How many people were in your birthing room?

HappyToBe2012 · October 2012

DH was telling me about a conversation he had with his brother yesterday. BIL said he and his wife were talking about how many people they would have in the birthing room when the time comes. They aren't pregnant yet but are starting to talk about these things for when the time comes. The hospital they will be at allows up to 6 people in the room. BIL said he would like it to be just the two of them. SIL started listing the people she would like in there, filling all 6 spots.

I'm curious. when you had your LO, how many people, other than the doctor and nurses, were in the room? How many we're you allowed to have? Why did you choose what you choose?

When DD was born, it was just DH and I. My parents, MIL, and BIL and his wife were in the waiting room. I didn't necessarily want them even there but they all showed up. Ended up being fine since they provided a distraction for DH. I think we were allowed up to 3 in the room at given time. We choose it to be just us because it was such a special and personal moment to us.

ETA. I should add that before I started pushing, I had more than just DH in the room. MIL was there almost as long as we were, BIL and wife spent most of the day with us too. My parents showed up in the afternoon. Everyone but DH left when they were checking me or doing stuff. When it came to pushing, he was the only one.

runrinserepeat · October 2012

Just DH in there with me. Probably for the best... By the time I got to the hospital, I was not cool with the idea of clothes. It was all they could do to keep the hospital gown on me, lol.

NatesLady1309 · October 2012

Other than people from the hospital, just DH and one of my best friends. I was only allowed 2 people. My parents arrived from OOT an hour or 2 before I started pushing but I didn't want either one of them in the room. It would have been weird for me.

MrsLindinger0905 · October 2012

6 people?! Oh he!! naw! Lol. I had 3 -DH, my mom and best friend. But next time it's probably just going to be DH only.

SrhA1984 · October 2012

I don't think there was a limit to how many people we had in the room. i had dh and my mom. my mom is a nurse, had a ton of pregnancy and labor complications that we were concerned i would also have and is very supportive, sometimes more than my dh. also, my dh was very squeamish and i didn't know how he would handle everything and didn't want to be alone. my dad, mil, fil, and.our best friend were all.in the waiting room once it was time to.push.

lancyjo · October 2012

I was allowed two people when "push time" came. (I had hubs and my Mom)

While I was laboring though, I could have as many visitors as I wanted, provided that 1) the doc/nurses weren't needing to check me and 2) that we didn't have lots of people in there for long periods of time (so that I could rest as much as possible).

I'm glad that I had my mom there as well as hubs. Hubs was great, but there are just some things that you need your mom for, you know? (or, at least, I do... my Mom and I are very close)

jmccall79 · October 2012

We had a party, and I was glad they were all there! My mom, 2 sisters, and nephew (because there was no one to keep him). SO was in and out a few times. I was allowed 4. When SO parents got there my sisters went out for a while. When they'd come in to do things, like the epi, or check me, my sister would step out with my nephew. But other than that, they were all there. The room was really big and they were all over to the side, so not in any drs or nurses way at all. When things got a little ugly...my sisters and nephew had gone to grab something to eat (dropped nephew off with his daddy in the waiting room at this point) and had just gotten back in my room. We had already discussed a little bit before "who" was going to the OR with me if we ended up in csection, so we had that ironed out already...good thing too, because when Ian's heart rate dropped again, they came in and had me unplugged and were wheeling me down the hall so fast there would've been no way to make a decision at that time. Though things didn't go as I had planned necessarily, I was glad that everyone was there with me and would do it all again.

Jen0204 · October 2012

I had a c-section so it was just H and I. I pushed for my mom to be allowed in so that when H left with the girls I would have someone with me but they wouldn't budge. If I had been able to have a vaginal birth I would have had H, my mom, and my sister. H wanted his mom in place of my sister but there is no way I would have been comfortable with that because she has no sense of boundaries and would have been all up in my business. My sister had her H, my mom, and I in the room and BIL and my mom were on either side of her and I took pictures. Everyone had a role and it worked out well.

heymommy · October 2012

I had c sections so it was just me an DH. I would only have DH in the room if it was a regular birth.

CTbride79 · October 2012

I had a c-section, so it was actually me and my SIL, because DH came down with the stomach flu that morning :-(

If I had made it full term and had a regular birth, it would have been me, DH and my sister, who I had designated as my extra birthing coach.

