for those who have given birth a question...

[Rock'n Robin]

I love my mom, but I never thought of having anyone in the room but DH, although she was the first one I called after DD#1 was born. For DD#2 and DS she was watching the other kids, although again she got called first.
For the first two kids my in-laws lived in another state, but when DS was born they lived here--FIL was there the whole time, checked on me a couple of times when I wasn't in active labor yet (I was induced all 3 times) but discreetly waited in the waiting room when it was bad. He was excited because of 8 grandchildren, it was only the 3rd one he was around for. But the thought of having it in front of FIL, or even my OWN dad, is not appealing to me.
Robin M.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

At Avery's birth I had DH, 2 midwives and both of my parents. My Father is not my Biological Father (Mom is Biological) and he felt so blessed that he got to see the birth of his Granddaughter (and Grandson with my sister). I invited my MIL and SIL, but MIL said she couldn't handle it and SIL would have been there if she wasn't in school at the time.

I had Avery in a non hospital Birthing center run by midwives. She was a water birth and it was all that I could have wanted for a first time labor and birth. 8 hours hard labor, 1 hour of pushing. No drugs, no episiotomy, no bright lights and DH's hands were the first ones to touch DD. I will have all of my children in a birthing center as long as there are no complications.

I also wanted to add that Avery will be at the birth of her next Brother or Sister if she would like too.

 

[zurgswife]

Yes I'm, sure your insurance company is far more concerned about your health than keeping costs down by keeping deliveries out of the hospital.

For a percentage of us the don't need the aid of hospital delivery It is a deal for the insurance company...But I in no way compromised the safety of my children by having them at birthing center without drugs and going home with in 4 hrs.... MY midwife was checking on me constantly....

It was what as best for me........but even if you have a relatively normal delivery in a hospital I still feel that it is NOT a medical procedure....

 

[Jenn Lynn]

My insurance covered all of my midwifery expenses thank goodness!

 

[cynjam]

I don't want to debate anything, just tell my story. I really didn't want an audience, but when the staff (of a university hospital) found out I was having a 10 lb baby, the room seem to fill up quick! LOL! By that time, I didn't care who was there.
What did make me mad was when the anesthesiologist(sp) told me, whike looking at the monitors, that I wasn't having a contraction! I told him " I think I should know!"

 

[ReneeA]

Just dh & I. I probably would have invited my mom, but my family is 300 miles away. They came down to see ds the day we were released from the hospital.

My hospital is also a teaching hospital, so there were a ton of interns a nurses in training in and out of my room. You really loose all modesty during the process.

ReneeA

 

[Mrs. Grumpy]

DH, Mom, Nurses and Dr. That's it! My Dr. did not allow more even if I wanted to have others... Kinda took the pressure off me to have to tell others to get out..

 

[tmfranlk]

By the way, at my appointment today, my doctor told my husband that he could "catch" our baby if he wanted to. Pretty cool, if you ask me.

Gem, my BIL got to "catch" my niece. He saw it on a Baby's Story one day and was dying to ask the doctor if he would "catch" their baby. He was so excited when he got the okay and I know it will be something special that he always remember.

When my youngest sister was born, the rest of us were 14, 17 and 20. Unfortunately, I missed the birth because I was away at college and she came before my plane could get there. However, the 17yo stood just behind the doctor so that she could see the whole thing (she was considering becoming a doctor at that time).

When our baby is born in Feb I wish my mom and sisters could be there for the birth. Unfortunatly, they live too far away. For me, I think that the comfort of having my loved ones around would be a helpful distraction for me and I know that they would appreciate the special time it was for all of us.

 

[snoopy]

Funny this thread should be bumped back to the top just as my sister is now asking me if I will be in the birthing room with her.

I really, really don't want to, quite truthfully. I get weak knees when I see blood. But since our mother is gone, I feel a certain obligation. Her husband will be there, though, but I think she really wants her sister there too. I'm hoping she'll change her mind in 4 months when she goes to deliver, because I don't want to tell her no.

I thought maybe I could help while she is labor, but leave once the pushing starts.

 

[J&D]

J&D to her sister Mrs. Grumpy...

Kinda took the pressure off me to have to tell others to get out..

so, you really didn't want me in there?

 

[goofygirl]

I was thinking the very same thing. I think people should stick to debating subjects they know a little something about.

Gee , I guess I know NOTHING about childbirth since I've never been through it. I suppose the things I learned in my college courses that covered childbirth ( human anatomy, biology, physiology) were a big waste of time. I should ask for my money back!

 

[SonjaB]

Hey, Snoops, you could stand by her head and not see anything graphic if she still wants you.

 

[SonjaB]

Oh, you know.....I read a book on space travel once, but it didn't make me an astronaut....

 

[ReneeA]

I mean no offense, Goofygirl, but watching videos and reading textbooks in class really don't do birth justice. It's really something that you have to experience (if you so choose to!)

My first (and only so far) was 9lbs. 12 oz., and not the easiest labor on record, but I was honestly ready to do it again 2 weeks later. It is by far the most raw, intense experience I have ever had, or expect to, for that matter.

ReneeA

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by goofygirl
Gee , I guess I know NOTHING about childbirth since I've never been through it. I suppose the things I learned in my college courses that covered childbirth ( human anatomy, biology, physiology) were a big waste of time. I should ask for my money back!

If the books said humans should never give birth because it's a medical procedure, than yes, it was a big waste of your time. All the childbirth textbooks I've read (I've read my sil's and one of my friend's nursing textbooks when I was pregnant with both my kids, btw) also state how much the father's presence in the birthing room is a bonding experience that the mother, the father and the child(ren) all benefit from.

 

[paras4ri]

Originally posted by snoopy
I thought maybe I could help while she is labor, but leave once the pushing starts.

If memory serves me, once I started pushing I had no idea who was in the room or not!

 

[becka]

Originally posted by goofygirl
Gee , I guess I know NOTHING about childbirth since I've never been through it. I suppose the things I learned in my college courses that covered childbirth ( human anatomy, biology, physiology) were a big waste of time. I should ask for my money back!

GG - I have no doubt that you understand the physiology of childbirth but I think what most people were trying to point out is that there is an emotional component to giving birth that you just don't get from a textbook. It is this emotional component that makes many women feel the need to have their partners with them when they give birth. That emotional component is something you cannot understand unless you have actually been through the experience.