Labor and Birth threads

slartybartfast

This topic cropped up on the labor buddies thread but perhaps we should discuss it more broadly.
I've seen different BMBs do this different and am wondering what people's opinions are.

Here's my vote:
We have a sticky thread for all birth announcements (brief with stats like time, weight, sex etc, general mom and baby status, and maybe a pic or whatever). No other comments or posts on this thread, just announcements.

When a mom goes into labor, if she and/or her labor/delivery buddy want to start a thread for her progress and update that thread, that's totally welcome and exciting. If mom wants to, she can add the birth story to the end of the thread.
For those that don't/can't post during labor/delivery but want to start their own thread with their birth story, also welcome and exciting.
Pics of squishy newborns always welcome.
These are the threads where everyone else chimes in with congrats and encouragement etc.

I found this to be the best part of my last BMB and didn't find the thread number to be overwhelming or anything like that. It's so exciting once the births get going!

Any one else have thoughts?

sourlemon

I'm fine with that. There tends to be lots of the individual threads...but it only lasts a few weeks then it calms down and more organization returns. 

My only request is to make a "maybe in labor / false alarm thread" for those early occurances and hold off on starting individual labor threads until being admitted/having real deal labor. 

aevan011

I've been lurking other BMB (name ideas lol) and really like the birth announcement threads being stickied and no other comments. Seems way less chaotic. Def good to discuss now as buddies are getting paired up

beff12

This sounds good to me. I think the way @slartybartfast explained it is how my previous BMB did it and it worked well!

beff12

For example - when Sally goes in to labor and texts her labor buddy, then LB can start a new thread like "Sally's labor updates!"

karmba

I like the way @slartybartfast laid it out and also really like the @sourlemon suggestion of the false alarm/maybe labor thread.

It's a good combo of all the stats in one place and the excitement of individual announcements/birth stories.

DiFazette

Yes!  The birth announcement thread should be for love tits, no comments.  I personally think the everyone gets to (or their buddy should) AW their own birth.  It's the coolest thing most of us will ever do.  People can personally congratulate, ask questions, etc.  

I third the ''maybe labor" thread otherwise that will take over the board.  

zubenescamali

Totally agree. I think everyone who wants to AW their birth story deserves their own thread. Plus it's easier to search later on.  Lumping them all into the same thread increases loading time and causes mobile to crash.  

Gizmo1231

Love this!

slartybartfast

@sourlemon - maybe labor thread sounds like a great idea

sheshae

Good idea! I think having the birth announcements having it's own thread then a labor thread where mom can post if she can or her labor buddy on their behalf. If everyone has their own labor thread it might over crowd the thread? 

R0824H

Agreed to all of the above

Mamax2

Love and agree with these ideas.

Christinaruth74

Agree! 

LinziLoo09

I agree with the birth announcement thread for love tits, the maybe labor thread, and our individual AW labor/birth thread posts. If we tried to confine everything to one birth announcement thread, we'd still have the annoying randos AWing their births, and I'm much more interested in seeing my reg girls' stories. So AW away, my lady friends!

sammyl1221

Totally agree with the above mentioned!! Can't believe it's coming up fast. We're almost at the finish line girls!! 

leksiL

This is perfect! So the labor buddy would post updates but wait to let mom post the final update? Sorry if I am dense haha.

@sammyl1221 This is coming up fast for you? It is dragging for me!! I told DH this morning maybe it would speed up if I stopped counting the days hahaha. 

slartybartfast

leksiL said:

This is perfect! So the labor buddy would post updates but wait to let mom post the final update? Sorry if I am dense haha.

@sammyl1221 This is coming up fast for you? It is dragging for me!! I told DH this morning maybe it would speed up if I stopped counting the days hahaha. 

I think labor buddies can figure out what they want to do together but typically the full birth story, if a mom wants to write it/share it would be a mom update after baby is born.

Seems like we have consensus on this:
1 - birth announcements threads. Just announcements, no other comments
2 - one ??labor?? thread for anyone who thinks they may be in labor but aren't sure it's definitely the real deal yet. false alarms can be common.
3 - an individual labor/delivery progress and/or birth stories thread (for those that want one) updated by mom or labor buddy. Comments welcome.

cjt121413

slartybartfast said:

leksiL said:

This is perfect! So the labor buddy would post updates but wait to let mom post the final update? Sorry if I am dense haha.

@sammyl1221 This is coming up fast for you? It is dragging for me!! I told DH this morning maybe it would speed up if I stopped counting the days hahaha. 

I think labor buddies can figure out what they want to do together but typically the full birth story, if a mom wants to write it/share it would be a mom update after baby is born.

Seems like we have consensus on this:
1 - birth announcements threads. Just announcements, no other comments
2 - one ??labor?? thread for anyone who thinks they may be in labor but aren't sure it's definitely the real deal yet. false alarms can be common.
3 - an individual labor/delivery progress and/or birth stories thread (for those that want one) updated by mom or labor buddy. Comments welcome.

1 - This would be one giant thread, right?
2 - Yes.
3 - Are we saying that this would go all in one thread with the birth story in there? That sounds good rather than one thread for labor and one thread for birth story.

slartybartfast

cjt121413 said:

slartybartfast said:

leksiL said:

This is perfect! So the labor buddy would post updates but wait to let mom post the final update? Sorry if I am dense haha.

@sammyl1221 This is coming up fast for you? It is dragging for me!! I told DH this morning maybe it would speed up if I stopped counting the days hahaha. 

I think labor buddies can figure out what they want to do together but typically the full birth story, if a mom wants to write it/share it would be a mom update after baby is born.

Seems like we have consensus on this:
1 - birth announcements threads. Just announcements, no other comments
2 - one ??labor?? thread for anyone who thinks they may be in labor but aren't sure it's definitely the real deal yet. false alarms can be common.
3 - an individual labor/delivery progress and/or birth stories thread (for those that want one) updated by mom or labor buddy. Comments welcome.

1 - This would be one giant thread, right?
2 - Yes.
3 - Are we saying that this would go all in one thread with the birth story in there? That sounds good rather than one thread for labor and one thread for birth story.

Yea, one individual thread for labor/delivery/birth story (though any/all components obviously totally optional)

ETA - though I also see this as a discussion about the general MO for the board with birth... I don't see anyone jumping down anyone's throat if a reg posted a birth story weeks or months later (it can take time to process) and didn't dig up their labor/delivery thread or something. hopefully no one would be like "RULE BREAKER!!!"

Gizmo1231

@slartybartfast looks like one of our Mamas has had their LO. Do you want to get the birth announcement thread up and going?

slartybartfast

Gizmo1231 said:

@slartybartfast looks like one of our Mamas has had their LO. Do you want to get the birth announcement thread up and going?

Surely