What do you do when you're very ill & DP won't take time off work?

[1t6y9o]

Just that really. Hypothetical situation but very interested to hear how people cope as it's something I'm incredibly anxious about.

1 yr old and 4 yr old. No family nearby. Husband can't take time off. New area so acquaintances rather than friends to call on. What would you do if you were violently ill with continuous v&d lasting all day and extremely weak the next day? Pretty incapable of looking after children, preparing meals etc.

Anyone been in this situation? How did you handle it?

It can be done with excellent nannies but I don't know any couples where both have sustained it beyond the teenage years which bring their own unique challenges. For close friends of ours it was the DH who stopped working though.

But yes, my job was secondary when the dc were at school and I mean until this year. However I have recently been appointed to senior mgmt and hope to have another ten years in me. When we met I was the higher earner and it was my equity that meant i cd comfortably stop working when I had children and that was exactly what I wanted to do. My employers tried to be extremely accommodating but being a mummy won. I had the most marvellous ten years although with very little help on the home front from DH - he did the early morning on Saturdays though before going to football

I'm job hunting at the moment, and am trying to work out the logistics of both of us being in jobs which require trips offshore at short notice... will work something out somehow, but when it comes down to it both of us will have to do this working out! His life will get harder when I return to work, although financially we will be better off.

I'm like roses and I never stopped working around having 3 DC. Always just made it work, sometimes by the skin of my teeth.

Just because DH earns a lot doesn't mean I automatically stay home. It's actually given me the freedom to continue working.

I have extreme morning sickness, so during my 2nd pregnancy I was completely incapacitated for about 5 weeks where I couldnt get off the sofabed at all except to puke. I just resorted to takeaways, Paw Patrol and help from DH to clean the house on the weekends. Don't feel guilty, just do what you have to do to survive - you can catch up when you're well again!

My OH were both floored with food poisoning at the weekend and we have a 4 month old, a dog and zero support network. It was tough but we just pulled together between sprints to the bathroom...

I think most of us have been there, You just get through it, Lots of snacks and easy to make food and lots of tv and films.