How many had their kids

[cheermom1]

in the hospital the whole time they were giving birth? Just curious. thanks

 

[Hannathy]

If you mean the sibling? then none. Why would I want them to experience that plus the general boredom from waiting around hours. Plus I would not have been comfortable. Nope mine played soccer went to a friends to swim and stay over.

 

[cheermom1]

Thank you that is what I'm looking for.

 

[Nik's Mom]

My MIL watched our oldest son while I was in labor with baby #2. My husband brought our oldest to visit with me and his new baby later that day.

 

[LisaNJ25]

My other kids came after the next one was born.

 

[pooh4evr]

What do you mean -older siblings-- When DD#2 ws born DD#1 was there (in the waiting room) 4 hour induction, she was the 1st person in and made the announcement to the rest of the family that she had a sister (we don't find out ahead of time) - with #3 they came up after school and were in the waiting room and again were the 1st ones in and tis time #2 made the announcement. They stayed with my mom that night (she was born just before midnight) after that Dh stayed wiht them and they visited me (#3 was born 2 days after Christmas so they were on break from preschool ) -- They were in the delivery room for short "visits" not while things were really going on or anything - no need to traumatize them! I guess that is what you are looking for? If not -- after they wee all born they were with me in the room most of the time but I did send then to the nursery at night- sleep while you can!! Dh doesn't get to take time off so when we go home it is me and only me.

 

[golfgal]

DS18 stayed with some friends when we had the twins. They took him the night before we were to go in (scheduled C-Section) and brought him to the hospital later that day to meet his brother and sister. They brought him in for a little time each day we were in the hospital. He was just shy of 3 years old and staying for long periods in the hospital was not appropriate for his age.

 

[jrmasm]

My oldest was almost nine when her younger sister was born. Baby was born at 6:30ish am and she came to visit around noon.

 

[marcyinPA]

First DS was 4 when second DS was born. No way would I have wanted him there for the whole thing. He stayed with my mom, and she brought him to the hospital a couple of hours after the baby was born.

 

[Magpie]

I had both my children at home, but I still sent my daughter over to a neighbour's house when I was close to actually giving birth. She was just a toddler and didn't need to be around for any of that.

After we'd cleaned everything up and I was settled with the baby, my husband went over to get her and bring her back to meet her new baby brother.

I think hanging out in a hospital would be both boring and stressful for most young children. Older children can be given the choice, but they shouldn't be pressured to stay. Children should never be expected to support a parent in labour.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Well, I had a repeat c-section with my 2nd and had to be at the hospital at some ungodly hour like 5 a.m. or something. My dd was 3 at the time so my mom came to our house and stayed with her so dd wouldn't even have to get up that early. My mom and dd came to the hospital a little before lunchtime to meet ds and brought dh lunch. It worked out pretty well.

If we have a 3rd baby, it will also be a c-section and we will either have my mom come stay again or have the kids go to my MILs. My dd is in school now and ds would be in preschool by then so the grandparents could take them to school and then the kids could come visit after school was over ideally. But this is of course premature and we'll figure that out more when, and if, the time comes.

 

[Kathi OD]

Mine came to the hospital later in the day that their brothers were born (the oldest is a girl, then two boys). Both boys were born in the early morning hours. Our neighbor came over to stay with them. We saw no need to wake the children up just to go and sit around a boring hospital for a couple of hours.

DS and DDIL did the same when the grandbabies were born.

However, if you want your kids there, and the hospital has no problem with it, I don't think there's anything wrong w/ doing it that way.

 

[cheermom1]

Thanks ladies it was to settle an argument for a friend and her dh. She has to ahve a c-section and she doesn't the other kids there the whole time but for a small visit after they are born. Her dh wants them there the whole time. I was wanting to see how others have done it so thanks.

 

[Acklander]

Mine was at the hospital the whole time I was, but there were special circumstances
1) DS#1 was 15 when DS#2 was born, so he was capable of waiting (and watching tv) without needing to be entertained.

