For those of you with kids and established pilots

[Imachickadee75]

Originally Posted by Eastbayk

What about bidding for a reserve line for around the time the baby is due? Is that an option?

I know at XJet, we have a long call reserve which has a 12 hour call out (report time, instead of the usual 2 hour). He can probably make it to his base in less than 12 hours. DH can stay at home with you and then only have to report in if he gets called in. Then once you are in labor, he can call in for the time off.

Or even short call (2 hour) reserve. It seems like a lot of reserve pilots (depending on the company of course) spend a lot of time sitting in airports instead of flying. At least on reserve he'd be in base and could commute home reasonably vs. being out on a trip at a place that's going to take 3 legs to get home.

Just throwing out ideas!

Kim

Hmmmm. We'll check into that if we have to. I'm hoping his IOE will just stretch out awhile.....

Jackie

[Imachickadee75]

I had my 34 week appt with my OB yesterday and he wanted to know when I was having this baby??? LOL We talked about how DS was a little early and that women tend to follow the same pattern. I'm due Oct 23 and told him it would be fun to shoot for my Bday on the 17th. He said, "that's possible, make sure you have a nice 'celebration' with with your DH the night before -wine, sex, etc and viola! A baby!" He cracked me up! I think I've posted before that this guy is almost 70 and an incredible doc. I mentioned the trick was going to be having DH home for the delivery but we weren't interested in induction. He said, "well, no, but there are lots of natural ways to induce. DH will be home for your Bday right? I say have a nice 'party' the night before and a baby the next day."

He also mentioned that it wasn't fair for DH to have all the fun in the beginning and then miss out on the outcome! I guess we'll talk more about natural induction methods in subsequent visits!

Too funny!

Jackie

[christykay]

As much as I would love to see you have that little one on the 23rd of Oct (that's my Birthdate also), there is NO guarantee to any natural induction unfortunately.

I've never heard of a woman following the same pattern in due dates. My 1st was 4 days early, my 2nd was 1 week early, my 3rd was 1 week late- and trust me we tried EVERY natural induction known to man and finally decided to have a medicated induction. My 4th, well she was 1 week early because we chose a medicated induction to have DH at delivery.

I know how crazy this time is- the not knowing and the waiting. Good luck to you, it will all work out.

[scissorhands]

Well, with or without dh...I would never think of natural. You might as well be comfortable...they dont award a badge of courage lol. Im sure dh will make it home, is he eligible for family leave? I know my dh has family medical leave for up to 3 months. Just plan on a back up until he arrives things never seem to go as planned. Good luck, I will say a little prayer for you.

[Imachickadee75]

Originally Posted by scissorhands

Well, with or without dh...I would never think of natural. You might as well be comfortable...they dont award a badge of courage lol. Im sure dh will make it home, is he eligible for family leave? I know my dh has family medical leave for up to 3 months. Just plan on a back up until he arrives things never seem to go as planned. Good luck, I will say a little prayer for you.

There is family medical and paternity leave but they are unpaid. With me not working -these 32 hours in two days are killing me so I'm stopping after the first weekend in Oct (I work in a hospital if I go into labor its not as if I won't have help LOL)- we'll be needing a paycheck.

And no, I guess they forgot to give me my badge when I left the hospital last time! But there are some possible complications with meds that don't seem worth the risk when I managed the labor so well before. Plus my OB seems to think this one will go even faster and easier than Jason. Of course, he qualifies, it could be longer and harder but that's his guess.

So, we'll see!

Jackie

[Regina]

Jackie,

Although I don't think I could do it, I do applaud you for going natural. There are so many medical reasons to go that way, and from my understanding, drugs may or may not slow down your labor making it longer....

When things get closer, have your hubby talk to the chief pilot and see if they can work something out for him.

[Imachickadee75]

Originally Posted by Regina

Jackie,

Although I don't think I could do it, I do applaud you for going natural. There are so many medical reasons to go that way, and from my understanding, drugs may or may not slow down your labor making it longer....

When things get closer, have your hubby talk to the chief pilot and see if they can work something out for him.

Really, I know everyone is different, and maybe if I planned a big family like yours I would choose the med option too. Part of it for me though was to have the whole "experience" so to speak. Six kids later, you've definately had the experience! LOL My attitude was that I probably would need the meds but wanted to see what it was like without them. As it turned out, though, I didn't need them.

I'm just in awe of my body at this point. I've never been an athlete and only once in my life have I been very fit. Preg/labor/delivery over the last three years has been eye opening.

Also, you know, that's one of the weird things I can't get used to. He doesn't really HAVE a chief pilot. There isn't one specific person to go to and say, "I have a question about....". I understand its not like me who can just step into the office next door, but I think its odd that there isn't a direct point of contact.

At this point, it looks like it will take a bit to schedule his IOE so especially if I go early he'll be home waiting for that. We'll just have to see. Somehow, I'm oddly at peace about this.....

Jackie

[jr_lenz]

Jackie, I thought that all the bases had a chief pilot. We have one a SLC that we can go to.