How would you handle this?

[khannen]

Okay.. here's a simple but long summary of the situation (which is not so simple in itself Lol)...

I've been in the stages of early labor all week and am easily already 3-4 cm dilated. If I don't go into labor over the weekend, the OB is going to strip my membranes on Monday morning, surely bringing me into labor. I expect this little guy to be in my arms by Tuesday. This should be a good thing right? The problem is we have NO idea what to do for Shealyn's care while I'm at the hospital.

She just recently started on the pump and was only dxd in February so our extended family is not really familiar with her routine or what highs/lows look like in her. My father has been T1 himself for over 50 years so one would think he would be the best choice. However, he is also legally blind so has trouble reading her pump AND just can't seem to grab how specific we need to be when counting carbs for her. 5-10 carbs here or there is no big deal for him but it is to her!

Another option would be my MIL, who could read the pump clearly but hasn't cared for Shealyn since dx and has only done one finger poke in all of this. I told DH that I basically want him to return home after our son is born, but I know that would probably devastate him as we've always enjoyed that time together in the hospital with the newborn and he never left my side for the past two kids.

So what would you do? I feel like I have to choose the lesser of the evils. Lol... do I just leave her on the pump to get her basal rates and have my father test her on his own meter (which I know would vary in numbers) and give shots for her meals? Who do I send my kids to?? argh....:p

[Kirsten]

Can you hire a nurse to help with D care for the few days that you'll be in the hospital?

GL!

Kirsten

[Tamara Gamble]

Wow, this is a tough one. Well congrats on the up and coming birth. Could your MIL stay at your home and assist your husband? I would also call your local hospital and see if they have started any sort of babysitting club for children with type 1. We did. The only glitch would be if it's a school aged student they have to go to school. Many times the local colleges have nursing students that are interested. You are pressed for time here and I think they are open on Saturday so call ASAP. Couldn't your husband be at the hospital with the other kids? Our family was there the whole time. I would call the hospital and see about accomodations for the other members of your family.

I don't have a great answer but I wish you the best of luck!

Tami

[kiwikid]

Oh How Exciting :D A new baby!!

I'd send my husband home! - If he's with you for the birth, he can then go home and break the joyous news to your other children. He can bring the other kids to visit and keep Shealyn and her pump running properly.
I think that would cause you the least worry.

Or do you qualify for any special help (funded) for in home care with person who knows how to use a pump. I know my eldest daughter (works part time at a child care centre, has helped me with Rachel for the past 4.5 yrs and knows how to use a pump etc AND with a current level 2 first aid certificate and passport) ;) would love to come and help out. You'll just have to pay her airfares :rolleyes:

[Emmasmommy]

I so now where you are coming from I went thru this in Aug when my son was born it was a night mare I had chose right a way that I would get a nurse to care for emma so thats graet right? wrong It tooke 3 months to find someone trian someone and then have them call in sick on day 2 it was just but. But the one thing that I got out of all of this is that your family all of a sudden chose to learn so that someone can care for them . Whit the nurse calling in sick they all pulled together and called me every 2 hours or less in the hospital to give me the heads up and ask me what this was worth and to walk them thru doing the pump (which at some ponts in labour became harder and harder to go thru) but it all worked out!

I will be thinking about you and I know its hard but it really will all work out!

[Caynuns mom]

Wow, this is a tough one. Well congrats on the up and coming birth. Could your MIL stay at your home and assist your husband? I would also call your local hospital and see if they have started any sort of babysitting club for children with type 1. We did. The only glitch would be if it's a school aged student they have to go to school. Many times the local colleges have nursing students that are interested. You are pressed for time here and I think they are open on Saturday so call ASAP. Couldn't your husband be at the hospital with the other kids? Our family was there the whole time. I would call the hospital and see about accomodations for the other members of your family.

I don't have a great answer but I wish you the best of luck!

Tami

I think having a special needs child and the situation the hospital would make accomodations for this. Maybe being presented with this situation the hospital might adopt a type I babysitting club if they havent already.
Good Luck and congrats on the upcomming delivery I hope all goes well and let us know!

[zeb'smom]

I would start with the hospital and see what if any help they may offer. When Zebulon was born we went to a tiny hospital (4 floors, only 6 labor/delivery suites) and we were able to have the older kids (6 and 3 at the time) at the hospital the whole time. My niece and sister looked after them for us so that I didn't have to worry about them at all. The nurse set up our mother/baby room for us ahead of time and let the kids and my niece stay there so that they were not in the waiting room the whole time, and my room was full of beautiful artwork they made while waiting! I realize that may not be an option, but it is worth a try. That way someone else can care for the kids and your hubby can check on them as needed without leaving the hospital.

If we were closer I could watch them, but it may be a bit of a drive from Asheville (although we may be closer than anyone else here).

Good luck and post a picture of that baby ASAP, I love newborns.

Robyn

[Carrie]

Ugh...not a fun thing to be dealing with! I don't think I would want a total stranger (visiting nurse) watching my child. Do you have a close friend that you could quickly train over the weekend to check blood and count carbs? You could go to the store and get packaged snacks (Go-gurt, Goldfish crackers, juice boxes, etc.) that would be easy for someone to figure. Write the directions right out...1) check her blood 2) let her eat 3) count up carbs 4) unlock pump 5) push B 6) enter blood sugar and puch ACT, etc. Maybe even if that friend could come to the hospital with you and wait in a waiting room while you are in labor to keep your daughter close for your husband to help if something funny came up. You could use your MIL for your husband's trips to the hospital to visit. Maybe have your husband check your daughter and have her all fed before going to grama's. Provide some "free" snacks (cheese snacks, pickles, popcorn, Crystal Light) while at grama's so MIL doesn't have to worry about all that.

