so I'm 37.4 wks and last night DH came home and told me he has to leave town for work next Friday, it's mandatory or he loses his job. He will be gone for 5 days and I'm terrified of going into labor with him gone. We moved recently for this job of his and We know ZERO people here and I have two other children. I'm considering asking dr to induce me at 38.4 just so that I know DH will be here to witness our first baby together be born and I will have help with my sons. I partly feel half bad for considering it but just curious if you all feel that having DH or significant other present is a valid reason. My emotions say yes but they're loud enough that I'm not sure I'm hearing my logic. Delivering a baby while trying to keep two other kids fed, rested and entertained may be too much if it does happen while he's gone. What would you do??
Re: Cause for inducing labor.....??
I mean i don't know. If i go into labor, i have zero people down here to take my other two children except for a few hours. Their dad lives 3 hours away, so i needed to figure out a plan.
Flying in won't solve the issue because he has to be at the convention from start to end
I could hire someone if I knew someone to hire and someone I could trust with my kids.
Here in SD I believe the law is 38 wks for inductions. My ex lives about 5 hrs away but hasn't seen my boys in 3 yrs so that's not even an option for me
I just feel stuck.
Suggestion though.... @kriskwillits would a note from your doctor help convince his boss? It's worth a try even if you don't think it'll work. Have your doctor write a note requiring your husbands presence after ____ date until ______ date. Or whatever. I would question wether it's legal to threaten a husband with his job because he can't attend a conference due to a pending birth of his child!
As for his job he started working for a farmer who says this convention needs to be attended by ALL hands and this is the only one they have the option to go to. It needs to be done before planting in two weeks. His employer has no kids, no wife and no sympathy for those of us who do. Seriously frustrating.
The town we live in has 87 ppl and the town where we will deliver has less than 3,000 so the odds of finding a doula in such a small community is slim but it's worth a try, however does not resolve my issue for wanting DH to be close.
Perhaps I can request a membrane sweeping at my next appt instead of induction to see if anything happens.
Dr was able to feel her head yesterday, says she is engaging but I was still just at a 1.5 which is more than I ever dialated with my boys. I had to be induced with both of them because my water broke before they came down and I dialated. This is why I am afraid it will happen while he is gone, I've never made progress like this on my own before.
I'm not one to jump on the induction wagon, trust me, I am very much in the 'let baby cook as long as she needs' state of mind. I also just want our first and last baby to have her daddy present when she makes her screaming entrance into the world. That's my biggest concern. Either find a way to ensure she doesn't come or make her come before. Lol. If only I could find a safe and easy way to make this happen. Lol, not asking much am I?
I hope you find a solution!!
I was induced at 37 weeks for medical reasons and my ex husband was 4 hours away out of town. He did not show up until 30 minutes after our son was born. It sucked laboring and delivering on my own, but I still did it. I wouldn't wish it on anyone but sometimes circumstances can't be helped
If I was in your situation, I think I would hold off on having a sweep done or anything that could start labor. It seems like for some it works quickly and others it takes a few days. It would be awful to have it done and then go into labor because of it while DH is out of town. Are you able to take time off and just relax with your kids until he gets home? Maybe try limiting your stress, hanging out with the kids, watch some movies, etc. Essentially stalling labor (if it were to show signs of starting) until he gets back.