For women who have had babies-Did you allow your father to see the delivery?

[Blueberry]

No way!!!


We were hundreds and thousands of miles away from my folks being military when all three of my kids were born...but I would not have wanted my Dad in there..Dh was there for all three kids, I was lucky being an Army wife that he was....

 

[Disney_1derland]

there were a LOT of people in the room both times I gave birth. Neither of my parents were there, they are not terribly supportive people and as I was doing natural (unmedicated) childbirth using alternative birthing techniques I did not think they would be supportive, so they were not invited.

With dd#1 There were....me, dh, my best friend, two friends who are doulas, one accupuncturist/friend and one friend who just got brought along for the ride. There was only one man besides dh and that man left before the actual 'birthing' began. I was one of those people who NEVER thought that I would have a birthing *party* and was VERY modest but I needed each and every one of those people and they stuck by me through a VERY difficult birth. I was induced with Pitocin due to having Pre-eclampsia and was strapped to the bed the entire time. I did manage to make it through without any pain meds/epidurals and the like.

With dd#2 there were....me, dh, my best friend and the dueling doulas yet again. Much less eventful and very quick! Yay!

To each their own

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by Disney_1derland
I was induced with Pitocin due to having Pre-eclampsia and was strapped to the bed the entire time. I did manage to make it through without any pain meds/epidurals and the like.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Of course on my earlier answer I forgot to mention my father. I don't think even he would have wanted to see the birth. But, then again with my second one he was the babysitter part of the day for my oldest one.
Kim (who is awake now)

 

[lulugirl]

Originally posted by poohandwendy
Wow, I am surprised at the modesty here....we are talking about your own father...I guess I am just not very modest...

I'm not particularly modest either, I just felt the birth was something private and special for Dh and I to share.

 

[Disney_1derland]

It wasn't easy but I did have another one after that so I think the effects were shortlived! They did tell me I was the first mother to ever do that in this particular hospital. It was worth it

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Originally posted by Disney_1derland
It wasn't easy but I did have another one after that so I think the effects were shortlived! They did tell me I was the first mother to ever do that in this particular hospital. It was worth it

Wow! Pitocin and no drugs, good for you.

I didn't have any drugs either. I labored in water which was very relaxing in between contractions. I did have a cervical lip that the midwife could not move. Had to work my way through that. They have told me it is more painful, but since it was my first child I didn't know the difference.

 

[Disney_1derland]

I did have a cervical lip that the midwife could not move. Had to work my way through that. They have told me it is more painful, but since it was my first child I didn't know the difference.

Well, if you do it again, I have a great cervical lip trick that works well most of the time, I'd be glad to share it, though it's a bit hard to explain

I didn't have the luxury of water either time and since I tend to go pre-eclamptic I had to have #2 in a hospital as well. Not to mention #2 was so fast there wasn't time to fill a tub

 

[northern michigan]

Just hubby and I were at conception! Just hubby and I (plus medical staff) at delivery. Anyone who wants can come in as soon as I'm sewn up!!!!!!

 

[JVL1018]

OH NO, no no no, no and NO. NO WAY would I ever let my dad not only see me giving birth, but to even be in the same room, even if he wasn't looking. And there is no way he'd want to be there even if I did. LOL We love each other dearly, but there is a line I will not cross. I was almost embarrassed to even tell him I was pregnant because that was liek I was admitting I had sex. And I had been married 7 years at that point. ROFL
I wanted my husband with me(and he was) and that was it-no moms, friends, siblings, nothing. It was just for DH and I, a memory that we two share together all by ourselves.
Edited to add--and medical staff, of course.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Just me and DH. For the first, my parents, in laws and my sister sat in the waiting room. They came in to visit me while I labored and was nice and covered. but they were waiting outside while I delivered. For the second it was my older dd, parents, in laws and one set of my husband's grandparents inthe waiting room. Just me, dh and the medical staff in the room.

