Possible labour on my own

[RosieRabbit17]

I am due my 2nd baby in October. We realised early on that I was likely to be due in October half term which is when my in laws normally go away. We would be relying on them to have our eldest when I was in labour (there is literally no other option for us) so we let them know the potential due date when I was about 6 weeks pregnant.

We found out today that they have since booked the holiday and when my MIL pointed out that they might be needed to have our eldest, my FIL just shrugged and said it had been paid for.

AIBU to feel upset that they couldn't miss this one holiday (they go away twice a year every year) knowing their 2nd grandchild is due around then? It will possibly mean their only son missing the birth of his 2nd child and me having to give birth on my own (which I'm terrified about). Or am I being selfish here?

(They will be away at 40 + 2 until 41 weeks and I had my first at 40+5)

Also you won't on your own, you'll have at least a midwife present.

Was your first delivery especially traumatic and were the medical professionals negligent? That of course would be very good reason to be anxious about the second delivery. if that wasn't the case then this all seems over the top.

My parents have done the same OP! They booked a mini-cruise when I was about 6 months pregnant even though I’d already asked if they could be childcare for my almost 2 year old, apparently they ‘forgot’ my due date! 🤷‍♀️

I was annoyed but actually less because of the childcare logistics I’ve had to reorganise but more because they didn’t seem that bothered about potentially missing the birth of their grandchild.

If you don’t have any friends willing to come and stay overnight if needs be, then could you look into an overnight babysitter/nanny and have them meet DC a couple of times beforehand maybe? I don’t think it’s unreasonable of you to expect DH to be at the birth, I wouldn’t want to give birth alone, DH was my rock last time, I couldn’t imagine doing it without him!

On a separate note, I’ve told my mum that when they come back from their cruise, they can’t see the baby for 7 days after and will need to do a lateral flow test as a cruise ship seems like a hotbed for spreading covid to me!