DC #1 in delivery room?

la79al · January 2010

Just wondering if anyone had/is planning to have their olders in the room while they delivered/are delivering the newest. I'm not really considering it but won't freak out if something happens with childcare and DD has to be there. I can totally see her now though. "Mama, go" as I'm pushing. Then 'ewww' when the baby comes out. Then 'baby' when she realizes that it's a baby. Then 'bye' as she's decided she has had enough and is ready to go wander the halls.

MrsEmm · January 2010

no way - we had an overlap last time & my then 9 year old was there for part of it. It was very overwhelming for her.

I wouldnt have my DD#2 in there because I honestly dont think it would be safe. Shes wild & would be all in the mix!! lol. Plus since I will be going medfree itd be a huge distraction for me.?

jacquelinethorne · January 2010

We did, but DS1 was almost 6 and we had prepared him for it. He asked to be in the delivery room, so we prepared him as best we could beforehand. He was a great little encourager. Push Mommy, push! He was so proud that he got to be with us. We had a backup plan too though, in case he decided he didn't want to be in there anymore.

howleyshell · January 2010

I was the videographer for my BFF's delivery of her second.

Hers are 17 months apart.

DO NOT DO IT.

Her daughter saw the baby crowning and majorly FLIPPED OUT.

She kept screaming "Mommy's getting a bad owie!" and "The baby's hurting Mommy." She's the most sedate kid I've ever met but she was in serious hysterics.

I had to drop the camera and run out of the room with her daughter.

It was traumatic for both the child and the mother.

A child that young has no frame of reference for witnessing something like that. All they know is that Mom is in pain.

lilone_06 · January 2010

I think that would be really traumatic for a small kid!

whitehead15 · January 2010

Kids are not allowed in the hospital rooms in NY. Even if they were, I would not let them see the birth!

Nanna · January 2010

I'm personally in the "Hell NO!" camp. IMO, a delivery room in a hospital is just not a place for an older child to be.

mlf625 · January 2010

Good God, no, not a little one. Even if I weren't having a c/s, there's NO way I'd let a young child/toddler experience that.

An older child, maybe. My mom asked me if I'd like to be in the room when she had my brother, I was 9 at the time. In the end I was too scared and stayed in the waiting room, but I think at that age it would have been appropriate if I had been up to it.

Sawyerplus1 · January 2010

It would be too much work and too much of a distraction to have DS there (a very active 21 month old), so I wouldn't do it. But I dont have a problem with people that do include older LOs in the birth experience. I think it'd be nice to grow up with that kind of openness and honesty with my kids.

Want a personalized experience?

DC #1 in delivery room?

Re: DC #1 in delivery room?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards