September 2011 Moms

Have you seen a live birth before? Also poll.

Sorry if this is too graphic, I don't want to scare anyone so this is a warning.

I held my sisters hand while she gave birth to my niece 4 years ago. It was a natural water birth as well, same midwife as mine. I don't want to scare anyone but I think we all know that eventually these bambino's have to come out one way or another and let me tell you all I can think about is my amazement at how HUGE her V got as my niece was coming out. It was almost like something out of a sci-fi flick. Granted it was underwater so it could have been magnified, but it was unreal!

It was the most amazing experience of my life thus far. Has anyone else watched a live birth? What was your experience? Obviously those 2nd+ time mommy's must have alot of experience.

Also: Who do you plan on having in the room with you during delivery? I will have DH, my mom, and MIL during the hardcore labor. Leading up to that I will be open to my closest girlfriends coming in to say hi and stuff.

~ Josh & Jill, married 5/2/09 ~
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Re: Have you seen a live birth before? Also poll.

  • I've never seen one in person, just in childbirth videos. And I'll have DH, and I would love to have my mom there but she lives across the country so that probably won't happen.
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  • I've seen one a documentary but that's about it.  Nothing like actually in person.  The whole birthing process doesn't really scare me that much (I'm sure I'll be signing a different tune when it gets closer) but I'm more worried about the hot mess my lady bits will be after everything is done.

    DH is going to be the only person in the room or even at the hospital with me.  I figure he was the only person there when we made the baby so I just wouldn't feel comfortable with everyone else around even my mom who I am incredibly close with.

    And I don't want anyone at the hospital because I don't want that pressure of "how far along is she?" "how bout now?" "is she pushing yet?" "can we come back and see the baby?"

    bumping from my phone. please pardon any typos and missing punctuation
  • does my own count?  lol.  

     i'm planning on having dh there and i really want a birth photographer this time.  if not, i'd like my mom there to take pictures.  

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  • Yep, was there for my sister's labor and delivery. Things definitely get 'real,' especially when no pain meds are involved. Aside from a wonderful doula, I had just DH with me, and plan on doing the same this time around. But want lots of family and friends immediately afterward!
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  • Yes. And I had watched tons and tons of videos of childbirth but NOTHING could have  prepared me seeing it IRL.

    My sister, husband, and best friend were at my first birth. I'd really like my husband and maybe my MIL if she could be there. It was really helpful having the extras there to grab towels or whatever while DH stayed with me.  

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  • imagecamdenfaithful:

    I've seen one a documentary but that's about it.  Nothing like actually in person.  The whole birthing process doesn't really scare me that much (I'm sure I'll be signing a different tune when it gets closer) but I'm more worried about the hot mess my lady bits will be after everything is done.

    DH is going to be the only person in the room or even at the hospital with me.  I figure he was the only person there when we made the baby so I just wouldn't feel comfortable with everyone else around even my mom who I am incredibly close with.

    And I don't want anyone at the hospital because I don't want that pressure of "how far along is she?" "how bout now?" "is she pushing yet?" "can we come back and see the baby?"

    I've actually read recently that more and more couples aren't even telling friends and family when the woman goes into labor for the same reasons. 

    ~ Josh & Jill, married 5/2/09 ~
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  • I have not witnessed a birth either. 

    2nd time mommy here but honestly where labor & birth are concerned I am very much a newbie.  My first child came via C-section under a general anesthetic so I wasn't even awake & a drugged up mess for hours afterwards.  Not an experience I care to repeat I can tell you!

    Providing everything goes smoothly this time I plan on having DH with me in the delivery room.  I may also hire a doula.  Both my mother & MIL (esp MIL) are severe panic people & I will definitely not need panic as I try to birth a baby!

  • Never in real life, just in movies/documentaries.

    I'm planning on only DH being in there once I'm in hard labor, but before that I don't think I'll be too concerned with who comes/goes.

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  • imageMcKenna81:
    Yep, was there for my sister's labor and delivery. Things definitely get 'real,' especially when no pain meds are involved. Aside from a wonderful doula, I had just DH with me, and plan on doing the same this time around. But want lots of family and friends immediately afterward!

