Labor and Delivery Room? Attendance Please!

[igw80]

Just wondering and curious for those mamas who have already given birth, who did you have in the LDR with you? (other than doctor, nurse, and maybe doula)...

[Anonymous]

My husband. With my first child, my mother was at the hospital, so she came in to talk to me while I was laboring (I had an epidural), but she left when it was time to push. I had a really easy labor.

[Anonymous]

Both times, my husband was the only one outside of the medical team when I was actively pushing.

My parents were in the room for about 1.5 hours or so while I was in labor with my first but wasn't ready to push yet. They live about 4 hours away and came down so they could be here when their first grandchild was born. Both of them were VERY good about leaving whenever any medical personnel came in to do a check and went to the lobby when I started pushing. After the baby was born, DH went out to the lobby to invite them in to meet the baby. They were actually there while I was getting stitched up, but were so enthralled with the baby that no one really noticed what was going on with me. (As the OB put it, "no father ever WANTS to come down this way while i stitch up his daughter!")

For #2, my parents came for a brief visit while I was "just" in labor, but were mostly at our house watching #1. Once the baby was born, DH arranged for a friend to put #1 to bed so they could come to the hospital for a visit.

DH's parents are not invited anywhere near me when I am in labor. Thank goodness they live in the midwest and just can't get here on a moment's notice.

[Anonymous]

I had my husband and mom there. I was planning on sending my mom out for the pushing, but she was so good at getting ice chips and blending with the background while my husband held leg- it turned out great having her there

[Anonymous]

My husband was the only non-medical person in the room with me during labor and delivery. I would have liked my mother to be there but decided not to. She's lived in parts of the world where maternal mortality is high so she was very nervous and scarred about the whole birthing process, and I didn't want to worry about her worrying about me. I know that sounds crazy.

[Anonymous]

My husband was the only non-medical person in the room with me. It was nice to feel like the two of us were in things together, and it was also probably the longest we were on our own together for many, many months to come. We didn't really have any family who expressed an interest in joining us, which made the decision pretty easy for us.

[Anonymous]

My husband was the only one there while I was actively pushing. My parents were there throughout the beginning part, but once I started pushing they waited in the waiting room.

[Anonymous]

Husband and mother for my first. Expecting a second and so sad that my mother will not be there - she lives in NYC.

[Anonymous]

Husband only - the rooms are small and not equipped for a crowd.
Plus I felt like it was a special time for just the two of us (besides the doctors and nurses, of course).

[Anonymous]

Husband and mom. Room was actually pretty big and didn't feel cramped (even with two observers). I hadn't planned ahead on having mom there, but didn't want her to leave when it was time (she offered to go). I was glad it was my mom holding my knee, and it was an amazing experience for my mom (first grandchild). I only pushed for 15 minutes and I think the quickness with which it happened meant we all just went with the flow, so to speak. My husband's not very emotional, so I had someone to be emotional with.

[Anonymous]

with #1 husband & sister
with #2, husband, sister & random high school student who was shadowing my mid-wife b/c she thinks she wants to be a MW. my MW asked if i minded if she was in the room so she could watch a "normal" (i.e. natural/unmedicated) birth. I said i didn't care - wouldn't it be cool if witnessing my little daughter's birth influenced this girl's choice of career!

[Anonymous]

Husband only, with strict orders to the nurses that no one else allowed

[Anonymous]

During labor, my husband, mom, dad, and in-laws were all there, though not the whole time. Only my mom and husband where there for all of labor. My DH is great, but my mom is also a wonderful calming presence. Any time the doctor came to check me, we kicked the dads out of the room. Once it was time to push, we asked everyone to leave and only DH was with me. DH and I had always agreed that the birth was our personal event.

For DC #2, DC #1 will be with my in-laws and I've again asked my mom to come straight to the hospital when I call. I again want her there during labor, but not delivery.

[Anonymous]

With #1, I had a cast of thousands. I think a parade went through at one point. Me, of course, my husband, my mother, the OB, 1-2 L&D nurses, maybe the anesthetician, and then these two med students who had asked my permission to observe. I was fine with that - like PP, they wanted to observe a routine L&D, they came in and introduced themselves, and they were lovely. I figured they have to learn somewhere, right? They were supposed to stay in the corner and watch, but I recruited them to come help me hold my knees back.

But that's me. I really didn't mind all the people. The only weird part was between pushes, when I'd open my eyes and there were all these people looking at me. I felt like I should tell a joke or something...