Anyone have LO #1 in the delivery room when #2 was born?

kristalovesjared

We just moved across the country and don't know anyone in our new town yet. My parents will be here the week leading up to my due date until 2 days after, but if I don't have the baby while they are here, DD #1 is going to be coming with us, which scares me! Luckily the hospital is only 10 minutes away from our house, so I'd probably just have DH get me checked in and if I wasn't progressing super fast, they could go home until I called to tell them to come back, but of course wouldn't want DH to miss our child's birth or for my DD to be traumatized by it all! She already was freaking out when she came to an OB appt with me and they measured my belly. Just wondering if anyone has had a LO in the room while having another one? Any tips or tricks for me?

ngentile

I did but it was completely unplanned.  I had a precipitous labor and delivered 13 minutes after I arrived to the hospital.  Since it was in the middle of the night, we didn't feel comfortable calling our ILs to take DD, not to mention my contractions were coming hard and fast so I needed to get to the hospital ASAP.  Our saving grace was that DD was so sleepy, she stayed in DH's arms the whole time and didn't say a peep.  Had it been during the day, she would have been running all around the room, I'm sure.  She saw it all and hopefully won't be too traumatized!

Not sure, but some L&D units may have a policy on allowing children in the birthing suites.  With us, I think they just let it slide.

kristalovesjared

Glad it went so smooth for you! I already asked on our hospital tour and they said they didn't prefer it, but it was okay to have a child in the room if we had no other options. I'm just hoping that this L&D is fast if she is there with us!

howleyshell

I didn't but my BFF did.

I was there to video tape and help wrangle her 17 month old.

My advice?  Avoid it if possible and if you can't avoid it be prepared by bringing along something that will keep her attention for a while.

My friend's daughter freaked out.  Bad.  I had to take her out of the room.

Seeing Mamma in pain doesn't usually go over well with most tots.

She also saw the baby crowning in the mirror and got really upset saying "owie, Mamma, band-aid" over and over again.

Sadly my friend was so preoccupied with how her 17 month old was handling things that she was having a hard time focusing on her labor.

Have you considered checking Craigslist to find a reliable sitter in your area?  You might get lucky and find an older woman with grown kids who sits from time to time who would be willing to take a middle of the night call from you for this.  Maybe you could even do a trial run so your DD can get comfortable with her?

GL! 

mrsseguin

I'm an L&D nurse...our hospital doesn't allow children under the age of 14 on the unit.  After the baby is born, the siblings are allowed for a quick visit.  We also have a separate postpartum unit.  There are no restrictions over there as far as ages of visitors.  I also don't think it's appropriate for kids to be in the room where a woman is giving birth.  If it's necessary for your child to be there when your in labor, then your husband should wait in the waiting room.  It's just not safe in my opinion for my a child to be in the delivery room.  

MamatoJackson

I would avoid it at all costs.

Also, our hospital didn't allow any children under 12 into the L&D area, period, during cold and flu season, which we're approaching. 

indomesticbliss

our hospital would not allow it.

we are in a similar boat with no family and a recent cross country move last year, but we do have some friends who have offered to help if needed.

maybe look into hiring a nanny...if family can only be around for a few days, chances are you will need one!

kristalovesjared

Thanks ladies, we are trying to get something figured out... trying to get to know our neighbor a little better (has her grandkids over every weekend) and also some of DH's co workers, but we don't have much time!!! 

timmyhsgirl

I would ask the Ob that will be delivering you if they have any sitter recs or any doula recs. I know some of them do post pardum care. You could always call one see if they would sit with LO1 and if they could come over a couple times predel. to get LO used to them? Just a thought.  

MammaBear81

We have always had the kids in the room when I delivered.  My L&D's all went pretty quickly (all under 5 hours) so it's not like they had to hang out there all day.  I think it would be a different story if I had a 24 hour labor.  I'd say pack an overnight bag with a TON of toys and snacks for the older one.  Its good you are only 10 min from home, you can keep DD home as long as possible.  GL!

JoannaJes

Personally, I would get on care.com or sittercity.com and start interviewing people ASAP. There is no way I would want my toddler in the delivery room with me.