at what age would you allow

[luvmyfam444]

a child to be in the room when you deliever a baby? What do you think is appropriate - or not at all?

 

[Galahad]

Not at all. It's a medical procedure. Too many things could cause them to suddenly be very much in the way.

 

[Zandy595]

Not at all, but that's just my personal opinion.

 

[minkydog]

I personally would not want my child to be present. Childbirth is messy & loud(at least my three were) and I think any one of my kids would be disturbed. Perhaps an older teen would be able to comprehend the event, but i think a school age child would just be frightened. Certainly there are people who disagree with that statement, who believe that a child can be properly prepared for the event with books and tapes and hours of explanation. In my experience(and I have delivered 13 babies into my own hands) even fathers and grandmothers can be badly frightened by the grunting & pushing, the blood, and the change in the mother(labor is not for the faint-hearted). It might be okay for the child to come in a see mom in labor if she is in control, but I would not want my child to see the final stage--too many variables and I would not be able to concentrate on pushing for worrying about my child.

 

[inaminute]

The only child that I would have ever allowed was the one being born!

 

[CheshireVal]

Not at all. I've never heard of that.

That would be just a little too much family intimacy, if you ask me.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I think it's totally appropriate if the child is given enough information beforehand. If you are going natural, that child needs to be prepared for the fact that although it hurts Mommy, she'll be OK. The child also needs to know that he/she may be asked to leave the room, for whatever reason you or your doc comes up with. I would personally not let a child younger than 7 or so, and I might keep them up by my head, rather than by my knees. I think it's a wonderful thing for a child to witness a sibling being born.

How old is your child?

Jackie

 

[va32h]

I wouldn't be comfortable having one of my children watch me give birth, at any age.

 

[MidgeD79]

I would say over the age of 7. My dds' at ages 17 & 19 were present at #6 childs birth.

 

[ASFCurly]

I was in the room at 3 when my brother was born, and my brother at 5, and I at 8 were in the room when my sister was born. I didn't have a problem with it, but it scared my brother to death. I want as few people in the room as possible though when I have kids, no parents, friends, children, etc.

 

[cats7494]

My dd is 11 and I am due in February... and we are not planning on having her attend the birth.

I remember going with my parents when my little brother was born, I was 11 years old and scared to death! My parents did not explain anything to me so I was so scared to see my mom in so much pain and getting sick. They finally had a friend come pick me up and I stayed with them.

I do not recommend having a child in the delivery with you.

 

[spelunker]

Sorry, wrong forum

 

[golfgal]

Personally I wouldn't want ANY extra people in the labor room with me especially kids. If they were my kids then I would be worried about them getting into things they shouldn't and it would make me more tense. I also wouldn't want any extra adults in there because I just wouldn't. Birth is something for DH and me, well and all the medical staff.

 

[VSL]

Heck - I'm not even sure if I want to be in the room when I give birth!

 

[MamaLema]

I wouldn't want my kids in the room no matter what their ages.

Slightly off-topic but my friend's sister who was 22 at the time was in the delivery room with her and has now sworn off having children EVER. She is now 30 and still hasn't changed her mind

 

[JVL1018]

Besides medical personnel, I think the people that were there for conception(my husband and myself) should be there for the birth..and that's it.
It's a private thing, IMO, a special time for the parents.
But that's just me-so no kids, no matter what the age.

 

[sha_lyn]

DS was 8 when DD was born. He was in the room from the time I checked in until the moment the Dr decided I needed a c-section. Well except for when my mom took him to eat lunch. Not only did we explain everything to him ahead of time, but the hospital had a tour and class that he took a few weeks before.

 

[Patty3]

I wouldn't be comfortable having one of my children watch me give birth, at any age.

I'm with you.

 

[r3ngels]

Never... I want to be a grandma some day

If I saw a birth before my girls... I don't think I would ever want to have kids. JMHO

 

[jajuan]

My DS was in the room when he was 9. I offered for my DD7 to be in there, but she opted out. She decided to be in there when it was too late for anyone to bring her in. It was all explained ahead of time and he did great. DH was with me and my best friend sat with him. That year for his standardized testing in school he had to write about the best experience in his life and that is what he wrote about. He aced the test and I actually got to see a copy of what he wrote. (big no no for the teacher, but she said she had to let me read it.) I would do it all over again