My how times have changed...

SweetPeaK26 · August 2013

My grandma died on July 4th, and so I've been helping my mom go through all of the stuff that my grandparents had saved over the years (which was everything). We found tons of letters that my grandpa had written to her while he was at war, and other various cool letters.

One of them was a letter that my grandpa wrote to his parents the day that my mom was born. It said:
"Well, I dropped Marie Anna off at the hospital early this morning. A nurse called me around 10 to let me know that Marie Anna had delivered a baby girl."

Yup, he dropped her off and the hospital called him to let him know his 5th child was a girl. Lol. Apparently this was the norm. He was a really involved parent to all their kids, so I know he wasn't the exception! And think, now, they set up cots on our rooms and offer meals to the husbands!

kje120 · August 2013

Yeah, it's crazy how things have changed. I'm pretty sure my dad wasn't there when I was born and that was only 36 years ago. I can't imagine not having my husband there!

Curls218 · August 2013

I've had older family members say "will your husband be in the room with you or in the waiting room when the baby comes?"

llybeck · August 2013

I was watching some movie the other day and it was depicting just that. I'm so thankful that's not the case anymore, I don't know what I'd do if my fiance wasn't going to be there with me!

barnratash · August 2013

When my husband was born his father was not allowed in the toom and that was only 34 years ago! My dad was actually given the option. I told DH that even if there was an option he would not have it! So glad its not like that any more. DH is looking forward to being in there and actually wants to catch LO!

csspencer · August 2013

When my MIL had her first, 40 years ago my FIL was not allowed. However when DH was born 35 years ago he was allowed in the room, and he said he hated it. It wasn't quite the norm yet.
My grandmother who has Alzheimer's keeps telling me how it was so easy when she had my dad and aunts because was asleep when they were born. She forgets that it's not that way anymore and was confused as to why we took a childbirth class.

Samielle · August 2013

My FIL wasn't allowed in the room for any of their 4 children. My husband is the youngest and is 37. My MIL is 76 and literally giggles at the thought of men being present for a birth, not in a bad way though. I think it's just one of those things that she will never wrap her head around.

curlyq625 · August 2013

My grandmother took a taxi to and from the hospital, my grandfather was deployed at the time and her parents didn't drive! Even 13 years ago when my step mother had my brother they did not have private rooms, she said there was no way to get any rest. I'm glad we get a private room and that my husband can stay.

AlejandraN2 · August 2013

I'm so glad husbands/partners are encouraged to be in the room. I don't know what I'd do without my hubby. But in NYC hospitals it's actually the norm to share rooms unfortunately and you have to pay extra for a private one- and even those are only a handful. I'm hoping we'll get lucky.

Curls218 · August 2013

Loppy19 said:

How birth is handled has changed drastically, as well. When I learned about "twilight births" and the women who were strapped to the bed for delivery, knocked out, etc... Scares the crap out of me.

YES! MIL was in twilight sleep when she had DH. I can't even imagine!

blondii428 · August 2013

I was shocked to hear my mom tell me that in her mom's day they put laboring women to sleep and they would just wake up to a baby! So crazy...

coraggiosa · August 2013

Hah! That's crazy! It can be really cool going through grandparents' things though. We found all sorts of telegrams and letters after my grandparents passed away. It was pretty cool.

mrsmoxie · August 2013

My husband's grandma is just tickled that he gets to be involved with this pregnancy. She's told him that she loves that he goes to my appointments, and be in the delivery room. We also had a coed baby shower, men and women, and she was surprised, but loved it. I am so glad times have changed! I think my dad was in the waiting room watching a John Wayne movie with my grandpa when I was born. That was only 23 years ago!

SweetPeaK26 · August 2013

Loppy19 said:
How birth is handled has changed drastically, as well. When I learned about "twilight births" and the women who were strapped to the bed for delivery, knocked out, etc... Scares the crap out of me.

