer a bomb site/free of plastic toys etc. Only the other day, I got a facebook feed about clutter and anxiety from one...urm, I have had to learn to tolerate this of late but now their children are older it is easier for them to manage no doubt, not to mention the beige coloured settee/carpet in one persons house! There is only one friend who would be good with this (and whom I feel the most comfortable) but unfortunately she is not within the most convenient distance. I don't know why I'm worrying so much about this (apart from an obvious respect for other peoples belongings)...I suppose I wouldn't mind so much if they were really good friends...still they are not strangers and we have helped out on a few occasions ourselves...its my youngest dc that I am most worried about.