    Oh yes. I actually started crying because she was gripping my hand and would look at me with the veins bulging in her neck with a look of "please help me!" and I just broke to pieces inside to see her like that. She doesn't even remember that now though. She did hypnobirthing, as will I, so the whole labor was more like a dream. 

    Recently I asked her how she felt about all of us seeing her V because I keep thinking "wow, my MIL and probably some of my best friends could see my girl parts in the most unflattering way possible". She started laughing and said it wasn't til months later that she realized that and was kinda embarrassed but at the time could care less. I even remember thinking when I walked in the room and saw her in the tub "well, there is my sisters V, haven't seen that before." lol

    ~ Josh & Jill, married 5/2/09 ~
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  • imageveronicafvr:
    imagecamdenfaithful:

    And I don't want anyone at the hospital because I don't want that pressure of "how far along is she?" "how bout now?" "is she pushing yet?" "can we come back and see the baby?"

    I've actually read recently that more and more couples aren't even telling friends and family when the woman goes into labor for the same reasons. 

    This is something DH and I have very different opinions on and we've talked to death since before I was even pregnant.  I made the comment in passing to FIL (SIL was pg at the time so it wasn't totally out of the blue) and he said that if he couldn't be in the waiting room that he would disown us.  Ummm WTF?  I've already said that NO ONE is allowed to come back right away to give DH and I time to bond with the baby so who in the world would want to wait for hours on end and not get to see anything?

    I learned so much about this end of things when SIL had her first child and most of it was from the mindset of "holy balls I'm never having this happen to me when I have kids!!" 

    bumping from my phone. please pardon any typos and missing punctuation
  • yeah trust me.  you won't care what happens in that room or who sees you in order to get the baby out.  lol.  my mom was in the room when ds was born and i didn't even realize it i was so focused on pushing.  i'm so glad she was there though because we got pictures of ds right after he was born. 
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  • imageTheFannins729:

    does my own count?  lol.  

     i'm planning on having dh there and i really want a birth photographer this time.  if not, i'd like my mom there to take pictures.  

    yes that counts, silly! lol

    ~ Josh & Jill, married 5/2/09 ~
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  • I 've had the experience of 4 vag deliveries, and also many strangers' vag and c/s deliveries. I'm a nurse in the nicu and we are present for all c/s and any deliveries where the baby is in distress or they need us for some reason (not usually good). Most of the time, when we go, everything turns out just fine :)

    I had my exH and mom in for my first delivery. Just my ex for the second. My dh and mom for both 3 and 4. But my ILs were in the waiting room pretty much for the whole labor and I'd really like to try and avoid that this time. It is a lot of pressure.

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  • imageveronicafvr:
    imageTheFannins729:

    does my own count?  lol.  

     i'm planning on having dh there and i really want a birth photographer this time.  if not, i'd like my mom there to take pictures.  

    yes that counts, silly! lol

     

    lol.  i know.  but i would imagine that being there for someone else is a completely different experience than being the one giving birth.  both are wonderful experiences in different ways.  

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  • NO! And I don't really want to either. If there are mirrors and stuff set up in the delivery room for me to see, the will be removed. Blood and guts stuff doesn't bother me, I just don't want to see my body all deformed and huge!

    DH will be in the room, not sure who else yet.

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  • imageveronicafvr:

    imageMcKenna81:
    Yep, was there for my sister's labor and delivery. Things definitely get 'real,' especially when no pain meds are involved. Aside from a wonderful doula, I had just DH with me, and plan on doing the same this time around. But want lots of family and friends immediately afterward!

    Oh yes. I actually started crying because she was gripping my hand and would look at me with the veins bulging in her neck with a look of "please help me!" and I just broke to pieces inside to see her like that. She doesn't even remember that now though. She did hypnobirthing, as will I, so the whole labor was more like a dream. 

    Recently I asked her how she felt about all of us seeing her V because I keep thinking "wow, my MIL and probably some of my best friends could see my girl parts in the most unflattering way possible". She started laughing and said it wasn't til months later that she realized that and was kinda embarrassed but at the time could care less. I even remember thinking when I walked in the room and saw her in the tub "well, there is my sisters V, haven't seen that before." lol

    LOL, I'm loving the capital 'V'. 

    Yeah, it's pretty nuts -- everything down there just sorta flips inside out, ya know?