I cannot imagine having 6 people in the room though??

joie12 · October 2012

Just DH. I was so glad for that, too, because I really just wanted it to be as quiet as possible in the room.

MollySm · October 2012

I had H, my sister, Lucia's Gramma (a close family friend), and a close friend. Her H was there throughout the day, but stepped out when they had to check me, and was out for pushing. I would have had more, but most of my closest people are on the east coast so it just wasn't possible.

As far as during the day, I regretted afterwards not inviting more people. It came up awkwardly a couple of times - the people I know are too polite to ask, and I didn't want anyone to feel like they had to, but I would have loved more distraction! With a 30 hr labor, H and I would have been bored silly without them. When he and I talked, I had a hard time not focusing on 'what ifs', but everyone else just chatted and talked about this and that. I didn't need to join in if I didn't want, which was great.

I am amazed at how few people on the bump seem to feel like me - I loved having all of my loved ones that could be there be a part of it! I guess I'm not all that modest so that helps. And during the pushing, I could have cared less what was going on. H and I still had a special bond, and no one was in the way of any of that. They took lots of pictures. And I know how important that moment was to many of them (who have framed pictures of themselves holding her that night).

Oh, and I have no idea how many people were supposed to be there - we ended up in a different hospital than we originally expected, so I'm not sure their rules. They didn't say anything about the 4 that were there - maybe because I had been in labor forever, and I didn't ask.

pennyandandy · October 2012

I had a c/s so it was just DH, but either way it would have just been us. I do not feel that that is an experience I need to share with anyone else.

christinak22 · October 2012

For DD, just DH was in the room. For DS, I asked my sister if she wanted to because she's in school to be a L&D nurse and she was so excited. She had just started L&D clinicals that week and had seen two births before mine and said mine was way more awesome than the other two, lol

I thought I would feel weird about her being there, but it was really special and cool.

karleegirl · October 2012

While I was laboring dh, my mom and dad. Dad stepped out for cervical checks and pushing. My mom is a rock and helped dh and I both.

My 2 bff's didn't get there in time from work. I was sad because they were there for my last birth.

aglenn · October 2012

Just me and DH. My mom wanted to be there and I had to tell her no both times. I just didn't want a bunch of people in there! Birth is not a spectator sport to me.

sarahandtim · October 2012

Just DH and one nurse until it was time for LO to actually make his debut.

My ex-SIL wanted a big old party in there - I think she had at least 10 people she wanted to be in there. I kept praying she wouldn't ask us. Lol! When it actually happened I think she had 6 people. I couldnt' do it.

ALane1128 · October 2012

It was just DH and me. At our hospital we could have 2 people. I wanted my mom in there but DH wanted it to be a special moment for the 2 of us. I wish she would of been in there cause Jackson was rushed to the nicu. That way DH could of went with him and my mom could of stayed with me.

mle5d · October 2012

We decided early on that it would just be DH and I, but I was okay with others in there during early labor. MIL and both my parents got there not long after my epi kicked in (we went to the hospital about 3:30am, got checked in, and I guess I got my epi around 5:30 or 6). They'd kick everyone except DH out when they checked me, and it was just DH and I when pushing. Since it turned into a c-section, it was only he and I in the operating room as well.

My only regret was the fact that everyone was hanging out in my room beforehand. I was feeling no pain, so that wasn't the issue, but everyone got there right about the time I should have been going to sleep. Since they were all in the room, I wasn't sleeping, which pissed DH off. So next time, I'm probably going to approach it differently.

jldubb0626 · October 2012

I could have however many in the room with me while I was laboring, so my mom, BFF and SIL were there while I labored. When it came time to push I was only allowed 2 people, but it was just DH and I. I wanted it that way so we could have some bonding time and to get started on BFing.

sparks2987 · October 2012

When I first got to the hospital I said noone but DH and me...of cource my mom showed up and I told her to wait in the waiting room. Then I got the epidural and decided I didnt care who came in...I had DH, MIL, my best friend, my sister, my mom, BIL and SIL. When it came time to get checked or push I kicked everyone out but DH. ( my mom is still upset that I kicked her out when it came time to push)

pinkshades05 · October 2012

I could have as many as I wanted at the birth center, but I only had my mom and DH. My dad waited in the other room.

