https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:33:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2815909 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 12:39:52 +0000 LindsayInNY 2815909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I still have some time to deal with this but I'm already a bit panicked... I'm due early December. I live in NY, my parents snowbird in AZ (versus summer in NH which is at least drive-able) and my in-laws are in MI. AND it will likely be college break for a local sitter...I don't know what we'll do. I have friends in the area but they all have kids. The neighbor across the hall would've been perfect but she moved. Neighbor across the street has 2 of her own. She'll likely be the person but then I still wonder what if it's middle of the night? Then what? The hospital is a 40ish minute drive away. OH and we have a dog... So much to think about! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2808372 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 16:02:17 +0000 emileee 2808372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: Yes, at that point, I knew I'd rather be at the hospital alone than with my scared, tired, angry toddler while in labor! Even if I ended up delivering baby without DH, I'd have nurses and doctors to ensure that we'd be safe and healthy.</p> <p>Leading up to the delivery, I tried to invite the friend I was going to call during labor to spend some time with lo1 so that he wouldn't be scared if he woke up one morning and saw her instead of me or DH. I also had a detailed plan written up for his schedule and routine. He ended up doing just fine! He was confused why his parents weren't there and dragged our friend around the house to look for us - but in the end, went on with his day like it was NBD. Kids are resilient! Even if they freak out a bit, it's just one day and they can handle it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2808212 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 09:47:15 +0000 Mrs D 2808212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So - this was my concern. I was due in early March, and living in the chilly midwest all our grandparents were in Florida for the month of February. I was so nervous I'd go into Labor and have no one for DD1. We had our plan A (our sitter - she was at the ready) but its just good sense to have a Plan B. Well we had no grandparents to be Plan B.</p> <p>I spoke with my Dr who assured me that if I needed to bring DD to the hospital it would be fine, worst case is DH would have to watch her until someone got there. She cant guarantee a nurse would be available but if they were they would help. I also mentioned my fear to a neighbor (at the time we had all 'empty nester' neighbors) she said "honey, you come bang on this door - one of us will come right over". So consider that - especially for MOTN when you LO is sleeping and you truly just need someone to watch the monitor.</p> <p>I ultimate chose to be induced at 39+ weeks, which is offered in my practice to second timers assuming your first delivery was smooth and uncomplicated.</p> <p>I feel for you...I hated the anxiety of not knowing when it would happen coupled with worrying about DD1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2808199 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 09:04:59 +0000 MrsADS 2808199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee I'm definitely going to do that, good idea. I think that would give me some peace of mind. Another huge worry is I'm afraid whoever comes over to watch DS will be someone he barely knows and he will be so freaked out and upset.</p> <p>@emileee I'm also stressed out by potentially having to wake my 2yo up in the middle of the night if I'm in labor! He would just be crying and screaming hysterically and it would be awful and so stressful. I think I'd rather go to the hospital myself and have my husband wait at home for someone to come stay with the 2yo so he can stay asleep in his bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2808177 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 01:18:56 +0000 emileee 2808177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went into labor with lo2 at 2am but didn't realize it was labor until 3am. DH called a friend to come over and stay with lo1; I realized I was in too much pain to wait and took an Uber to the hospital. DH made it to the hospital 5 minutes before I started pushing - and lo2 was out before 5am, after just 12 minutes of pushing!</p> <p>Nurses told me I was crazy and said that I should have brought lo1 with us. But he's really mean when he gets woken up! And that would have stressed me out more than the actual labor itself. I'm glad the Uber driver was willing to take me.😝 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2808159 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 21:07:30 +0000 bhbee 2808159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: one thing that made me feel better last time was writing up and printing out a few pages on taking care of my first. I knew it was overkill because I wrote out every detail, but it helped me know things would stay pretty smooth for her no matter who came (and we did zero hanging around when our help did have to come at 3am - I needed to leave!). Things like overall schedule, preschool times/address/procedures, what she would eat, you name it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2808153 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:56:34 +0000 HappyBaker 2808153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks so much for the responses everyone! I've contacted some local friends to put the bug in their ear that I might be calling them and I'm going to ask my OB what their actual policy is at my appointment next week. I would be totally fine with being induced to avoid this craziness but I know with my second I was scheduled to be induced and then went into labor the night before on my own anyway so still ended up dealing with this, luckily the timing worked out so we were able to dump DD at daycare on our way to the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807979 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 09:43:23 +0000 MrsADS 2807979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shantuck I really don't want to be induced early (would prefer for baby to come on his own) but with our childcare situation and my prior fast labor I may do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807968 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 09:25:08 +0000 Shantuck 2807968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doctors office allowed second+ timers to be induced at 39 weeks. With my second, I tried to resist their efforts to convince me to induce because I had the luxury of retired grandparents who were on call and 10 minutes away but I ended up with an induction anyway 2 days before my due date because of medical reasons. You should ask if your doctors office has a formal policy on inductions (though obviously that doesn’t help if you go early, are generally opposed to inducing, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807963 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 09:13:52 +0000 MrsADS 2807963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sweetiepie this is like my worst nightmare and I think it's completely possible for