for those who have given birth a question...

[goofygirl]

I have never given birth, but speaking from a medical professional's view, I think having family members in the room is a BAD idea.

If it was any other kind of operation/procedure, like a transplant, heart surgery, cyst removal, and so on, there would never be any family in the room. Why should childbirth be any different?


Family, and especially the husband/baby's father should be at the hospital near the room, but not IN the room.

 

[Boots]

DD just doctor and nurses. DS just doctor, DH, and nurses. And that was enough for me.

 

[holycow]

Me, DH and the nurse and Dr. when she decided to show up.
I'm not into circuses

HC

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

the hospital had firm rules -- except for medical personell, only dh, and NO CAMERA!

thank you to who ever decided to ban cameras.

 

[binny]

well gg I have to disagree with having the father in the room You HAVE to have someone to yell at!!!


Seriously though I had to have him there for support but that was all I wanted.


I had Cam in a teaching hospital andit was the WORST!!! Nothing like being out there for the world to see


Cam took so long to come out though that my doctor went home and made us cookies She was awesome I really miss her!

 

[KimR]

For my first, it was just me and DH. With #2 there was DH, my sister, and MIL (who had the camcorder). With my 3rd it just my sister (she was in charge of the camcorder this time) and DH. Originally with my first, I was adamant that I did not want to have the birth on film, but I was sorry afterwards. There are ways to do it very tastefully and I treasure the videos of my last 2 DDs birth. As far as who is in the room during the birth, to each his own, but personally, I didn't want everyone under the sun in there with me. I don't even like having more than a handful of people in my house all at once...can't imagine having a baby in the middle of a crowd of people. But it did cross my mind to let my oldest DD watch the birth of my last baby (she was 9 at the time), but in the end DH talked me out of it, he was afraid the the blood would freak her out. I'm the queasiest person in the world and I watched all 3 of my births and I honestly cannot remember it being that bad at all...I suppose I was so focused on the baby that I didn't even notice.

Kim

 

[4greatboys]

I would never have my in-laws in with me......Thats just way more than i care to share with them. For my first 2 ds birht my x was there. For ds #3 my dh was there. For ds #4 my dh, my aunt and my cousin were there (long story short I have become much closer to them since my mom passed away). My aunt and cousin were up by my head so they saw baby but not much else. I would have let me older ds in the room if he wanted to. He thought he did but then changed his mind.

 

[Chrissi Pooh]

I had my now ex-H, my mom and my daughters god mother who you all know as Mickey's Sunshine!!! Drugs half the day made me not really care who was there!!! uuuggghh can you get those drugs after the baby, some days I need it!! lol

 

[Steve H.]

I was there (obviously ) and DW's parents stopped in the room for a little while (after the epidural was in! ). During the actual birth (at least the pushing part) it was just the two of us, the doctor and the nurse).

 

[Serena]

My h was there for the first one. He came close to passing out when I was given an IV. The nurse spent 10 minutes trying. He did pretty well though. Bri was very easy. It was funny, everyone was hanging out in my room for most of the night. I was watching tv and everyone else wanted to too. They did not stay for the delivery or the checks in between.

With Kelsea it was a totally different story. My h was there for most of it, and my sister for part of it. She sat in the corner looking very afraid.
I had to have an emergency c-section and he wasn't allowed in the room.

 

[aahmom1]

DH was in the room with all 3. DH's sister videotaped the first being born.

I have never given birth, but speaking from a medical professional's view, I think having family members in the room is a BAD idea.

If it was any other kind of operation/procedure, like a transplant, heart surgery, cyst removal, and so on, there would never be any family in the room. Why should childbirth be any different?


Family, and especially the husband/baby's father should be at the hospital near the room, but not IN the room.

Having a baby isn't surgery, there is a HUGE difference. I wouldn't get an appendix out at my house but I could have ababy at my house. And TRUST me, having hour husband in the room with you when you give birth is a wonderful thing. Giving birth is hardly an easy process and not having somebody there that loves you would make it all the more difficult. Please give birth before you make comments that you really have no idea about.

 

[nativetxn]

Back in the olden days they didn't allow husbands in delivery if the mother was having a section There were several nurses, an anesthesiologist, several residents and my physician in there with me though.

