What to do with 2 yr old when mum in labour?

[Mavornia]

I'd appreciate any advice you might have for my friend who is due to give birth in June.

She lives in London but all her family are abroad. Her mum will be coming over for the birth but she is frightened of going into labour early and what to do with her 2 year old.

Are there companies in London who could provide a temporary nanny service? She doesn't know a reputable babysitter - any recommendations for companies to try would be most welcome.

Thanks

IM not in london so i cant say any particular companies but im sure you would be able to get a nanny but i dont know about the short notice.

how about a doula?

What about a friend locally?

She has absolutely no friends near her that she could ask - should be ok but she's just so nervous about what will happen if she goes into labour before her mum arrives - and 2 year old's first language isn't english so she can't leave her with just anyone.

hadn't thought about a doula, maybe that could work

She could try contacting a charity called Home Start run by volunteers to help out families with young children - EXTREMELY helpful apparently! She could chat to them now and they could either help themselves or give her a list of options.

I had this problem in reverse as we were in Australia and I was waiting for my mother to fly over - my second child came 2 weeks early so my husband spent the days with him and bought him into hospital on the 2nd day to see me and the new baby. In the evenings after he was bathed and in bed my husband would come to the hospital and visit and one of his friends would baby sit we actually got a rota of 4 single friends of his who would cover a different day, for the week I was kept in hospital.

we hae a similar problem to robeena. we are in Aus and it just doesnt seem possible to co ordinate my mother flying over with a due date.. it keeps changeing as the baby is too big! Our DD is 5 tho so we have made the perhaps mad decision that she will problably come in. It looks like i will be induced early so we have a bit more control. Dh however doesnt mind staying out of the delivery room for the actual blood and gore bit! and i am pleased about that as i dont think it is good for him to face the gore!