what did you do with your toddler when in labour??

[beckoes]

Im due to have number two in march and DD will be 2.5yrs old. We dont have ANY family that could look after her in australia and really no friends close by that would/could do it. id love to have her with me, cause that just seems natural to me, but DH hates the idea, and i dont have a support person for her during the labour anyway....i have NO idea what im going to do!!! what did you do?

[Early Kids]

Because DS2 was prem, DP stayed home with him and my mum came with me. Sorry I can't help, hope you can sort something out x

[Kazbah]

meh, just lost a huge post. If your DD goes to CC then the staff there usually have a number of carers on the books who do babysitting, or you could try nanny places to get someone to come stay with her while you & DH go to hospy? Good idea to get arranged early though, so she's comfortable with them. I'm subscribing to this thread too as I just had a huge fight with my g/f who I had lined up to look after Pip...

[meow]

This was a huge plus for planning a home birth for me. We don't live near family either and my son isn't keen on going to other people. I do have an aunty & her 2 early-teens sons about 45mins away who we will call to play with our son if he's not coping at the birth but I'm guessing even if we do need someone else it'll only be for a couple of hoursof the intense part and the rest we're just home anyway.
I think sharing birth with children is a wonderful thing but I personally would be hesitant to take them along to a hospital birth as they are stuck in a strange room with you and it may be uncomfortable for them.

[Fruit Tingles]

There was a chance this could have happened to us, and honestly, I have no idea what we would have done.
I hope that you can figure something out.

[My Three Sons]

I have family, so can't help there. But i would certainly ring around and see if you can find a good babysitter now, and maybe have them over a few times to get to know DD now. As PP said, if she goes to childcare ask them too, as often there are girls there that are willing to baby sit, and at least then DD would know them.
I probably wouldn't take her to the birth without a support person especially for her.

[*Sparklez*]

im guessing our ds will have to go to my IL's not too happy with that but depends on when and where i go into labour... my mum is determined to be in there with me n dh so she is ruled out of babysitting but i think ill think bout that when i get closer to DD.
I would prob go with the nanny idea... but then again i dont know...
hope u get some answers soon and be more comfortable with knowing what is going to be happening...

[Cassius2]

we had a homebirth so DD was with us for most of it. but when she got a bit bored and stir-crazy she went with the neighbours for a playdate. do you have neighbours that could watch your DD?

and yeah, if she goes to CC, a few staff might do babysitting...ours do!

and if she does end up being with you guys, i can say that it can be wonderful! my DDs face was alight with happiness when she saw her lil' sister. and she was a great help in rubbing my back during contractions lol.