How many had their kids

[wvjules]

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.

Are you really going to say to them "well this is what a bunch of strangers ont he internet do"? They handle it as they see fit, not the way a bunch of DISers did or did not.

 

[kimmyann]

I don't know if I missed it, but alot of it I would think depends on the age of the siblings. When I had my youngest I had went to the Dr for a regular appt and was told to go home & pack for the hospital and meet them there within an hour, I was dialated to 4. I stopped by the school with my friend to pick up my two kids (6&10) from school, went home & packed, met DH & went to the hospital. 2 1/2 hours later, my kids met their new sister. Lucky for them I am fast Anyways, I think whatever mom wants, she should get. In this case she does not need to be worrying about her other children while undergoing surgery.IMO.

 

[cheermom1]

Are you really going to say to them "well this is what a bunch of strangers ont he internet do"? They handle it as they see fit, not the way a bunch of DISers did or did not.

HUH? I am going to tell them what the majority do and they can do as they see fit. But my friend is the one going to go through labor and I feel that SHE should be the one to hold all the cards. However I wanted to help them and give them what MOST people do. So that her dh can see that MOST people don't normally have their kids ion there and for good reason! Even a nurse said so. WOW just WOW I men people get opinions all the dang time why is mine so different? Of course they will do what they want but I thought I could help, what am I not allowed? Or is it just certain people?

 

[EeyoreEma]

My dd was almost 2 when ds was born, and he decided to come in the middle of the night. SO, my closest friend is also my OB. Since she kind of had to be there to deliver ds, and I had no one else to call, dd got to be there for the whole shebang! Thankfully, even though he was sunny side up, it was a really fast labor. Then she and Daddy went home in the morning and slept all day.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

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

Um....ewww. No kids please. Sibs get to come after baby is there and mommy is awake.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I don't think it's such an absurd thing.... Our hospital had the same rules focusondisney mentioned. Siblings can be in the room as long as they take the sibling class and have a "buddy" in the delivery room with them. We had our two, who were 8 and 10 at the time, as well as two good friends in the room with us. It was wonderful and I wouldn't have had it any other way. They were in and out of the room....my friends took them to the lobby to play games when I needed to rest or if they were hungry. As an added bonus, one of my friends took amazing photos that DH would have been too busy (with helping me and the baby) to take.

Now, I would not have done this with toddlers, but at 8 and 10 it was a great experience for them.

 

[laurie31]

I had planned to have DD#1 - who was 2 then - stay with us (not for the actual delivery, but afterwards, as I had never spent the night away from her, and didn't want to), but I had a stat C-section with DD#2 and while we were fine, I was tired, and she was much happier staying at home with my parents there with her.

Our room was big, and had a TV/VCR (this was 1998), plus a fridge so we had snacks for her, and she came to visit with my parents and stayed all day, but she didn't spend the night. It was nice to have the private time with DD#2.

 

[minkydog]

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.

So true! My labors are always very long and there was no way I could have relaxed between contractions if I was also entertaining the kids. My kids went to friends' homes for the entire 13-24 hours that it took. Once the baby was born and i had some rest the kids were allowed to visit and hold the baby. Then DH whisked them off to the friends for another night so he could stay in the hospital with me and the baby.

 

[KellyWasHere]

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.

This. I'm usually not one to believe that a mom's wishes should overrule the dad's, except when it comes to how she wants the actual birth to play out. He should definitely be gracious enough to have the birth however it will make her most comfortable.

P.S. I would never have my kids around while I was giving birth.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

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.

This, exactly. Except I was puking a lot from the anesthesia (spinal-- always does that, ugh) and they came around 3pm.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

My mom stayed with DD, who was 3 1/2, when DS was born. I see no reason to have a sibling at the hospital unless he or she was in the late teen years.