2) I had a very high risk pregnancy so was at a medical center that was a couple of hundred miles away from home, so he and DH stayed at a hotel by the hospital.

3) I had a C-section, which took a lot less time than a long drawn out labor. I was put in a room around noon and was given drugs to try and bring my blood pressure down (had pre-eclampsia) and C-section at 5, I was back in my room around 7:30. DS just waited in my room until I was brought back with his brother, and we had some quiet family time with the baby for about 15 minutes before the relatives swarmed in to meet the newest member

If DS was young, we would have left him with friends or relatives. The reality is, until the baby is born, it's really boring for those not involved.

 

[Magpie]

Thanks ladies it was to settle an argument for a friend and her dh. She has to ahve a c-section and she doesn't the other kids there the whole time but for a small visit after they are born. Her dh wants them there the whole time. I was wanting to see how others have done it so thanks.

I think when it comes to birth, the mom's wishes rule. It's not her DH having the c-section, after all!

If she doesn't want them there, then they shouldn't be there.

 

[golfgal]

Thanks ladies it was to settle an argument for a friend and her dh. She has to ahve a c-section and she doesn't the other kids there the whole time but for a small visit after they are born. Her dh wants them there the whole time. I was wanting to see how others have done it so thanks.

Her DH will be in the OR with her for the C-section and I highly doubt the kids will be allowed to be in there unless they are over 18 and even then, I doubt the surgical staff will allow more than one person in the OR with mom. The C-section process is fairly short-about an hour from start to finish with another hour or so in the recovery room. That isn't TOO long for a child to be there but who is going to watch the kids while the birth is happening???

 

[indimom]

Our DD stayed at day care while I delivered. She was 2 1/2 and a real handful. No way would I have wanted to deal with that while in labor. DH picked her up after the delivery and let her meet her new little brother. We only let her visit that one day because it was flu season and we didn't want to risk her carrying germs from day care into the OB dept.

Oops, I missed your other comment. I think it could be done with a planned C-section, but if mom doesn't want to, I think Dh should let her win this one. She's the one who is going through surgery and should be allowed to have some say in what's going to happen that day.

 

[Acklander]

Thanks ladies it was to settle an argument for a friend and her dh. She has to ahve a c-section and she doesn't the other kids there the whole time but for a small visit after they are born. Her dh wants them there the whole time. I was wanting to see how others have done it so thanks.

Well, everyone chooses what works best for their family, but I'm a firm believer that when it comes to labor/childbirth - what the mama wants, the mama gets. It's her show completely.

 

[focusondisney]

Speaking as a maternity nurse, I dislike seeing siblings hanging around during a delivery. As others have said, labor can take a long time. Even a scheduled c section can be delayed. Unfortunately, we've had some delayed for hours if emergencies happen or the labor wing gets unexpectedly very busy. Scheduled c sections are bumped if a Mom in labor needs an emergency section. So even that can get boring for sibs.

Also, it is rare but sometimes even routine, scheduled sections can have complications. For Mom or baby. So you have to be prepared for that.

Is your friend's DH planning to have another adult there with them? Our hospital does allow siblings in a birth room delivery, but very few families do it. The siblings must go to a class ahead of time & there need to be a seperate adult present, just for the kids. So Dad is there to support Mom, and Grandmom is there for the siblings.

But for a c section, only the Dad would go in. So who would be watching the other kids? They of course can't be left alone in a waiting room (depending on age, of course). And the staff can't be depended to keep an eye on them.

And will Mom be worrying about the other kids & how they are doing the whole time? She certainly doesn't need that extra stress.

Good luck to your friend, Hope everything goes well for her & baby!

 

[okeydokey]

I think when it comes to birth, the mom's wishes rule. It's not her DH having the c-section, after all!

If she doesn't want them there, then they shouldn't be there.