Doula-ing and a babysitter

waterbaby0205 · 07-02-2007, 01:43 PM

How do you work that out? What do you pay a person to watch your child at a split second notice?

I'm not able to be a labor doula right now because of babysitter issues...I have no babysitter and my dh's job isn't lenient at all (Army-ugh). I do have a person in mind that I was thinking about asking if she'd be dd's sitter, but I'm still pondering it. Maybe I should just wait...

How did you ladies work these things out?

scarborogal · 07-02-2007, 09:17 PM

Well for me, I'm a bit lucky in that my mother has recently retired and if I have to leave in the middle of the night my hubby calls her in the morning to come look after the kids. I try to give her a heads up by talking to my clients continuously around their due date to see where they might be, and if they are going to go into labour soon. I was going to start paying my mom $30 a day to watch my kids. One is in school full time and one 1/2 time and the other is home all day, so really doesn't have a whole brood to look after.

Is your husband home at night? Do you have someone he can drop the kids off too in the morning. You could have an ask around about what daycares or babysitters are charging for care and offer that to the person you have in mind. And keep an eye out some will even have spots for emergency care.

Good luck, I'm anxious to see how the rest of this thread goes.

K.

SerenityDoula · 07-02-2007, 09:49 PM

the realty of it is that rarely is it last minute! It is stated in my contract when you THINK you in labor call me, it goes to further explain that it may require me an hour to get to you. (although it never does) My hubby is home

as well as the 16yr old, so i generally call the sitter and say im on my way out the door, make sure your here before the hubby leaves for work, or make sure he is picked up from school on time! I would find someone close to you, but your clients should be kind enough to call when the very first think they are in labor! Now we all have our rocket launch baby delivery stories, but they are few and far between! good luck to you!! my youngest is 2!

earthgirl · 07-02-2007, 11:46 PM

It depends on when and what time I have to leave- But my Mom is my biggest support, and she will leave work if she has to. My DH can't really leave work.
I have friends and neighbors...and I would just go down the list of who is available.
So far out of 8 births, my Mom only had to watch the kids once, and my MIL did once as well, but she wasn't working at that time. For the 6 it must have been a weekend and my DH was home! Wow ....I never really thought of that.

dorothyh · 07-03-2007, 12:11 AM

I have three teenagers and I homeschool. My teenagers babysit my two youngers while I am at a birth (and I do compensate them for that!)

My husband is also able to take an occasional personal day if needed, and I have another good friend who can come at night if I have someone go into labor when dh is out of town. (which thankfully is not very often!) I've never had to have her come over for this, but I'm glad to have that covered if necessary.

Maybe one of the moms of your child's friends would be willing to supplement her income by doing last-minute babysitting for births...you could pay her a little something for being on call, and then pay more if you actually use her.

UtahDoula · 07-03-2007, 12:17 AM

Seriously, have MULTIPLE people. I generally have 4. Once one family was out of town, 2 families had pink eye, and the last had chicken pox. Luckily, no births that week - client waited untitl the healthy babysitter was back. I've also called a sitter and been told "We were up all night with kids throwing up, but if you really need me...." and I was SO glad to have someone else I could call!

luvmytees · 09-01-2007, 10:36 AM

Not a doula yet but I have thought about this ...
My DH has his own business so he can help out since he doesnt have to be on time...
my dad works from home so he would be my first choice since he is closeby, then MIL doesnt work & is almost always available (30 min away) then I have 2 other friends that would be back-up.
So luckily for me, I have help nearby & I think I have it covered....for the future

Close2MyHeart · 09-01-2007, 07:59 PM

Hey Ali,

I know you from another board!!

I asked a friend to babysit. Shes a SAH-HM who is home most of the time. She said no prob. DH will watch them when he's not at work.

lisa0903 · 09-01-2007, 08:53 PM

I have the same problem with childcare right now. My husband is in the coast guard and we just moved to TN. We have no family close by and since we are new to the area I don't know anybody. It makes it very tough. Luckily I am only doing my certification births right now and I only take them on when I know my husband doesn't have anything major going on at work. It makes it more difficult being military since he can get called away at any time for emergencies and such and that really leaves me with no one. I will say though that I have been very lucky..out of 2 births I have attended (one here and one in NC before we moved) both were first timers and labors were in the middle of the night and lasted about 5-6 hours each

Almostfromthestart · 09-01-2007, 09:30 PM

When you figure it out could you please let me know... as I have 4 small boys and no Babysitter and dh works 2 hours away.... I think I have to delay for a while