Enjoy that new little one! :D

[Jenmom2grls]

I had my baby in October and had the same problem. We have no family around and no on knows how to take care of her. We had a friend hang out with her at the hospital while we were in having the baby. Hubby would go and give her shots etc. It wasn't ideal, but it worked!

[Mojo's mommy]

When Courtney's little brother was born she stayed with Nana and Papa. She came to see him after the 1st hour born and never left. I did not leave it as an option I just flat out told the nurses that she was Type 1 , nobody knows how to care for her and she is staying the night!

Her and Daddy shared the fold out couch,we got her breakie in the morning and then I was released...no fuss, no muss:)

My doctor even came in to see if she got her insulin in the AM on rounds!

I think it made it special for her as well

[wendyc]

Can you hire a nurse to help with D care for the few days that you'll be in the hospital?

GL!

Kirsten

Maybe hire a nurse for the time you're in the hospital and have your in-laws stay so that she has someone familiar around???

[Val]

my daughter was born 2 weeks after Simon's diagnosis. No one in my family knew how to care for him & he was still on shots. I put the word out to the local JDRF chapter that I needed someone to come & "train" my family ASAP. I had about 15 people willing to help out - it was amazing. What we ended up doing is someone from our endo office came & trained my family & then my family babysat the kids. I tried to have lunch sacks with carb amounts written on them etc. Also, pre-drawn insulin syringes etc. Anything that you can do to make it easier on them.

If you can start with JDRF, you might get a variety of options, so give it a try. I just put together an email, which they forwarded to their contacts. People were willing to babysit, train or just be available in case questions came up. Good luck!

[lisalotsamom]

This is so difficult. We had a similar dilemma a year ago when I was due with our youngest. I prayed and prayed that I would go into labor at a time when someone was able to care for Tessa. Thank goodness, ended up going into labor in the evening, so we could get her settled for the night, and just have our teenage daugher check her blood sugar at midnight, then baby was born at 3:30am, and my husband was home by around 6am.
Husband didn't stay with me at the hospital , and that was ok with me, since I was more concerned that Tessa had a good caregiver. Other than our teens knowing how to check her and bolus, we don't have anyone else.
How about contacting JDRF locally and seeing if they know of a teen/older diabetic that might be interested in babysitting? What about your endo group, would they be willing to suggest any patients that might help out? Another mom of a child with diabetes maybe? With the Hippa laws now, they couldn't give you someone's name or phone #, but you could pass yours along to them, and it would work that way.
Prayers this works out for you. I was ready to beg for an elective induction because it was so important for us.

[khannen]

Today may be the day. :) I have an appt in 3 hours. Cross your fingers and wish us luck.

I appreciate all your suggestions and see several who faced the same situation. Jane, I think airfare from New Zealand just may break my bank. Lol.... Robyn, I wish Asheville wasn't on the other side of the state or I just may have taken you up on that! :p

I took advice from many of you and did a bunch over the weekend. I typed up step by step, can't get any more specific, directions for pump use for my father. I also typed up a schedule of her normal routine.... 8:00, test before breakfast and correct if above.... etc. We got together over the weekend and I made him do her pump several times to just start getting familiar with it. I also pre-weighed and packaged several snacks and cereals so he can just serve it and the carbs are written on the bag. No counting, weighing, or estimating needed.

I did talk with someone in JDRF, but since we are so new, I really don't know any of the other families and have only met one person once. I have talked with my mentor several times and she says she will happily be a contact person for questions or emergency backup. While she knows D and pump use, she hasn't ever even seen Shealyn though so that would be a last resort type of thing. I don't even know where to start for finding a nurse and with my luck, they wouldn't know much about pumping anyway. I will check with my OB and the hospital today to see if they will make an exception on visiting times for us with the Type 1. They have a pretty strict policy on children not spending the night etc so it just depends on how far I feel like pushing it at the time I guess. Lol

Thanks for everything!

[caspi]

Good luck today!!! April 23 seems like a GREAT day to have a baby!!! :)

{{{HUGS******

[hold48398]

Good luck!!! Great to hear you managed to prepare a few things...Sounds like you are READY :). Keep us posted!!!

[Boo]

I took advice from many of you and did a bunch over the weekend. I typed up step by step, can't get any more specific, directions for pump use for my father.

Okay, this just made me chuckle since you said your dad was legally blind :D I hope he has someone with him to read your instructions;)

I hope all goes well today (or whenever that big event happens). Hopefully the hospital will make special exceptions/accomodations for you and your daughter. Women in labor can be very pushy, and you just might get your way!

Best of wishes to you and your family!!

[CAGrandma]

I haven't seen a birth announcement yet, so I'll just put in a suggestion I haven't seen yet.

When it's time to go to the hospital take everyone with you - kids and grandparents (to keep an eye on kids). Dad can leave the labor room and take care of diabetes issues in the family waiting area, then return to mom. After baby is born, wait a couple of hours and then everyone goes home. There really is no need to stay in the hospital for days - it's noisy there and you can get better rest in your own bed. And no worrying about diabetes management.