Bellenden, maybe your mum/mum-in-law hasn't spent much time with your youngest as they're still quite young and still being breastfed but things can change. I do feel for you though and as the location is so far away I would have probably not gone if I had a young child and a 13 month old. Like Ellie78 with her situation, I had a very ill time the day after the birth of my youngest (now 17) when I couldn't make any decisions but know she was well looked after by my Mum (God rest her soul) for over a week while I got better. With her and my mum-in-laws help I don't know how I would have got through.