Childcare during Labour in lockdown

[RI90]

I’m wondering if anyone has been given any advice on this or has been through something similar.

This is my second pregnancy and I’m being induced in a couple of weeks time but with everything going on with lockdown and COVID-19 I’m concerned about childcare for my 2 year old. Under normal circumstances my mum would be looking after her but would this be allowed under the lockdown? I wouldn’t want my husband missing the birth but likewise wouldn’t want to go against the “rules” but I can’t seem to find any definitive answer on whether it would be okay under these circumstances for my mum to watch her?

[cefk]

I am due in just over three weeks, and I am planning to call my Mum (and Dad) to come and watch our 2 year old, as my husband is coming to the hospital with me. They live nearly 2 hours away (so I hope I get enough notice that things are kicking off for them to get here!) but live in a small village, don't work, and have been self-isolating aside from occasional shopping, so I think that's the safest option as opposed to trying our nursery or other families near us who aren't isolating as much because at least one of the household is still going out to work. If they don't make it up before I have to go to the hospital, my husband will drop me off alone and stay outside with my daughter until they can get here (if he misses it because it happens too quickly I'll take that!!!). We are considering them coming to stay with us for a a couple of weeks closer to the time, and isolating all together, so a) they're here already, and b) we know much as possible that we've minimised the risk of anyone catching it. My midwife said this was fine, and them coming to stay was a good idea. She didn't like the idea of sending her to nursery, because of the risk of her bringing something home with a newborn in the house.

I think my mum is slightly concerned they'll be questioned about whether it's essential travel, but in my mind it comes under taking care of vulnerable people. And we're picking the safest and most sensible option for us, minimising the risk of transmission, and I think that's all you can do. I would just ask your Mum to think about isolating as much as possible before then.

[RI90 in reply to cefk]

Thank you so much for the reply, that was my thinking that it could be counted as essential travel because we can’t exactly leave our 2 year old on her own! My mum isn’t in an at risk group but has been isolating anyway more out of not wanting to risk getting anything so all fine on that front in any case!

I hope everything goes well for you 🤞🏻