    It's definitely true that you lose all self-consciousness once heavy labor starts -- you seriously go into animal survival mode, and all that matters is getting yourself and your baby through safely (and as goddamn quickly as possible). Still, I think it's really cool that you're willing to invite your MIL into the birthing room -- I don't think I'm quite comfortable enough with mine to have her there.

    Will you be taking actual hypnobirthing classes? I did sort of an abbreviated at-home version last time, but think I'd like to do the real deal for this pregnancy.

    image
  • brrrrrrrrrrrrrr I'm just trying not to think about it!!!! It's sooo scary!
  • I have seen two live child births... one was 15 years ago when my mother gave birth to my youngest sister (I was video recording it and it was so scary for me I cried for my mommy) 

    The other was 6 months ago when my third youngest sister gave birth to her baby son... she was a champ... In labor for 24 hours and actually pushing for 3 hours.  I was so happy for her I cried. ( Just an fyi it seems that no one pays attention to the mother after the baby is out except the doctor) So I stayed by my sisters side trying to keep her calm while everyone in the delivery room gathered around the baby. 

    For my first baby I will have my BF, and his mother, my mother, and my sisters with me through the birth. Close friends and relatives can stop in through out up until the big show!! Im lucky as I can have as many people in the room as I want as long as they dont get in the way.

  • imageMcKenna81:
    imageveronicafvr:

    imageMcKenna81:
    Yep, was there for my sister's labor and delivery. Things definitely get 'real,' especially when no pain meds are involved. Aside from a wonderful doula, I had just DH with me, and plan on doing the same this time around. But want lots of family and friends immediately afterward!

    Oh yes. I actually started crying because she was gripping my hand and would look at me with the veins bulging in her neck with a look of "please help me!" and I just broke to pieces inside to see her like that. She doesn't even remember that now though. She did hypnobirthing, as will I, so the whole labor was more like a dream. 

    Recently I asked her how she felt about all of us seeing her V because I keep thinking "wow, my MIL and probably some of my best friends could see my girl parts in the most unflattering way possible". She started laughing and said it wasn't til months later that she realized that and was kinda embarrassed but at the time could care less. I even remember thinking when I walked in the room and saw her in the tub "well, there is my sisters V, haven't seen that before." lol

    LOL, I'm loving the capital 'V'. 

    Yeah, it's pretty nuts -- everything down there just sorta flips inside out, ya know?

    It's definitely true that you lose all self-consciousness once heavy labor starts -- you seriously go into animal survival mode, and all that matters is getting yourself and your baby through safely (and as goddamn quickly as possible). Still, I think it's really cool that you're willing to invite your MIL into the birthing room -- I don't think I'm quite comfortable enough with mine to have her there.

    Will you be taking actual hypnobirthing classes? I did sort of an abbreviated at-home version last time, but think I'd like to do the real deal for this pregnancy.

    lol I hate the word vagiiiiina and prefer the V. I love my MIL to death, she is such an amazing mother and I want her to have this experience with us. I am pretty sure I got lucky with her.

    Yes I will be taking the class, they offer it at my birth center for only $90 and it comes highly recommended. Anything that will help with the pain I will sign up for. DH will be going too, should be interesting. =)

    ~ Josh & Jill, married 5/2/09 ~
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  • I've only seen childbirth videos.

    I plan on having DH (duh!) and probably my mom and sister in the room during delivery. I'm not sure if the hospital limits how many people you can have. I do plan on having people there during labor if they want to.

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  • I have never seen one other than when I delivered our little girl in September. As far as who will be in the room. Up until I start pushing it will be my parents, in-laws, friends, and brothers and of course FI. Once it comes time to push the only person in there will be my FI. We are both very private people when it comes to certain things and want that time to be special for just us.
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  • imageSeaDoo66:


    The other was 6 months ago when my third youngest sister gave birth to her baby son... she was a champ... In labor for 24 hours and actually pushing for 3 hours.  I was so happy for her I cried. ( Just an fyi it seems that no one pays attention to the mother after the baby is out except the doctor) So I stayed by my sisters side trying to keep her calm while everyone in the delivery room gathered around the baby. 

    omg, this is so true.  it's like a rush of loneliness.  you're so happy the baby is there and to hear that cry, and then everyone goes over to see the baby while he/she is getting cleaned up, and you just feel left behind because you can't go too.  ladies, have someone stay next to you! 