 

[Nancy]

All I wanted was my husband. I don't think my parents would have wanted to be in there either..My Dad was very old fashioned and wouldn't even hold the babies when they were newbies. I didn't want anyone at the hospital either. We called them after we got there. With #1 I had to tell MIL over and over again NOT to come. She did anyway we just didn't know it....she said she had to be there just in case. With #'s 2 and 3 she got to babysit, that that assured us she stayed away.

 

[Planogirl]

It was just me and DH and the medical staff. And I wasn't too thrilled with all of them being there at times. My Dad hated hospitals so I was shocked that he even came to visit once.

MIL wandered in at one point during the proceedings and I told DH (quietly) that I couldn't deal with that so he escorted her back out. She's a wonderful lady but does so love to talk and tell stories and I just couldn't listen right then.

 

[minmate]

Uh, NO Thanks!

Don't care if he didn't see me or my sibs born -- he missed his curtain call there... not my fault... don't take it out on me! Love my dad -- but I know he wouldn't have wanted to be there! I had 4 c-sections anyway... only one person allowed -- dh of course... on the last one, which we knew would be our last, I asked dh -- this is the last time you can watch (the c-section) -- he said, "no thanks, don't really want to know you from the inside out -- literally" -- in the end, a nurse took our digital camera and snapped a bunch of pictures and dh did stand up and look over the curtain more than he ever had with the other three...

I don't think I'd want to be in the room for anyone else giving birth -- except maybe my sister if she wanted me there for moral support and my dd's when the time comes... and only if they ask.

 

[preshi]

No one except DH. and the 15 other nurses etc that were in the room LOL.

 

[sunni]

Originally posted by Planogirl
MIL wandered in at one point during the proceedings and I told DH (quietly) that I couldn't deal with that so he escorted her back out. She's a wonderful lady but does so love to talk and tell stories and I just couldn't listen right then.

Just like my ma! She and dad came in briefly during labor with my 1st... and she kept talking and talking as I smiled through gritted teeth during contractions... I wanted her out of there so badly! They waited outside after that, there's no way I could have had my mom or dad around during labor. I wouldn't have wanted them for the delivery either, it was far too overwhelming (Pitocin, no pain meds or epidural, and a forceps delivery... yeah, ouch!).

I wouldn't have minded if they were there for delivery of my 2nd (who arrived after 30 min at hospital... a 2 1/2 hr labor) if they didn't say a single word (that wouldn't have been possible, LOL!), but neither were invited in and therefore weren't there. Had I known they had just arrived and were outside the door listening I would have had them come in. It wasn't something I could have planned in advance because each labor and delivery is different... I didn't know how I'd feel until the moment arrived. Having a midwife and it being my 2nd probably contributed to my more relaxed attitude (well... is saying "I want to go home, I don't want to do this" relaxed?). BTW, I paid for the quick labor and delivery with a month of the most awful Braxton-Hicks contractions. I remember waiting on customers while doing my breathing through 4min long contractions... labor with him was actually easier.

 

[MHopkins2]

It won't ever come up with me (no children, ever), but I can assure you that if one of my sisters invited my dad to witness their childbirth, his response would be as follows:

1) NO.
2) Are you drunk?
3) I'm going to go get drunk myself; you can call me when you're done, like your mom did.

 

[disykat]

I considered it a moment for dh and I to share. My parents never would have even agreed to be at the hospital - they felt that would have been intruding on our day.

That said, if dh couldn't have been there my parents would have stepped up and done whatever I asked. I could easily see having Dad in the room if my DH couldn't have been. As it was, they came to the hospital one at a time to help me (c-section with baby rooming in) to give dh a chance to run home to eat, shower, nap, etc. AFTER the baby was born. Basically dh was my support -they were his support.

 

[mickeyboat]

Only me and DH for both. My dad was actually in town when DD#1 was born and I thought seriously about having him come in. I actually asked him to leave before the episural, I was too uncomfortable with him seeing me struggle. He came in after the epidural but left for the delivery. DD#1 was whisked off the the ICN, but he was one of the first to see her an hour later.

Denae

 

[missypie]

Lord, no!!!