How did you keep your toddlers out of the pool during your labor?

[elle7715]

My DD is 4.5 and my son is 2.5 years old, and hopefully our third will be coming any day now. I'm fine with both kids being at the birth but I'm worried about them wanting to get in the water with me when I'm laboring. DD is old enough to understand she has to stay out but DS has the focused determination that only a 2 year old can have and he *will* want to get in. Not only is it a smaller pool (the fishy aquarium one) and will be crowded, but unless he's standing the water is over his head. We will have someone there to watch the kids so they could always drag him away but I'd rather not put him through that and it will stress me out as well.

Any tips or tricks about keeping him out? Other than hoping he'll sleep through the whole thing? He might be shy around my midwife and behave himself but then again he may want to be glued to my side.

[LiLStar]

Weeelll.. I'm no help http://riverkeaton.com/pics/labor.JPG

My doulas were awesome at restraining her off of me during contractions, at least! And shortly after that, she was put to bed.

[averlee]

I've seen lots of pics and videos with toddlers & kids in the birth pool with their mama. I guess that would really probably be OK. Maybe get him a brand new swimsuit?

[mrsrobertson]

maybe allow him in when you're not in it? and whoever is watching him can handle that task.

I wouldn't have minded but it just didn't end up happening. but my son ended up playing in it when i wasn't in it. i didn't even notice. in fact i saw the pictures afterward and said "he was in the pool??"

we were all in the living room, and i didn't even notice. lol labor land.

we also had the fishie pool for the birth. ours was pretty big. i think three adults could have fit in it. maybe not legs stretched out, but sitting indian style.
by myself, it was HUGE.

[liz-hippymom]

yeah my 2 year old was in the tub with me, until my husband LEFT THE ROOM and she almost drowned!then i yelled at him and told him there was no way i could keep her safe and he needed to take her into another room!

[deymm]

Won't you have someone there as your "child handlers?"

[callieollie]

Lilstar - love that picture! So precious.

[almadianna]

i let mine in the pool for a while. it actually helped a ton with pain management. she gave me intense strength.

[elle7715]

Originally Posted by LiLStar

Weeelll.. I'm no help http://riverkeaton.com/pics/labor.JPG

LOL she looks very happy to be there! I can see the appeal, it's like a big bath tub and mommy's in there too! But I really like my space when I'm in labor.

Originally Posted by liz-hippymom

yeah my 2 year old was in the tub with me, until my husband LEFT THE ROOM and she almost drowned!then i yelled at him and told him there was no way i could keep her safe and he needed to take her into another room!

That's really what I'm worried about. If he stands up he'll be fine, but if he slips or tries to sit down it's over his head. And I don't think I'll be able to grab him in time or want to have to worry about that also. I could have DH keep a hand on him but again...I like my space! For my first birth DH spent most of my hard labor in the corner reading a book. Because I sent him there.

Originally Posted by deymm

Won't you have someone there as your "child handlers?"

We will, I was just hoping to avoid screaming and tears. I know my homebirth won't be all butterflies and flowers but I'd rather leave out the tantrums while I'm in labor. He's still my baby and it sounds wimpy but the thought of him upset during my labor makes me emotional. Which is strange because I can usually ignore his tantrums without a problem.

Thanks everyone, it helps to know toddlers wanting to get in (and actually getting in) is pretty common. He's naked about 95% of the time we're home so he'd just go skinny dipping. I'm over 5'9" but most of my height is from my legs, so I do feel a little squished in there already. I'll just have to see how it plays out...hopefully soon!

[averlee]

best wishes to you for a happy happy homebirth!

[greenthumb3]

Best wishes on your planned waterbirth

I have a waterbirth with our third child. His brothers were 4 and 2 at the time and we had another pool set up in the backyard for them to play in while my sister watched them. It worked out perfectly. They played outside during the afternoon, this was in July and very hot, and when I started pushing, my DH asked her to bring them in and they saw their brother crown and be born. Then, they hopped right back outside. I didn't foresee how much energy they would be bouncing off and I was really glad how well it turned out for them to have anoutlet for it. It was too much for me to deal with in labor. I am hoping this is a nighttime labor with our fourth child!

[mrsrobertson]

I can understand not wanting them to be upset. Obviously only you and your hubby know your children.
my son only screamed when they'd pick him up and away from me. they thought that he was bugging me but in reality it just really made the love juices flow even more. He gave me strength that I've done it before (with 6 hours of back labor) and by God I can do it again. plus his little face always cheers me up, i didn't want to freak out in front of him so i kept myself calmer, and it was such a family atmosphere. exactly what i wanted.

[Belle]

Dd1 had just turned 3 when her sister was born. I had a pretty fast labor. I went into labor about 3:30am and she was asleep for most of it. She woke up around 6:00am and Grandma took her into her room to play for awhile. When I started swearing the midwives knew it was time for her to come out and she sat quietly on Grandma's lap and watched the birth. I guess she only watched about 15-20 minutes of the birth.

[paxye]

Mine were 4 and 2 last time I gave birth and neither even asked to be in the pool... I don't think there would have been a fight either if they would have wanted to and had told them no... I find that kids are really attentive to the atmosphere around them and they react very appropriately when things are not normal...

oh... and I didn't have any "child handlers"... it was just DH and I and the boys...