L&D question

 I had my DH and my mom and my MIL all in the room when the baby came. I also had about 5 Dr's in the room. My daughter was almost 4 weeks early so they had a lot of staff standing by just in case. What I thought was going to be a small intimate experience turned out to be 8 people all standing there staring at me. Very uncomfortable!!!! So you just never know. Don't be upset if things don't turn out exactly as planed. As long as the end result is a healthy baby, what does it really matter...  

I love my mom.  But I know she'd drive me crazy chattering and talking (to anyone who will listen - me, the nurses, the doctors, people in the hallway she might see, etc). 

She hasn't asked to be there.... I haven't offered or mentioned it. 

I am allowed 3 support people for regular birth, 1 for c-section and none if the c-section turns "emergency". 

I jokingly said months ago I wanted my father-in-law there because he's the photographer of the family and I want good pictures (of the baby - not me).  Now that he's seen me naked I might as well invite him!  (Just kidding) 

It will probably be just my husband and I unless the labor goes on for many many hours then maybe my mom and his mom as a tag team -- with the understanding I can kick them out when I want to. 

Cindy

I had easy labors -- chalk it up to dealing with migraines (and thus used to pain), or a me being a stubborn ***** or maybe just dumb luck.  But I really had easy labors compared to some.  In fact, the nurses were pushing me to get drugs both times before I was ready so I wouldn't progress too fast and not be able to get said drugs (I wanted an epi, too).

With that said, hubby and I were the only ones there for Kaitlin's birth -- other than the 20,000 people that came into the room when she was being delivered.  My epi was SOOOOO good that it took a complete stranger to  hold one of my legs while hubby held the other.  I remember cause she was German and in between pushes, the two of them (over me, keep in mind) were discussing Swedish names.  *******s!

For my labor with Daniel, I had Kaitlin in the room for quite a bit of it.  She was gone before putting in the epi, and I think hubby was gone with her when I had that, too (although I don't remember).  He was ferrying her around to places since we didn't know Sam at the time (my BFF!) and we don't have any family in the area.  So I had both of them there, or neither of them there for alot of my labor, but she wasn't there for the actual birth.


I can only hope you have it as easy as I did both times... cause it really wasn't nearly as bad as everything I had read.  But I also know that pain is subjective, and each birth is different, and all of that jazz.

So.......with both our girls births it was just myself, hubby and medical staff.  Everyone was allowed in after the birth was over.  I personally like it just that way.  My feelings are, that DH and I created the baby and the special bond we have watching our child come into the world is priceless.  I wanted to share that moment with him and no one else.  Not even my family.  It will be the same way again with this new baby.  We were allowed about 15-20 min. in the room with the baby before the nurse brought all the family and friends into the room.  When I had Skyler, we asked the nurse to go get her 1st so that she could hold her sister.  Then, we asked her go to and get the rest of our group.  It was nice to have just us and our girls in the room for a few min. before the family came in.  I'm sure we will do the same this time as well.  I love my family but, I think it's so sweet that Brandon and I had that loving moment of watching our babies take their 1st breath! 

I had and epi with both girls and it was perfect.  I was never in any pain with either one.  I was induced with both girls at 39 weeks because my OB and hospital is over 1 hr. away.

With Savannah Sierra: Labor was 6 hrs. start to finish!  She was out in 2 pushes!

With Skyler Sayge: Labor was 4 hrs. start to finish!  She was out in 2 pushes!

My OB laughs and says our 3rd baby is just gonna fall out!!!! LMAO!

Ash :)

I'm not pregnant and have never given birth so I am not really the person to answer this, but I plan on hiring a doula I think when/if the time comes. Have you looked into that at all? I don't think my husband will be much help and he is very uncomfortable with all things medical so the doula would be as much for me as for him. Someone who knows the drill and can communicate what I want if need be and comfort my husband as well. It is important to me to have natural births if possible so a doula makes sense for me. I thought I'd at least bring it up for you in case you wanted to investigate :)

Good luck!

I will give you my personal experience , so here goes. My husband was stationed in New Hampshire at the time when I was pregnant (we live in CT), so it is a 3 hour drive. Since my labor was so short (not even 2 hours) he didnt make it in time. My mom and sister were in the room when I gave birth but since I had gotten to the hospital fully dialated I did not get an IV, or an epidural so I had her all natural. I was in so much freaking pain that I didnt care who was in the room and I didn't want ANYONE touching me, I mean so much pain that when she came out I couldn't even hold her I was shaking so badly. I would just have whoever your comfortable with, because like I said I didn't care who was there or watching with that pain I just wanted it over. And I guess I had pain with good reason because I tore so badly I required 70 stitches. My advice if you can get an epidural GET IT!! Don't stress yourself thinking about it, but all I can say is it's like no pain you can explain. I said I wasn't having anymore after experiencing that, my mom said you'll forget and have more, guess she was right because I am 7 months pregnant...LOL
Good Luck Hun

It is a personal choice of course but I always just have my husband. We don't tell anyone when I am in labor. My mom was in the room with my first, I was 16 and she adopted him, my husband delivered Reagan in our van and with Riley I stupidly agreed to an induction and ended up with the worst kind of C-section due to a prolapsed cord so no one was with me and I was put out.

If you want a completely natural birth I highly suggest looking into hypno birthing. Now is the time to start learning. It can also help with dealing with other pain and constipation!

Thanks Ladies!! You have given me a TON of great advice as always and I think that hubby and I will have a long talk about it in the weeks to come (I really only see him on weekends - he works 2nd shift). I am not sure how hubby is going to handle me being in pain/uncomfortable/emotional. My Mom is my rock. I didn't know until reading these books that they would allow anyone other then hubby in the room with me. Knowing my parents they would be in the waiting room anyway (whether it was planned or not) but my Dad wouldn't be able to handle being in the room - he can't see me in pain or upset.

You have give me a ton to think about - I'll be weighing my options!

Thanks agian!

Liz

 I plan on having my DH, mom, and MIL in the room. That's what I would like at least. My mom is an L and D nurse so she does this EVERYDAY!! My sisters want to come in too. If the Dr says okay than they can, too. It's good that we start planning now though. haha
Jess

i could have had who ever i wanted in there.... i planned on my friend and my mom... however... thats not what happened.... i made it to the hosp when he was crowning.. my brother took me... he ran with me up to triage.... baby plopped out... before that... he got scared... ran out.. hahaha... because jayson was 5 weeks early... everyone... like 15 people ran in there... literally ran.. so it was just me... and the 15 drs and nurses...