Should children have a babysitter/caregiver during homebirth? - Page 2

[crunchymama214]

Glad you figured out what would work best for you and your family.

We had my FIL on stand-by down the street when the time came close, but thankfully my water broke at 330am and I gave birth at 525am, and the kids slept through ALL of it!! My 3rd child actually did come out about 5 mins after the birth when she heard the baby crying. Then my second was up about 20 minutes after that and wanted to watch the midwive do the baby's check after a while. My first didn't wake up til 3 hours later!!

[averlee]

After thinking about it all this time, I've pretty much decided to hire a doula. Having a friend or family member at the birth is not going to work out for me, and I'm not comfortable with hiring a nanny or babysitter. Hopefully, a doula could fill in the gaps of what I would normally do (including light housekeeping, child care, and feeding everybody), or free up my husband so he could keep the house functioning, and accompany us to the hospital in case of transfer.

[leanmarie]

Originally Posted by averlee 

After thinking about it all this time, I've pretty much decided to hire a doula. Having a friend or family member at the birth is not going to work out for me, and I'm not comfortable with hiring a nanny or babysitter. Hopefully, a doula could fill in the gaps of what I would normally do (including light housekeeping, child care, and feeding everybody), or free up my husband so he could keep the house functioning, and accompany us to the hospital in case of transfer.

Here too. After talking to the nanny service more and finding out it would cost us the same amount for a doula, we decided we are going to hire a birth doula. My DH can look after the kids and she can help me.  Plus having a stranger here that is not used to a birth would make me uncomfortable, where a doula is used to it. We found someone who is very nice and knows our situation and is on board. So now that that is solved, I have to do some serious house cleaning. lol