it to happen. We will have a few people on standby to call, but if I call someone at 3am, how long will it take them to get stuff together, get to my house, explain to them what they need to know about taking care of the 2yo, and then for me to get to the hospital? I mean I could see it taking at least an hour or so. I just don't know if there will be enough time. </p> <p>I figure absolute worst WORST case scenario, if I am like about to deliver or worried I may not make it, I am just going to call an ambulance and have my husband stay with the 2yo at home until someone can come. I am sort of hoping I can be induced at like 39 weeks and avoid this, but what if it happens a little early? ... ugggh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807959 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 08:55:59 +0000 jhd 2807959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: that absolutely makes sense if it’s allowed. The hospital we are at basically has signs on the door and everywhere before you even get to the waiting areas, but like others have pointed out if you have exhausted all other options and there’s no where else for the kids to be, they are certainly not going to turn away a laboring mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807954 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 08:24:51 +0000 SweetiePie 2807954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: @ElbieKay: I say this to DH all the time. He always says things like “I never ask you for anything!” like in an argument or when he’s cranky and I say “that’s because you don’t have to! I just do it all! Everything is done for you and you don’t even realize it!” Haha but he’s starting to come around since he’s been home 2 weeks on paternity leave.<br /> Oh and related but not, he also never understands why there are so many amazon boxes every day or why I have to go to the grocery store multiple times a week. Again, paternity leave has opened his eyes. He kept telling me they last 2 weeks what we were out of and I had JUST placed a fresh direct order. So I said “see dude, there’s ALWAYS SOMETHING that is running out or about to run out and if I didn’t constantly replenish you’d be noticing it way more”.<br /> I’m not saying what I do is rocket science, but he’s finally appreciating how much easier I make his life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807951 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 08:12:45 +0000 erinbaderin 2807951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: EYEROLL. Some time I'm going to not do all the logistics so my husband can see that things don't just "work out somehow", they get worked out by me, and then communicated as a fully formed plan to him. There are no magical elves! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807950 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 08:12:06 +0000 SweetiePie 2807950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So this almost happened to us a couple of weeks ago when I very unexpectedly went into labor at 36 weeks. We live around the corner from my hospital (literally) but my MIL lives 1.5 hours away by bus. We called her as soon as we believed it was the real deal and she did drop everything to come. But we knew we’d have almost 2 hours before she’d get here. My husband started getting the 3yo dressed and ready for the hospital and I started frantically calling my two mom friends in my building. One was in Chicago and I started crying hysterically. I called the other who has a 2yo and is 20 weeks pregnant and she dropped everything within 30 seconds of me saying I’m in labor and was at my door. She swooped him up and took him to her apartment to play with her toddler, fed him dinner, etc until my MIL came.<br /> THANK JESUS because I ended up having the baby 49 minutes after we got to the hospital. So yeah, that wouldn’t have been ideal. It was an RCS and if I had to be in there without my husband I would have been a wreck and I’m even afraid it would have triggered some ppd/PPA since my labor the first time was upsetting and I really think it set me up for it. </p> <p>My point of this is - 1) I think you’d be surprised how willing a friend is to help in that moment, even with kids. I would identify the friend closest on the route to the hospital and make sure they know they are your person. Of course you can’t control that they’ll be there at the exact moment you need them but if they know they are your person they will be better prepared to drop what they’re doing. 2) have a backup just in case. But maybe don’t tell them they’re the backup :-) 3) you never know how labor will go! If I had taken my son as we were preparing to do, I would have been alone when they first started monitoring me, through awful active labor contractions, into the OR and delivered the baby myself. It all happened so fast! </p> <p>Can you do it? Yes. End of the world? No. Would I move mountains to make sure I didn’t have to do that? Absolutely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807947 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 07:40:21 +0000 Foodnerd81 2807947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: but even if kids were banned from the L&amp;D ward, the dad and kid could wait in the lobby for the grandparents or whoever. And then dad could get to the laboring mom much faster than if he was at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807938 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 05:56:01 +0000 ElbieKay 2807938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>An anecdote: I went through a bunch of drama last week because I concluded that I needed to switch OBs during week 16 of my twin pregnancy. Ugh.</p> <p>Anyway, it all worked out and I found someone I like better (at least so far). A side effect is that I will be delivering at this hospital that is a 40 min drive for us but a 15 min drive for my parents. (Unless I use my local hospital, which does not have a great reputation, I am looking at a minimum of a 30-min drive.)</p> <p>So, I mentioned my plan above (take 4yo to hospital, have my parents meet us there to take the 4yo, and have the doula be there to deal with me until the 4yo is transferred to my parents) to my husband. I was like, "I think that should actually work out."</p> <p>He said, "Yeah, I wasn't worried about it. I figured it would work out somehow."</p> <p>Yeah. Because I always figure this shit out and plan for it. That is why it always works out.</p> <p>Double ugh #secondshift </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807896 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 21:08:14 +0000 raspberries 2807896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can indeed bring your older kid to L&amp;D if necessary.</p> <p>And you totally have my commiseration - one of the most nerve-wracking parts of my second pregnancy was trying to piece together childcare since neither of our families live nearby. I was ultimately induced (so all that worry for nothing), but man, it's stressful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807884 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:37:09 +0000 ElbieKay 2807884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My hospital is 40min away from our home and 15min from my parents'. I'll probably either have them meet us at the hospital or drop off my son before we get there. (That is out of the way for us though.)