My SIL was originally going to be there, but started to be rude towards me the few months prior so I didn't call her when I was in labor. She was pretty pissed off when she found out I had the baby and didn't come to see Nat at all. She only saw her because we stopped by their house after getting Nat's newborn pics done. Thinking back, we shouldn't have even bothered to do that. She can be a bit self centered.

jmccall79 · October 2012

MollySm:

I am amazed at how few people on the bump seem to feel like me - I loved having all of my loved ones that could be there be a part of it! I guess I'm not all that modest so that helps.

Same here...except I am a little modest but by that time I didn't care. I'd been looked at so many times I just didn't care!

HattieLove · October 2012

I had SO, both of my parents (my Dad is a nurse) and my sister. My sister left for the end because medical stuff freaks her out a bit.

megahof · October 2012

I didn't want anyone in that room who wasn't involved in either putting that baby in me or taking her out. So, it was Hubster, the midwife and a nurse or two. MIL stopped by early on in labor to bring Hubster food, but everyone else left us alone until afterwards.

footnotegirl · October 2012

Just hubby. We were allowed 2 more if we wanted, but a) his mom and mine are each on the other side of the country and b) DID NOT WANT. We didn't even allow any visitors while we were in the hospital except for one really low key friend who's also a photographer, and he came the second day.

I'm a pretty private person in real life, and can't imagine having people I know there, but especially not anyone from my family. I mean, I love them, but they push my buttons with great skill because they installed them.

ssimon621 · October 2012

It was just DH and I. That is the only people I wanted in there, and I ended up with a c-section so I guess it wouldn't have mattered anyway. No one was at the hospital with us and that is the way I wanted it. My Mom, BFF, Aunt, BIL and SIL got there right as I was coming out of surgery. I really was mad that they were allowed in my recovery room. I wanted to decide when people were able to come in, but I didn't state it ahead of time because I didn't expect them.

Next time I want it the same way if I'm allowed a VBAC, just us. If not, it will be DH and I in the surgery room again.

firewife9278 · October 2012

I had a scheduled c/s, so as far as for the actual birth - it was just DH and I during the surgery.

Beforehand though, my parents/IL's and my brother kept DH and I company while we were waiting my turn. I kicked everyone but DH out to the waiting room about 30min before my scheduled time though.

Then, after DD was born, we asked for some alone time with her, and had everyone come back later in the evening.

anythingelseplease · October 2012

It was just DH and I during the pushing. My mom was there for most of the labor, but I was only in a delivery room for about 2 hours before the baby was born. MIL stopped in to say hi, but didn't stay long. I also didn't have an epidural so I wasn't too keen on visitors.

goldenleaves · October 2012

With my son it was a party until I was rushed for my emergency c/s. I would've kicked out everyone but DH when it came time to push but I never got to push. It was a rotating crew of DH, my sisters, my parents, my in laws and some friends.

Lauren was a scheduled c/s. It was just DH and I...plus about 20 of our closest medical professionals, haha.

Shawnee11507 · October 2012

I had to have an emergency c-section. DH was out-of-state working and didn't make it back in time for the birth. None of our family lived where we lived, but my ILs came into town to stay with me for a while like 4 days beforehand. Before they wheeled me away, it was my BFF and MIL in the room with me. I had to choose between them who would be the 1 person allowed to come with me (awkward). I chose my BFF since I've known her 20+ years and felt more comfortable with her. If MIL was offended, she never said anything that I know of about it.

If I had had a vaginal birth, 3 people would have been allowed in the room.

autumn423 · October 2012

for my DD , DH had to leave when the going got tough. So it was just me, the nurse and my ob, (and my ob was 7 months pregnant).

for DS , DH knew to leave as soon as it was time to push, There was a nurse 2 residents that I am close to (one is a very close friend) my ob and some one from NICU (just in case, DS has some very scary decelerations )

hizah05 · October 2012

I had a c-section so just DH. However, I didn't even ask how many people were allowed had I been pushing. It was absolutely only going to be DH and me.

cheese.fiend · October 2012

I ended up with a planned c-section so it was just me and my husband, but before I was scheduled, my plan was to have my husband and mom in the room. I believe our hospital allowed for three people in the room.

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