 

[ccgirl]

My Daughter was 5 when her brother was born. We also had a dog at home. My mom stayed at home with my daughter and the dog. I have long labors (10+ hrs) and I certainly wouldn't want her there for that. She was the first to see and hold her brother though. I can remember her walking in with her Big Sister t-shirt so proud to see him. What a sap...I'm crying as I type this. My "baby" just turned 3, two days ago so I'm a little sad. Sorry for the tangent.

Edited to add: She stayed for about 2 hours and got bored and wanted to start running. The last thing other woman in labor want/need is a child running up/down the halls. She went home and slept there. I sent my DH to be home with her. I wanted this to be as easy on her as possible. No need for my DH to sleep in a folding chair. They both came to see me/baby the next day for a couple of hours. The day after we all went home together.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

2nd, my oldest stayed home with grandma

3rd, they were going to go, but then weren't and then decided they wanted to. Went to the hospital at 2:30 and baby boy was born around 6.

4th, they hung out all day (version followed by induction). They watched movies, played DS's. Then my friend stopped by after work and offered to take my son. He was bored, so no brainer. Girls were given a choice, but once friend was gone, they were stuck. They opted to go and baby girl was born several hours later.


I've done all combinatiOns. I'm fine with letting little ones stay, but a backup plan is a good thing.

In case of Emergency, my doulas have been friends and would have watched them in the waiting room if needed.

Having our kids there was something we verified ahead of time.

My children are 10, 8, almost 4, and 7 months to provide their age differences.

 

[JessicaR]

My first was 4 years old and he stayed at Grandmas while my husband and both sisters were with me.

 

[golfgal]

Edited to add: She stayed for about 2 hours and got bored and wanted to start running. The last thing other woman in labor want/need is a child running up/down the halls. She went home and slept there. I sent my DH to be home with her. I wanted this to be as easy on her as possible. No need for my DH to sleep in a folding chair. They both came to see me/baby the next day for a couple of hours. The day after we all went home together.

This is another good point, the woman in the next room may not want your kids around, playing in the hallway, etc. either.

 

[momto2inKC]

My son was only 21 months when my daughter was born. He was not at the hospital during any of the labor/delivery (it was fast though, only 5 hours). My mom did bring him to the hospital that evening.

 

[coolbeans]

our daughter turned 10 before our son was born and she was a huge part of that day. ds was born via c-section (she picked the birthday), dd was in the pre-op room as i got my iv and held my hand as we were getting ready to go back, she was right outside the operating room during the c-section waiting and held her baby brother in the recovery room before i did. (i know that may sound odd but it was huge for her and for us)
she was with her aunt, uncle, grandmother and two very dear friends of ours, so she had a great support system to hang out with too.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

My kids stayed with someone and then came to visit after me and the new baby got some rest. My kids were all born on top of each other though so having a toddler or two around would not have been easy or fun. (and to be honest I'm not even sure it was allowed in the hospital I had my girls)

 

[luvmy3]

When my 2nd was a planned induction so dd was in daycare for the day, she came to visit later in the day. When my 3rd was born my Dad and my MIL & FIL stayed at our house with the other 2. They came teh nect day to visit. No way would I want them there for the whole time, its bad enough when they have to wait at eachother's doctor appts , I couldn't imagine having them sit waiting in the hospital for the better part of the day.
Also, I wouldn't want them there just in case there were any complications, depending on their age that could be very scary for them.

 

[Iri920]

When my second was born my son who was 21 months was in the room with us until it was time to push. By then my mother and brother had arrived from their 5 hour drive and my brother took him down to the cafeteria to eat and by the time they were done my daughter had arrived. We had no family nearby and the one person I would trust to watch him was out of town. It was a long but calm labor and he is a very calm kid and he was well behaved the whole time.

For my third I didn't see my kids for a day or so afterward because I went in one night to the ER for what I thought was back pain and next thing I know I'm being taken in for an emergency c section. Then I had to wait until I was out of the ICU before I could see any of them including my newborn. Then for this last one I had a good friend that stayed with them and then she brought them to the hospital once the baby was born.