</p> <p>I am planning to hire a doula so I assume she can attend to me at the hospital until my husband transfers my son.</p> <p>This is a second pregnancy so I can't assume I'll have plenty of time.</p> <p>If my son is at camp then I will just have my parents retrieve him that day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807881 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:10:31 +0000 MrsADS 2807881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm concerned about this. I had a really fast labor with baby 1 and we don't have any family in town. We will have some friends on call, but I know it will take a little while to have someone come over, give instructions, etc. So I am worried. My plan is if I'm able, to drive myself - if not, husband and 2yo will come to the hospital with me and my husband will just stay with the 2yo at the hospital until someone can come watch him/get him. </p> <p>It makes me really anxious though, especially if it's the middle of the night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807880 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 18:58:39 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2807880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I thought I could be in labour (I wasn't) and called the hospital they said I could bring my son in with us if needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807856 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:44:32 +0000 jhd 2807856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not to scare you but some hospitals have bans on kids during flu season so you may want to check on that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807855 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:36:55 +0000 shabang 2807855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had to do this. Brought my 2yo with us through triage, and by the time we got into a L&amp;D room, my sister was there to pick her up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807850 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:07:41 +0000 IRunForFun 2807850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I mean, I think the hospital would tell you no, no kids allowed if you asked, but worst case scenario you have to bring them in an emergency, I doubt they'll turn you away at L&amp;D. They probably wouldn't be allowed in the delivery room so your husband might have to stay with them in the waiting room, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807840 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:38:27 +0000 LBee 2807840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a friend this happened to and it wasn't ideal, but it worked. They posted a really cute picture that their son fell asleep during labor in the room and woke-up with his baby sister there. I was mostly impressed that he had slept through the hullabaloo of labor / delivery. </p> <p>The only hiccup I see is that right now my hospital's L&amp;D floor is not allowing any visitors under 12 years old due to the flu epidemic. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807836 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:29:11 +0000 skipra 2807836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was told that worst case we should bring older siblings with us and DH would stay with kids in waitng room until someone else arrived to care for them.</p> <p>Eta if one of my friends was in labor I would not care about disrupting my family's schedule to help her out until her family arrived! So don't feel bad if you need to ask a friend for help too. Most people would drop almost anything in that situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807831 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:22:08 +0000 MsMini 2807831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Its absolutely not ideal but I have definitely attended a high rise delivery (as an NICU nurse) where an older child was hanging out behind the desk with the unit clerk LOL. That isn't always an option depending on the hospital/how busy it is, but I would want my hubby at least in the hospital while we waited for older child help to arrive! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807830 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:18:27 +0000 misolee 2807830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in the same boat. All my friends have kids with schedules and although we have several back up plans you just never know (LO2 came in in 3 hours from 1st contraction to being born). If worse comes to worse, our plan is for husband to wait in the waiting room with the kids until someone can come to the hospital. Actual laboring and delivery room?? I'm not too sure. I feel like it would traumatize them? I was moaning and groaning a lot last time :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807828 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:08:25 +0000 Silva 2807828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our hospital states that you have to have another adult there to watch anyone under 12, and that person can't be considered "primary support" of laboring mom. So if your husband was there he could be in charge of the kids, and wouldn't be considered the primary support person for you (like if you had to go into a c-section he would have to stay with the kids). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807825 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 14:56:30 +0000 MamaBear87 2807825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My friend is due easter Sunday and we have several plans in place to collect her toddler when she goes into labor. Most friends will rearrange their day to help I'm sure! But her backup is our local babysitting service, she just called them and they said absolutely zero problem getting someone there asap if necessary. The owner even offered if there isn't a sitter available that she will come watch her daughter so maybe a similar setup would help make you feel better? </p> <p>And I agree with above just run it by your midwife/ob and I'm sure the kids being there for a couple hours would be fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-bring-kids-to-lampd-until-someone-else-can-get-them#post-2807824 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 14:52:03 +0000 Pollywog 2807824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Check your hospital policy, but I was told: 1) it's absolutely okay if they have someone to watch them. 2) Know that your husband can't give them and you his full attention. The priority needs to go to the kids because the nurses aren't babysitters, and 3) Bring your kids if there's a chance you'll deliver in the car if you wait. 4) bring your kids if your husband can't get you fast enough and you need to come via ambulance 5) home birth attended by (only) toddlers don't end well.</p> <p>I had a very fast labor with #1. The plan is to drop DS off at his home daycare across the street, but if something happens, he's coming with me until my MIL or SIL can come get him. I was told explicitly not to wait for my in-laws and to bring the kid. My nightmare is that I will have a 2 year old fascinated by the ambulance as I try not to scare him while giving birth. This alternates with the fear he remembers not to talk to strangers and locks EMS out of the house. :-) </p>