Making a Sibling Childcare Plan for Your Labor & Birth

Giving birth when you have other little ones at home is an exciting, though sometimes exhausting, venture. Depending on the kind of birth experience you're planning, you'll want to make plans early to have reliable child care in place long before the start of labor. The following tips provide a variety of details to consider when making childcare plans, and back-up childcare plans for your labor and birth. 

Questions to Cover When Making Childcare Plans for Your Birth

• What role do you want your child(ren) to play in your labor and birth? Do you want them present?
• If you're not having a home birth, does your chosen hospital or birth center allow children to be present? 
• If you plan to have your children present at your birth and they are young, who will you put in charge of their care? This person's sole job should be caring for your child(ren). Ideally, your labor support person is caring only for you. 
• Do you want to hire a sibling doula? If not, who in your life will be best suited to care for your child(ren) during labor and birth?
• If you choose not to have your child(ren) present during labor and birth, and you are giving birth out of your home, where/with whom will your children go for care. Consider that they may need care for 2-3 days or longer if you experience complications. 
• Who will be in charge of calling your childcare person when you go into labor or move to your birth location?
• Who will be your back-up childcare person in the event your first choice is unexpectedly unavailable?
• Will your first choice childcare person be available for 2-3 days? Would they be available for longer if necessary? If not, be sure to appoint a second person for hand off. 
• If you go into labor and give birth prematurely, will your chosen childcare person be available? Be sure to talk to them about that possibility, just in case. 
• When do you want your children to visit you after birth (if you're birthing out of your home and do not wish to have your children present at birth)? Will your care person be able to bring them to you? 
• Do you have medical and general information prepared for your children in order to share with your childcare provider? Things like routines, diet, special needs, favorite toys, etc., in addition to vital medical information, will be helpful. 

While this list may seem long, keep in mind that many of these questions are easily answered and intuitive. Arranging child care and back-up child care is one of those to-do items that helps to have planned in advance to help alleviate anxiety. Of course, many people have gone into labor without secure plans and have been able to arrange last-minute child care, too. The more you can plan in advance, the more you can focus on your upcoming labor and birth.