• finding a babysitter when you deliverIf you are pregnant with your second (third, fourth or even fifth) child you may be worried about what to do with your older kids when you go into labor. It is such a common fear that every pregnant woman I have met is concerned.

    If you are lucky, you will have family members that are nice and close by that you trust with your children. That’s not always the case however, so it’s good to think through your plans early on in your pregnancy.

    If you don’t have any close friends able to do the job, start making friends with a neighbor now.

    Close friends make great babysitters, and many are more than willing to come over when you go into labor. For this labor, we have a two step plan. If I go into labor in the middle of the night, a neighbor that we know quite well, and who knows our kids, will come over and watch the kids until they can be relieved by another friend with kids. If you don’t have any close friends able to do the job, start making friends with a neighbor now.

    Perhaps you don’t have any neighbors, friends, or family that can take your kids. What do you do then? First, talk to your hospital about their policies on children. Many hospitals will allow your kids with you (so long as they are accompanied by another adult) into your delivery room. If nothing else, this will buy you some more time to arrange a sitter to come and pick up your kids from the hospital.

    Keep in mind that getting to the hospital does become a priority for you. Your children are your top priority, however giving birth in your living room because you didn’t want them to come with you to the hospital will scar them more than seeing you in the loving hands of your doctor or midwife.