privacy during labor

[Julie08]

Quote:

Yes, see how he would like it if the shoe were on the other foot.

LOL so true

 

[pokey]

i haven't done any of the birthing classes. my plan is to get there and just keep asking for the epidural!!!

lol, really my doc said we may induce my labor because we live about 45 minutes from the only hosp he delivers at. atleast it would be "planned" then. i like my mil, but i think she vastly spoils my sil kids and has them ALL the time. that's okay with sil, but i was raised and quite frankly believe that this is my child to raise, and would appreciate the respect and a little space. i have spoken to my mom, and dh about it, but the only thing that keeps me from voicing things w/ mil is the fact that dh dad died in sept and she is dealing w/ that. which seems to make this baby even more anticipated by her. i just hope it all works out. she is taking the other two grandkids to disney next month so i have been hoping baby would be born early while some of the family was in florida.

it would atleast give me a little time.

 

[Spires6]

Pokey: It is your birth experience and you have the right to have it your way. As an L & D nurse, I see people every day that are guilted into having everyone and their brother in their room while they give birth and I think people need to respect your wishes. Some people want their whole neighborhood in the room while they birth and that is fine but for those of us who don't want an audience to such an intensely painful, emotional and beautiful moment in their life...well people need to respect that and not be upset. Stick to your guns and do what you are comfortable with.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

I had family around for 2 of my 4 births and it honestly slowed my labor down. I did MUCH better without the pressure of family members. You need to stick to your gut feeling about this and your MIL and DH will just have to get over it. After all, YOU'RE going to be the one in LABOR, doing all the work... they need to respect YOUR decision about it. Tell DH that if he would like to have the baby for you then he can have his mom in the room.

Labor is a job, not a sporting event, spectators are not necessary!

 

[Linda in San Diego]

I understand totally.

With my first I was worried that if my mom was there I would wuss out - Anytime I was upset and saw my mom, things got worse - not better. But I was ok with my younger brother being there to photograph and my mom understood.
At one point with this one, I was being rushed down a hallway to a delivery room (read op room) and I was uncovered from the waist down. Cute little nurse was trying to catch up and flick the sheet over my nether regions - I could have cared less.
Child #2, mom, sister, hubby, and photo brother were there. No worries, just get it done.
Child #3, mom and hubby there. Photo brother, he thought he could sleep a little more - he thought he had a few more hours. By then I realized that having hubby and mom there were the best comfort.

My own mom was "knocked out" for her deliveries - mine were the first ones she had actually experienced. I was happy to be there for my sister on her first one - it is not as scary as you might think. My neice is on call this weekend as a doula (like a birth coach) this weekend. I would love to do the same thing.

For you, do what feels best for you. Don't worry about the others. Do what is best for you right now. Once all is said and done - these people will still love you, your hubby and the child you add to the family!

 

[Stumpy]

I'd feel exactly the same way if I had ever been pregnant. I don't need an audience! My sister was lying there in the "stirrups" once when a doctor wanted to bring in a medical class! No, thanks.

 

[JennsPeeps]

I hoep to have a child someday (hopefully in the not-too-distant future!) and if that happens, the rules will be simple:

If you weren't there to put it in, you won't be there to help get it out.

On a related note I used to live in a 4-plex townhouse before I bought my house. One day the couple next door came to let me know that the wife was pregnant and that she planned to have the baby at home. Thus, if I ever heard noises, it was her in labor.

OK, thanks for that particular heads up.

Some time later I got up on a weekend morning and, yes... I heard moaning and screaming from next door. Lovely. It went on all day. "Listen to you go w/o drugs, sister!"

They had an inflatable pool in their living room and apparently that's where she gave birth. Toward the afternoon things quieted down and I finally heard a baby cry.

YAY!

Then that evening I walked out front to my car. This next part is something I will never, ever forget: they were draining the birthing pool into the parking lot and it streamed in icky rivulets everywhere.

That was not a private birthing session. Seriously. Wonder if the landlords ever knew??

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

and

I want to have a waterbirth someday... I have had a homebirth and hospital births. When I'm in labor I tend to want to retreat and be ALONE. I tolerate hubby but I want no one else.
My last birth was a hospital birth where they thought I needed 8 nurses all chanting "PUSH, PUSH, PUSH!" Drove me NUTS! I yelled at them to get out!