My mil had 2 twilight births. She said she loved it. The one she delivered awake she hated.

chois · August 2013

It's very strange! My Gramma keeps telling me that when she had my dad my Grampa dropped her off at the hospital (front door) and then went to work. By the time he got to work the hospital was calling to tell him my dad was born. I can't even imagine!

michelle7482 · August 2013

My h's grandpa was over last night and we were JUST talking about how he dropped his wife off at the hospital when she was in labor. That's crazy to think about now!

leahaustin · August 2013

Wow, that is crazy how things have changed so much! I am definitely glad my DH gets to stay with me.

librarianlady · August 2013

I have to say, and this is my terror of labour talking, that I really like the thought of twilight sleep...

But I'm envious of the private room people. Here are my options:

Private rooms $195
Semi-private rooms $165
Ward rooms - free

starinyte · August 2013

Our hospital just installed double beds in the PP rooms so that husbands and wives can sleep in the same bed. That's a huge change from even the last time I delivered at that hospital (4 years ago) when husbands were given a recliner to sleep on if they decided to stay with their wives after the birth.

This also reminds me of "A Baby Story" episode I watched the other day. The father to be was complaining because he had to go fill up a cup of ice for his wife and was saying how much he wished it was the "old days" so he could just sit around in the lobby and smoke cigarettes until it was all over.

I really hope his wife slapped him when she saw that episode. Whattajerk.

shakes · August 2013

My Dad was one of the first men let into the delivery room at the hospital I was born at in 1980. (33 years). He was ALL over it

My Grandma was knocked out when she delivered my mom and uncle in 1956. She said they just went in, papa filled out paper work and went him while she was gassed and delivered the babies. The nurses brought the babies to her the next day after she slept, showered and had her did her done at the salon in the hospital lol. She was given tablets to prevent her breast milk from coming in also.

EmyB30 · August 2013

My grandpa was telling me when my grandma was having her babies, he would have to sit out in the waiting room and wasn't allowed to come in until baby was here and everything was fine. I couldn't image not having my husband with me!

bexsd · August 2013

My grandma said when she was having my dad, she made a noise and the doctor said to put her under so they gave her ether. And Twilight Sleep is terrifying-- the women don't remember the births, but people who witnessed them said they were awful, that the women were in complete agony.

AlejandraN2 · August 2013

susanb887 said:

@alejandraN2 I live on Staten Island and it is the norm to share. It's $100 for the private room (per night if I remember correctly) and there are very few. With DD there were no private rooms available but luckily the other bed was empty the whole time.

Wow that's a deal compared to NYU - There it's $500 a night!

jlbhz2275 · August 2013

I know for me and my siblings my dad was in the room and held all of us first. My mom had to "fight" him to hold us. Now my husband, his mother was dropped off at the hospital and his father didn't come back until it was time to go home, and he is only 32! But his dad wouldn't have wanted to be there even if he could have anyway.

msronzio · August 2013

Happy_Yahoo_Personaler said:

Yep! My father-in-law was not allowed in the room while my husband was born via C-section. That was almost 31 years ago. I think I would throw a fit if my husband couldn't be with me when our girls are born!

I was informed that our hospital still wont allow DH in the room if I go for C/S

I was like, can I at least have my mom...? Nope.

redfallon · August 2013

@msronzio said:

Happy_Yahoo_Personaler said:

Yep! My father-in-law was not allowed in the room while my husband was born via C-section. That was almost 31 years ago. I think I would throw a fit if my husband couldn't be with me when our girls are born!

I was informed that our hospital still wont allow DH in the room if I go for C/S I was like, can I at least have my mom...? Nope.

Aww. I thought they wouldn't let him in the room for prep, but would let him in during the procedure to be there as your support. That sucks

bexsd · August 2013

msronzio said:

Happy_Yahoo_Personaler said:

Yep! My father-in-law was not allowed in the room while my husband was born via C-section. That was almost 31 years ago. I think I would throw a fit if my husband couldn't be with me when our girls are born!

I was informed that our hospital still wont allow DH in the room if I go for C/S I was like, can I at least have my mom...? Nope.

this would be enough for me to find a new hospital.

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