dog? - Page 2

[cocoanib]

Originally Posted by Jessie Mae

I loved having our pooches at DD's birth. Granted they are old and very very chill. They started getting a bit nervous at the end when I got loud, but I am so glad that they were present for her birth. I think that they may have not been so quick to accept her if they were not there. It would have been way different for them if we just showed up at home with this new baby or if they came home to her. They know that there was this big hoopla and then there was a baby. As soon as DD was born our dogs both barked as if welcoming her into our family! It added a little extra something special for us to have them there. The next day when the midwife came to check in, our girl dog stood at the top of the stairs and would not let her come in the door. I think she was saying "I got through last night, but I hope you don't think you are going to do that again" - funny. I guess that you have to make the decision based on the temperament of your dogs. Maybe have someone on call that could come and get them if they are bothering you.

That's so sweet! I hope my dogs do well with our birth, because I love having them around as well. They've been with me through all the MW visits and I call them my doula dogs

[Oliver'sMom]

It totally depends on the dog. If you think your dog will drive you nuts, then set up a place for him/her to be when the time comes.

My dog was absolutely fabulous during ds's birth and I loved having him there. He just layed next to me and was very supportive. I remember petting him in between contractions and it being so meditative and soothing.

When ds was born he greated him with a hilarious howl and a little dance and it was just a really cool experience. Ds absolutely adores him now and they're the best of friends.

Dogs are so cool.

[amandaleigh37]

My dog barks like crazy. When DH called the midwife to come (at 4am), he put the dog in the garage so the barking wouldn't wake our other child.
If it weren't for the barking, I would have left him in here. He probably wouldn't have cared much about what was happening

[Belle]

I guess I should add that our dog tries to "rescue us" if we go swimming in a river or lake or something. If its any deeper than our knees she will swim out to us and try to bring us back to shore. I wasn't sure how she would react to me being in a birth pool. I think she might try to rescue me by valiantly jumping in.

[nomadsindiansaints]

We have 2 big boxers - mine is a 5yo rescued abused breeder mama, DP's is a 1.5yo almost 80lb baby with major attachment issues. (They're both *our* dogs, but the female is bonded more deeply to me, the male to DP.) I definitely want my mama dog with me during labor - she's very calm and affectionate, loving and reassuring, and will just snuggle up beside me or lay on her bed in the corner and watch when I get in the birth tub. (FWIW, seeing her around babies is really interesting - doesn't matter who the baby the belongs to - she will sniff it, then lay down beside it and watch the surroundings, and not move away unless I direct her to leave with me. Doesn't really try to interact much - just guards in a patient non-agressive way.)

DP's dog, on the other hand...he's SO sweet and SO affectionate and so curious that I think he really would jump into the birth pool with me just to love on me, maybe even while it's still being filled up, and then look at DP like "You come too! It feels great!" (He loves getting into the regular bathtub too, and I usually just get in the shower myself when it's time to bathe him, since I'll get soaked anyway.) I really want him to be around for the understanding/awareness part of things, but whether or not he gets to stay depends on how much effort it takes DP to keep him within the limits of acceptable behavior - usually an easy thing for DP to do, but just in case, we have a back-up plan to call a friend (who has 2 big dogs that he's already used to playing with) to come get him if needed.

So glad I read this - the car suggestion is AWESOME! He already LOVES to hang out in the car, and like a PP said, he tends to get really mellow there. And...if he's out there we can't hear the initial whining, and he can't hear what's going on inside well enough to feel left out! So if he does great until close to the end, or we just need him to take a break, I think we'll try a little car time!