Childcare for when you go into labor.

When I had my second child, our neighbors also volunteered to take our daughter (who was three), which they ended up doing in the middle of the night. They wanted to, but it was hard for me. It ended up working out well and they became even better friends of ours afterwards. I don't think your neighbors would offer if they didn't really want to help. I know it probably makes you nervous now, but when you are in labor, that is the last thing you will be thinking about...at least it was for me!

When family is far away, it's really difficult to decide what to do. Now my kids are old enough, that if we had to take them with us to the hospital until someone got there, it wouldn't be too big a deal...they could entertain themselves for a bit until someone got there. But you have a little one, so that's harder. I think if you had to end up taking him to the hospital until your family could get there, then that would be fine. I'm sure you would not be the first person to do so. I don't think the nurses would "hate" you, but your husband might not be as available to help you with labor if he is attending to your little guy...just a thought.

It's a big decision for you, that's for sure. What is your hubbie's thought on the situation?

Visitor* Your post caught my eye. I have been were you are before. I have 4 kids and been there. Normaly I would take them with me to hospital and someone would get them. A idea would also be if possible see if your family could keep son for you starting at maybe 38-39wks. My husbands mom did that for us when I was pregnant with my second(my oldest was 4yrs old then). Your neighborbor is a good idea also since they offered. They could atleast watch your little one til family could get there. Good luck.

Juju, he doesn't worry about stuff like that nearly as much as I do. In my head, he's going to be scarred for life because I left him for a few days to have a baby. My husband is much more rational and realizes that he's never even going to remember it. haha.

My husband is fine with calling the neighbors if we need to, and I would be too if it were on a Saturday in the middle of the day. I hate the idea of waking someone in the middle of the night or calling them home from work. I think I need to somehow take the emotional and hormonal sides of me out of the equation and think more like my husband.

Thanks for the stories!

Yep. I'm not really sure what we are going to do. DH's bro is about 20 minutes away, so he or his wife would most likely either come to the house or pick up dd from the hospital if needed. My MIL might also be able to take her. The thing I'm really struggling with is leaving her at all. She is going through a rough time with this pregnancy and is very clingy to me. We also just moved, so she is not used to DH's family and not that comfortable around them. Hopefully in the next 10 weeks we all get closer. I can really see this as a huge stress for me during my labor though. I've only spent two nights away from her ever.