The c-section was surprise, I had planned on having my husband in there when the baby was born, so I was disappointed. It was a new thing way back in 1975 to allow the fathers in the delivery room at all.

 

[Lucky4me]

GG, I didn't know you were a medical professional. I don't think it mattered to my doctors how many people were in there. As a matter of fact I think they would have liked an audience.

I had just DH in the room for the first three. The last one I had my sister and 4 med students. By that time I had no modesty left. One of the students almost passed out. It was his first time at a delivery. lol My sister kept peeking from behind a curtain at me like she was afraid to look. She never had a baby and after witnessing me in pain, said she was glad with her choice.

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

I just had my mom and dh there (besides dr and nurses) but these stories reminded me of the time when I had my first little princess.. My last day in the hospital and I just got out of the shower and the cleaning lady just opened the bathroom door wide open! She was horrified (I'm sure a two day post-pardom woman isn't the best to look at) and apologized profusely but after giving birth and having every nurse in the hospital put her hands on my breasts trying to get my stubborn newborn to nurse, I was like, "oh forget about it!"

 

[Towncrier]

Sue and I discussed this at great length before DS James was born (exactly 15 years ago today). I asked her if it would be OK for my dad to be present during the birth. At the time, my dad was an active pastor in the United Methodist Church. He was never permitted to witness the miracle of birth and I thought that it would be wonderful if he could share in the miracle of the birth of his grandchild. He had witnessed the end of life many times during his career and I wanted him to see another aspect of life.

If Sue had said "no", that would have been the end of it. But she agreed. Sue had a long labor with James. He ended up being born at 4AM on a Sunday. My dad had to rush back to his church and preach with literally no sleep. I wish that I could have heard him that morning. I think that having my father present at James' birth created a special bond not only between grandpa and grandson, but also between my dad and myself.

BTW - My mom would have been welcome in the delivery room but, after having experienced childbirth herself, she had no interest in seeing Sue's labor.

When DD Sarah was born 2 years later, it was just Sue and myself and the doctor and nurse in the delivery room. And I almost missed it because they sent me down to the cafeteria to get some lunch. Good think I am a quick eater.

 

[JAP]

Originally posted by grinningghost
DH, doctors, nurses - the end.

Amen to that. No cameras or other people with me!

 

[Kermit]

I'm not having a baby for almost 3 months, but I can tell you that DH will be the only person in there besides medical professionals. We will have a camera to take pictures of the <i>baby</i> after he's born, but not of me in labor. My sister is also pregnant (due 3 days before me), and she wants a crew in there with her. That's fine for her, but it's not happening with me. I don't even want people around while I'm in labor. There are too many opinionated people in my family, and I don't want them telling me what I should do.

I've noticed that people on TV seem to always have a bunch of people in there with them. I think it's because if you're willing to let a camera crew in there, you're willing to let just about anyone in there. It always makes me sad when I watch A Baby Story and I see grandmothers bonding with new babies while mom gets stiched up and dad holds her hand. Either mom or dad should be bonding with the brand new baby. Everyone else can get their turn later.

 

[cinlee3]

For my first when it got to the hard labor part I only wanted DH in the room. I was put under for an emergency c-section and DH had to wait outside while DS #1 was born. For DS #2 I had some visitor while in labor (5 hrs) but only DH was there for the birth. I really wish I would have let my sister stay - I was too passive and at the time felt uncomfortable. For DD - another c-section but this time I was awake and DH stayed for the birth.

I don't like a lot of fuss over me and I am really very private about certain things so I would not like a bunch of people around having a party while I am giving birth. When in labor with DD I even sent DH home for the night because we knew it would be awhile.

 

[becka]

DH, nurses and doctors and that was it. No in-laws, no siblings, no friends and NO CAMERA (at least until after the baby was here)!

GG - If you ever have kids (yes, yes - I know you never will) then you might see the DH situation differently. I ended up with an emergency c-section with DS but I never would have made it that far without DH there to support me.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

My DH was present for all (and cut the cord of all! ) including my C-Section. My mom was present for my 7 y.o. DD. My and my husbands best friends (couple) were present while I was in labor for Gabrielle, but ended up going home an hour before she delivered.


There is no medical reason for other people not to be there.