How many of you labored/birthed while a lo was asleep?

[eternamariposa]

I am very curious about this because originally I was planning to have my ds go over to his cousins house for a play date, a very extended play date, lol for the birth. I have been coming into contact with more and more mama's who were homebirthing a second or further along sibling at home who said that they birthed at night while their lo was asleep. I am really not sure I believe that this is coincidence at all. I figure that mama's are probably their most relaxed when they know that their partner is home near by and their lo is safe so their bodies give the go ahead for labor.

[broodymama]

My labor with DD1 was quick (~2 hours) in the middle of the night. DS, who was 22 months at the time, slept through the entire thing and met his baby sister when he woke up at his normal time the next morning.

I was hoping for the same with DD2, but went into labor at 6:30 am, the kids woke up ~45 minutes later and a friend came and stayed upstairs in the living room with them, DD2 was born at 8:41 am.

[RedPony]

Originally Posted by eternamariposa

I figure that mama's are probably their most relaxed when they know that their partner is home near by and their lo is safe so their bodies give the go ahead for labor.

I think you're probably right (not that it works this way every time by any means). : With our first, I flat out told my husband that I didn't think I'd go into labor w/o him there. And I didn't. Our second birth was very different, and didn't follow that "rule".

But, by the third birth, I also went into labor with DH nearby and our LO fast asleep. And there she stayed, thru my LOUD, intense, fast delivery. Not even the midwife and her grandma showing up made her stir and she slept about 30 minutes passed her usual wake up time and then woke up completely on her own. I couldn't have asked for a better outcome (except maybe to have her witness the birth, but I'm guessing it all worked out the way God intended it to ).

[djinneyah]

with dd, my water broke and labor started right after my husband had left for work (he worked nights) and ds and i were laying down for bed. ds got all excited initially, but once daddy came home, they both went to bed and slept while i labored. dh got up in time to watch the birth, but ds slept through the whole thing. he was a little over 2-1/2 at the time.

[Miss Chris]

I'm subbing this.

This is my fantasy scenario. I have a child care plan, but this is what I dream of when I dream my ideal birth and I want to hear lots of stories of this happening.

Miss Chris

[Tav Mom]

With my 4th son, all my older boys slept through it. And I was pretty loud. We woke them after their brother was born so they can see a brand new baby. Then we all went to bed and slept for a few more hours!

[eternamariposa]

I am very interested in this possiblity-although I realize that I have no way of "making" it happen. I think it will be fun for my little guy to be with his cousins and they will be baking a birthday cake with a big 0 on it to celebrate when he comes home, I just worry that he will be totally spent and irritable by the time he comes back if it is a really long labor.

My fantasy, he sleeps through, wakes to find the baby then has an awesome play day with cousins while we recoup.

[ExuberantDaffodil]

This happened to me. I woke up at 2am and had the baby at 4am while my five year old slept the whole time. I got a tad noisy right near the end, but he was passed out. He woke up around 7 and came down to meet his new baby sister.

[nikirj]

With my third, I started labor as we were doing our bedtime routine. DS woke up in the middle of the night - normal for him at that point, he was barely 3yo - and would have gone right back to sleep after his bathroom break if it hadn't been for the extra people/activity in the house. As it was, we settled him down on the couch to watch, woke up DD (also to watch), and had a baby less than 30 min later. We'd always meant to wake up the kids for the birth, and if we'd wanted to keep them asleep we probably could have.

[Belle]

I did, but my labor was less than four hours long. Dd1 woke up about an hour before her sister was born. She went into her room to play with Grandma for a little bit. My midwives fetched her and grandma to witness the birth when I started swearing between contractions.

[an_aurora]

With DS's birth, I went into labor around 5am and he was born at 7. My 4yo slept upstairs in her room for the entirety; DH actually woke her up a couple hours later to show her the baby. My 2 year old DD woke up at 5 (both girls were cosleeping with my mom; my DD1 sleeps like a rock and my DD2 wakes up to any little noise) and got up. My mom held her for most of the labor, then she fell asleep on the couch about 15 minutes before the actual birth, and woke up within 15 minutes after he was born. It was so cute, she sat straight up when he started crying (he was a slow start baby) and came tumbling off the couch to come over and love on him

[AlishaB]

I started a sporadic labour (7 mins apart) early in the day, but didnt get to active (5 mins) until my son (who was 2) was asleep for 45 mins. Once I knew he wasnt going to wake up, I had my baby in less than 2 hrs...we woke him up at 1am to meet his new brother.
Hope that Helps.

[Peony]

With all 3 of my births, i've woken up with contractions in the early morning hours, between 4-6am. #2 and 3 were morning in the morning when the other children were running over all the house, it would of been nice if they would of slept through more of my labor. I have a house full of early risers so I didn't get much alone time.

[limette]

My daughter decided to take a nap (after going 1+ years without one) at 4pm just as I hit the pushing stage. Dh had been watching her until that point. She was in the same room and slept until after the birth.

[~Kristina~]

I just gave birth 7 days ago at 1:49am with 5 kiddos in my house, ages 7-2yrs and my cousin. The kids didn't hear anything, except my cousin heard us laughing and assumed she was dreaming. lol Her labor was long and hard and laughing was the last thing going on. I say go for it! GL

[Collinsky]

My first woke up while I was in labor with my second, and my mom (who was there in case my Dd needed more than we could give at the time) hung out with her downstairs. Both of them slept soundly through the birth of my third, and Dh woke them right after he was born, and my eldest cut the cord. With my fourth, all three sibs were awake and present for the last half of labor and birth - we had nearby friends who were on call in case we needed them to come help out or take the kids for a while, but it was actually totally fine and contributed to the overall enjoyment of the birth for me. So even going into labor at about the same time (woke up in labor, first thing in the morning) with all my births, it seems in hindsight that exactly the perfect situation is what happened each time, and I'm really grateful for that!

[LiLStar]

Labor started at 1pm after I had slept in until 11 and had a full nights of very restful sleep (I am very thankful for my body's wisdom in doing that. Such a blessing to start labor fully rested) but that was early labor, probably 10-12 minutes a part or so. Active labor was around 6pm, dd went to bed at 10. I think it did pick up more after she went to bed. ds was born at 3:59am. So, it was true for me!

[Dmitrizmom]

ds and dd1 both slept thru the birth of dd2. I started having ctx around 3pm, hit really active labor around 6, kids went to bed around 9, dd2 was born at 11:29pm. We tried to wake them up after dd2 was born and they wouldn't get up to meet her.

[perditafoster]

ds was born at night...dd 1 and dd 2 slept through it.

dd 3: ds went down for a nap at noon, contrx picked up at 12:30, dds had room time for awhile; things got intense at 1:30, dh put dds in front of tv. they rarely get to watch tv, so when they do, they cooperate! dd #3 born at 3:23pm, ds woke up 15 mins later! when the tv show was over, dd 1 and 2 came in to meet the baby!

[erin_brycesmom]

I did. I think your theory is the case for me.