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  • imageTheFannins729:
    imageSeaDoo66:


    The other was 6 months ago when my third youngest sister gave birth to her baby son... she was a champ... In labor for 24 hours and actually pushing for 3 hours.  I was so happy for her I cried. ( Just an fyi it seems that no one pays attention to the mother after the baby is out except the doctor) So I stayed by my sisters side trying to keep her calm while everyone in the delivery room gathered around the baby. 

    omg, this is so true.  it's like a rush of loneliness.  you're so happy the baby is there and to hear that cry, and then everyone goes over to see the baby while he/she is getting cleaned up, and you just feel left behind because you can't go too.  ladies, have someone stay next to you! 

    I totally agree but have never heard any women talk about it! My daughter had meconium so they took her away and everyone was just gone. 

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  • I totally agree but have never heard any women talk about it! My daughter had meconium so they took her away and everyone was just gone. 


    it's amazing to me the things that people DON'T talk about.  And it usually revolves around the feelings of being pregnant, birth and those first few weeks.  I'd rather know!!!  

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  • I see live births every day at work.  I have the best job in the world!  I plan on just having my husband in the room, but considering I will be delivering where I work, some of my co-workers will be in the room too, out of necessity.  
  • I videotaped my friend giving birth a few years ago, from the "see everything" angle and yes that got HUGE! but it was an amazing experience.

    I plan to just have hubby there whether my mom likes it or not lol

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  • I have never seen a live birth.  Nor have I seen a birth on video.
  • I have seen 3 natural vaginal births, my ex SIL giving birth to my niece 7 years ago, my current SIL giving birth to my nephew 9 months ago, and one of my best friends giving birth to her DS about 6 months ago. I think childbirth is the most amazing thing in the world.

     I plan to have DH, my mom, MIL (if she chooses, she might turn the offer down) and one of my aunts that I'm very close with. I will also have my closest girlfriends into the room before the intense labor.

  • I was there for my first nephew's birth.  It was amazing, fascinating, and horrifying all at the same time!

    And much different from DS's birth.  I was intruiged by everything with my nephew, but with DS, I just wanted him out, and understandably so!  There was no watching the mirrors or feeling his head, it was all about the business of getting him out :)  I guess not having pain meds will do that to you.

    DS had skin-to-skin with me right after his birth, so it was nice because there wasn't any of that alone time ... all checks were done right on my chest.  As for people there, only DH was at his birth, although my mom was there about an hour later. 

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  • We are in the unique situation of not knowing where we will be living once the baby is born :)  This was a total surprise for us and DH is in the process of PHd apps at the moment, so it could be one of 6 places.  As of now, it will just be Dh and I although I would LOVE for my mom to be there.  Something about my mom being there to comfort me just makes me feel better.  Then of course I have these crazy hormonal thoughts about what if it is a girl and then I woul dbe there when she had a baby and it would be like coming full circle....ummm, or  am I just going crazy, because serioulsy who has these thoughts?  hah!

    I don't think I want anyone else at all.  I am pretty modest about my lady bits and I don't know what my pain tolerance will be once this whole thing gets going.  I've never seen a live birth (video or in person) and I think I am grateful for that so that I do not freak out.

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  • I have seen both my niece and nephew come into this world.  My SIL and I are Best friends, so it wasn't too weird.  It wasn't planned, it just happened the first time.  The first time i was there when her water broke, she had been in labor all night so we were all in her room.   My niece came very quick, I had no intensions of looking but once she started coming it was too amazing not to watch.  In all honesty, when she was coming and you could start to see her head, i wasn't seeing her V anymore I was seeing my niece.  If that makes sense.  When my nephew was born a 1 1/2 ago, my sister actually waited to start pushing until i was in the room.  I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.  For both babies though My brother (her husband), My Mom, Her mom and I were all in the delivery room. 

    There is nothing more amazing than seeing a baby born, hearing the first cry, watching the first bath, not to mention watching the expression on everyones face.  It truly was a life changing experience for me. 

    Now that it's me that is pregnant, I want my husband, mother and sister (in-law) in there with me.

