Mirror during labor?

MeganEMcG5 · March 2014

The birth photographer thread got me thinking about this one. Will you have a mirror during labor so you can watch your delivery?

My L&D has mirrors on the ceiling in every room, with no option to cover them (I asked). I ended up only looking once as DS was crowning and that was enough for me!! So...where do you stand on mirrors in the delivery room?

shevaCC · March 2014

I would've wanted to see with DD but I needed to concentrate on pushing and that part of labor happened fast enough that I didn't get a break until she was out. So, SS I guess? If I can focus on anything other than the act of giving birth, then yes I'd like to see.

Raclla · March 2014

I cringed when I could see the reflection in the docs glasses!
I told him I couldn't look at him. He said that was a first.

haliebabyx3 · March 2014

I know it's a beautiful thing, but I have no desire to see it. I watched a video for a psychology class, it was enough for me.

poofwok · March 2014

No thank you! Absolutely not

4PrivetDrive · March 2014

I'm totally ok with never having that visual, magical experience or not.
I was so freaked out about labor that in my birth plan for DS I included no mirror and I didn't want to touch the head while he was crowning.

Although my OB did encourage me to touch his dead during labor and I am glad she did. It was good motivation to push and get him out so I could meet him!

shutaff · March 2014

I chose SS because right now I think no, but in the moment, I might look.

tamarar5 · March 2014

I was scared to look with DS, and kept glancing between contractions, but as he was actually coming I forgot to look. I'm going to ask someone to tell me this time so I can see.

Jenrileysmom · March 2014

No way.

Jennyfahh · March 2014

The horrified look on DH's face last time was confirmation enough that I do not need to see anything below the waist during delivery.

Weezy56 · March 2014

I say no way now, but honestly my curiosity will probably get the best of me when the time comes

kcatboston · March 2014

I looked briefly and got to see DD's hair but I couldn't concentrate on pushing with it there. That was as far as she got...4 hours later I had a C-section. My lovely DH managed to snap a picture mid procedure - that was something I didn't need to see.

MamaBovs · March 2014

I was absolutely opposed to having a mirror with #1 but changed my mind at the last minute. Also had one with #2; it's disgusting but at the same time very cool. I'll probably have one again this time.

caybeh · March 2014

I didn't have a mirror with DS. I remember them telling me to feel his head coming out with my hand, and that was weird feeling for me. So watching it would be even weirder, I think.

mamabear214 · March 2014

I'm a special snowflake. I plan on looking if I'm not in the tub, but only because the disgusting curious part of me needs to know what really goes on down there and this may be my last chance to do it.

edit to add: plus I'm going natural this time and I think the visual distraction will be helpful. As well as being able to SEE the progress the pushes are doing rather than just hearing "almost there!" five million times.

Raclla · March 2014

DH got to see more than I wanted him to last time. There were two nurses and one got called out. He had to hold a leg. I was laying there thinking 'WTF? Don't make that nurse leave! We need two of you! Come BAAAACCCCKKKKK!!!!'

Of course, none of that was verbalized.

Seeing the reflection in the doc's glasses was bad. I wouldn't even reach down to touch or look when DD was coming out. When he told me that we were going to 'need a little more room', I couldn't even respond. I would rather an episiotomy happen and know about it later.

The actual process of birth isn't my favorite thing.

HeatherHam10 · March 2014

Were planning a water birth so wont be able to but otherwise Id love to see it!

Unknown · March 2014

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MkL1526 · March 2014

HELL to the NO.

MandMLeona · March 2014

I birth in an upright position, but I'm also so internally focused that I hate any reminder that the outside world even exists. My eyes are dark during pushing contractions. I literally don't see my surroundings.

MollyHooper · March 2014

I used one with my first birth I had an epidural and couldn't quite tell what was going on down there. It actually was quite a big help. With ds2 I went med-free and was way to focused on how everything felt to worry about a mirror.
But be warned. once you see yourself like that it cannot be unseen.

Daisylola11 · March 2014

I voted SS, I say no but I might change my mind. I did volunteer work at a hospital and watched a few births and c-sections so it's not gross to me, I think it's fascinating! But not sure how I will feel when its my own vag stretching and things happening ...

cashews29 · March 2014

No thanks. I don't need to traumatize myself.

spacedolphin11 · March 2014

I looked briefly last time and it was cool, but I needed to close my eyes to push.

bcbuzzafsu · March 2014

pmpkn219 · March 2014

I was offered the mirror but declined. I didn't want to feel his head either, but I did peek as he crowned and saw his hair coming out.

After he got stuck/had an episiotomy I was glad I wasn't witness to what was happening there. I've attended many births and seen the process, I really didn't want/need to see my own body going through that =P But to each her own!

lynnmw1208 · March 2014

I'm a nurse so of course I want to see everything lol

Raclla · March 2014

Bazi45 said:

Seeing as how I can't even look when the tech draws blood, I'm going with an emphatic no.

I've also told my husband that I don't want him looking either. I'm fine with the miracle remaining a mystery.

DH had strict orders to stay at my head. STRICT ORDERS!

A couple of pushes in and one of the nurses got called away. He had to end up holding a leg. At that moment you really just give up caring.

He saw WAAAAYYY more than I ever wanted him to see. I'm more scarred by it than he is.

JFairchild89 · March 2014

In november i was present for a friends delivery, and seeing that once was enough for me. Its a wonderful miracle, but not so pretty!

qtnmel · March 2014

No thanks.

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