Even if your 14 year old is capable of babystitting, it is actually illegal and if somebody goes silly and calls docs then you could get in trouble. Also you don't know how long it all will take.

I actually use my older kids to babysit my younger ones. But they are over 15. If you go to your community health centre or Early childhood centre they would probably  be able to put you into contact with respite carers. You might qualify for help because of your circumstances. I know people who have a community carer who come and help them with shopping etc. I'm just not sure where you go to get that help that's why I suggest you go to y our community health centre or whatever you call it in Tassie.

Libby, I absolutely would not leave your 14yo with the other 2 kids for what is an undeterminable amount of time.

With 6 kids I suggest you hire a proper baby sitter or get in touch with someone in your social group or even one of the parents of one of your kids friends, its amazing how willing people are to help.

I always find it amazing when people who attend to hospital where I work say they have absolutely no-one who can help them with lifts, childcare etc, I am from UK, none of my family is here & yet I could easily find people who would help me out.

If necessary widen your social circle with playgroups, playdates for the kids, organise a babysitting club. There are many things you can do to be ready for such an emergency as yours.

Once again I say I would not leave my kids alone for what is an undeterminable amount of time

If it's not too late to comment, have a look at this site: http://www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/ch05s02s03.php it's for SA, I couldn't find anything for TAS but I think the laws quoted are Federal (I could be wrong though - only had a quick look). According to this site there is no legal minimum age to baby sit but it is an offence to leave a child without basic needs or in a dangerous situation. I would have thought that since you have a child with a recognised disability there would be help available for him at least, taking the responsibility off the shoulders of your 14 year old who would then only have one child to supervise. Have you looked into this?

My 12 year old has ADHD and is often focused on a single activity so I am reluctant to leave him in charge of the younger ones (who are a fair bit younger than yours are), but have done so for short periods of time (10 minutes to half an hour), and recently when I was away he got his 5 yr old brother ready for school and off to the bus an hour after my husband had to leave for work (I was more worried he'd leave the door unlocked than not look after his brother!). I have also had all 3 baby sat for a number of hours by a 15 year old boy who was a first time baby sitter. Just go through emergency steps with your eldest before you go so he makes sure he knows what to do if something goes wrong.

I Agree with what everyone else is saying, the 1st thing you have to try to do is try not to stress too much, we don't want you losing this precious bub as well, believe me I know what thats like I've lost 4 in the late stages. A loss at any stage is hard so try and keep yourself destressed. 2ndly if all else fails and you really want hubby there, (I know I would) take the kids with you with a bag of toys a assortment of stuff to keep them all occupied and a bag of food,drink etc. Hubby can keep popping out to check on them. I mean really what are they going to say when your there in labour, (excuse  me can you please make that baby wait until your've returned your kids home..lol). I'm not sure what the law is in oz, but here in new zealand 14yrs is the legal age to look after yourself and babysit. So if your son is old enough to look after the kids at home , he's old enough to look after them in a hospital waiting room for a while, at least dad's alot closer to get help from if he does happen to need some. I hope everything goes well for you in the end .

I agree with the other member take them along with you but they can wait in the waiting room they can not stop them from doing that. Do you have a portable dvd player or one you can borrow so they can watch a couple of movies as well as an activity bag as suggested.

Is it possible if you don't take to long to give birth to actually take all the kids to the hospital.. They may not be allowed in the room but maybe there is a waiting room.. Have an activity bag ready for them, your 14 year old can watch them in the waiting room and if need be daddy can pop out for a few minutes every now and then to check up on them...

personally if I trusted them and knew it wouldnt be for a long time and they could contact me at anytime I would.

Call social serives and find out the legal side of it as I have no idea what it is. but at 12 I was looking after my sister and at 14 I was doing paid work from 6am to midnight for 3 kids and cooking and cleaning.

Honestly if i was in your situation and i did not have anyone else at all to look after my kids and i trusted my 14 year old and other children to be responsible, then yes i would but that is just me as i know what my kids would be like. But i would also notify the neighbours and tell them what is happening and to just check on the kids now and then if they are ok.

Are you friends with your neighbours by the way? Maybe they wouldnt mind watching them as they know the situation, as you have to rush to hospital to give birth.

But i guess the most responsible and safest way would be what the others suggested below and find out from community services or your midwife if they have any advice or people that can be sent over for last minute notice. You still have 6 months so im sure you will be able to work things out by then.

Personally, no I wouldn't. I don't know what the law states if you don't live in Australia. You have like 6+ months to figure out what you're going to do so don't stress out so much. You have plenty of time to find a babysitter that will look after the kids. Place an ad on a free notice board saying you're looking for a babysitter that can be available anytime that month. You'll find someone! People in this state would be jumping at the opportunity to make a bit of extra money.