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  • I've never seen a live birth and I'm not sure I want to experience one before my own.  I think it would terrify me!  However, I find myself asking my girlfriends with LO's to describe every detail so that I don't have any surprises.  Does that make sense?  lol
    DH will definitely be in the room with me, though he thinks he will pass out.  I would like my mom there as well, but maybe just me and DH for the actual arrival.

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  • I was my sister's birthing coach for her first (my niece who is now 5). I used to jokingly call it the best birth control ever. People say it is the most beautiful thing in the world. That's crap. It's graphic and gross, and although I'm glad I could be there for her (she was single mom then; now she's married with #2 -11 mos and #3 on the way) I passed on being there when she had #2. I'm not a blood and guts kind of person.

    And even though they say you won't care who is there, I would like it to just my amazingly supportive husband. If everyone else wants to spend hours in a waiting room that's their choice, but I think this is a private show Smile

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  • I haven't.  I get the gist of it though - my grandpa, who is a doctor, said it's pretty much like pulling your lips over your head, so I have the visual.

    I really just want my DH there.  I am so very close with my mom, but on some level it's not her baby and I think that time needs to be shared with the two of us.  I may change my mind as time draws nearer.

     

    TTnoles - we are in the SAME situation as my DH just finished applying to residency programs.  We found out we're moving to my hometown just today, which is awesome, but we won't know where we will be when the baby is born until March!  Good luck!  How are you dealing with insurance? 

  • This will be our first, and I've never seen one live (unless Business of Being Born counts ;)  ).  We're planning on a birth center birth, and they encourage the spouse/partner and a doula (if using one) to be present in addition to the midwives, and discourage other visitors.  My best girlfriend will be "on call" in case DH needs a break, etc., since she lives near the birth center--but we're planning on DH and the midwife.  We haven't made up our minds about a doula, and I think if we hire one, it will be a doula-in-training.
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  • I have gone through natural child birth...ha if you could call it natural. And I have seen two friends give birth. That is why I will have a c-section with this baby.
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  • I have only seen my best friend's birth almost a year ago. We were living together with our SO and so I was able to be there throughout her entire pregnancy, but the birth was one thing I never wanted to be apart!

    Her mother was supposed to fly in a week before her due date and of course she went into labor 2 days before that. She was really scared and I wanted to be there for her, so I stayed for the birth. I was up at her head the whole time and I told myself I didn't want to look. Well after about 30mins there isn't really anything else to look at and I was starting to get curious. Once I looked I felt a lot better, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. My friend looked out of it the whole time though and that scared me. Also, it seemed like most of her pain happened before and after the birth (catheter, pushing out the placenta) and I will NEVER forget the screams I heard waiting outside her room (gives me nightmares to this day). I am really glad I got to see one first hand. It is something I will never forget.

    I will be having my friend I was talking about above and DH in the room. I don't think DH will be able to handle it tho, he faints at the site of blood! It should be interesting lol. 

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  • Yep, I have had two amazing birth experiences. My second L&D experience in particular was just incredible. I did retain as much modesty as possible by wearing a sports bra and I highly recommend them for all you ladies because those hospital gowns always end up falling off.

    I only had my DH with me both times and that is the plan for the next time. I am not comfortable having anyone else in there. We also had no visitors after DS2 was born and it was so nice. It was so serene and peaceful and we got to get to know him really well. A few hours later we welcomed visitors but it was nice to have that time together.

     

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  • DH and I will be the only ones there (other than the dr and nurses) we decided that this is a special event we want to experince together on our own. Plus I don't want any family members to see my lady parts.. that's just awkward.
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  • Hi, I have seen a few vaginal childbirths-when I was in nursing school I did my OB rotation at a hospital where they deliver high risk pregnancies--having said that I saw good  deliveries and one w/ complications.. At the time I was far from wanting children so while I appreciated it was a miracle it felt NOTHING like it does when it's your close firend/sister, etc. 

     I had a Csection for my DS so I know I will end up w/ one the 2nd time around..The hospital in the city I live in does not do VBAC's.  They will only allow MH in the OR -which is fine.. I am pretty sure that if it were a vaginal delivery and I was pushing, he would be the only one I would want in there too...

    Good Luck-this is such an exciting time for us all!

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