Coordinating childcare + laboring at home ...

Re: Coordinating childcare + laboring at home ...

• sschwege member

  October 2013

  What worked well for us was my parents hung out with DD, while I labored alone in our bedroom.  I think either having them pick your son up is a good option or calling them and having them keep your son busy at your house.  DD almost never watches TV, so I had my parents turn on shows for her which kept her happy.  Maybe you could get a few new small toys he's never seen, some activities Crayola Mess Free art supplies are great, stickers, etc.  Just in case.  

  
  

  I think bringing your son to the hospital would be really stressful on everyone.  If you are planning to labor at home that means when you get in the car you are pretty far along.  I can't imagine doing the car ride with my daughter with us.  Just my two cents!

  
  
  
  
  
  My Ovulation Chart

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• barnwife member

  October 2013

  Is it possible to find childcare that you won't mind having around during labor?
  
  FWIW, we plan (and have had) HBs. So we need childcare options to be someone who I won't mind having around during labor/delivery, while still having the option for them to go elsewhere. 
  
  Or like pp suggested, just labor in a different part of the house. I labor in our master bedroom/bathroom. The kiddos have stayed in the other parts of the house. It works out fine. I haven't seen the childcare person (a family member) in either case until LO is born. 

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• ArmyQM member

  October 2013

  I agree with the sentiment that if you are going to have the child stay at your house then ideally you would have someone there that you wouldn't mind laboring around.
  
  Because my second came a few weeks earlier than expected, we had to scramble in the wee hours of the morning to find someone to care for our first. Having fast labors makes that even more of a scramble too! Our only resort was to have SIL/BIL & their 7 year old drive 1.5 hours to our house. DH kept our son downstairs while I labored alone in our master bedroom. Then the cavalry arrived and they were not quiet about it. Yelling up to me, trying to be encouraging but in reality being just annoying. Talking all too loudly about how much in pain I sounded as I moaned through contractions, etc, etc. To this day my SIL still talks about how I traumatized my nephew and whatnot. When really, it wasn't all that bad and I was actually exceptionally calm for someone deep in labor and transition (DD was born moments after arriving at the birth center).

  Report0 Reply
• TobieRose member

  October 2013

  Thanks for your feedback ladies! I spent some time talking this over with my mom and I think I will have her come first and my dad won't come until we're ready to leave for the hospital. I still feel a little anxious about the idea of anyone other than DH being there while I'm in labor--I don't want my mom to "take care" of me, heh. 

  
  

  @BrittAnnie19 I like your plan a lot! We have a nice yard so she can take DS out to play for a bit, and we have some nice parks nearby too. 

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  Report1 Reply
• BrideNamedMeg member

  October 2013

  You could always have her take your DS out somewhere.  During my homebirth, my mom was in charge of DD and she took her shopping, out for lunch, etc. and brought her home asleep that night.

  
   

    
  

  Report0 Reply
• beachcomberbride member

  November 2013

  When I had my 5 year old, my 7 year old (2 at that point), slept through most of it and came out during the very end to see his baby brother. We will have them here this home birth too, and if its during the day, they will be running around and involved, and if it's night time, they'll be sleeping. 

       
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Report0 Reply