How many of you labored/birthed while a lo was asleep? - Page 2

[brightonwoman]

I agree with your theory, as does my MW. I have two older children, and this last birth (5 wks ago) was my first HB. I told my mw that every time I visualized labor/birthing it ws dark, and she said she had seen MANY mamas with older kids go into labor at night when the other LOs were asleep. She said it happened for her with her third child, and it was certainly likely for me.
Sure enough, I woke up one night at 3am because 33m DS was calling for me. I snuggled him for a minute then climbed back into my bed...and started having contractions. 5 hours later (shortly after the kids woke up of their own accord) the baby was born. It was perfect timing because we wanted teh boys to see their brother's birth...so they slept through most of labor but woke up in time to see the baby come out.

IMO, when you're busy mothering your older child(ren), your body and mind go into 'mommy mode' and that will keep labor at bay. When the kids are all tucked in and safe your body can relax, step back, and go into other modes, like labor.

For what it's worth, I would have some kind of babysitter arranged, just in case...

[chi_mama]

My labor really started as soon as ds1 was down for the night. Actually my midwife had guessed that would be the pattern. Once I didn't have to worry about him things went really fast.

[Serenyd]

I labored through the night with my last one, while the whole house was asleep. Sounds convenient but it was tough to labor and birth without sleep. I basically pulled an all-nighter.

[eternamariposa]

Originally Posted by Serenyd

I labored through the night with my last one, while the whole house was asleep. Sounds convenient but it was tough to labor and birth without sleep. I basically pulled an all-nighter.

I did this with my first. We had been up all day, did all of my usual walking, yoga, squats, cooking dinner all of that. About an hour after laying down my contractions started and it ended up being a 26 hour labor.

[amandaleigh37]

Yup. My first son was 2 1/2 when his brother was born. We knew no one who we wanted to send him with, so were going to have him at the birth and hope it went well. I went into labor in the evening, tucked him into bed, labored all night and his brother was born at 5am. He woke up at 7am right as we were all cleaned up & had our first family snuggle in bed together. It could not have worked out any better.

[mum2row]

I started into labor about dinnertime, dd went to bed at her usual time and slept through my loud labor. Grandma went to wake dd when ds was born just before midnight. DD cut the cord then had a bath with us. Overall she was up for a couple of hours until we all went to sleep. She was a little tired the next day but since we spent it cuddling with the new baby it was no big deal.

We had Grandma at the house just in case dd woke up and needed more attention then we could provide for her.

[Rodeo Mama]

Yep! I woke up in labor around 1 am, midwife arrived around 5:30 or 6, DD arrived at 7:55 am. DS was upstairs sleeping and woke just a few minutes after the birth to meet his sister.

[Xiaohua]

Yes, both of my UC homebirths were at night when the little ones were asleep. I know it's not a coincidence, I believe my body was holding off till things were quiet and peaceful...

Serena

[JamieCatheryn]

I had a long early labor while a friend babysat DS1 in the house but when 1st stage finally got done it was late at night and they were asleep for the birth. Had to wake friend and DS1 up to come meet the baby, they happened to come in during placenta birthing lol.

[Luvmykiddos03]

Yep, gave birth a couple days ago and surely thought we'd have to whisk the kids off with our dear friends when they woke up, but we never needed to. Labor began around midnight and had our baby about one hour before kids woke up.

[gwen's mom]

Our DD#1 (2.5 at the time) was in a loft, over our king size bed, and slept all though the labor and birth of her sister. (We were living in a one bedroom, 500 sq ft apt. at the time) DD#2 was born at 6:15 and DD#1 woke up around 7:30 when DD#2 started to cry. DD#1 looked down from her loft and said "My baby is here!" It is one of my best memories ever.

[at_the_hip]

My 2nd birth was in a hospital birth centre w/ mw...we didn't have family/friends in the area and dd2 (she turned 2 the day her sister was born so they share a bday!) was there with us. She slept a little but was up for a good amount of the time...when her sister finally arrived in the early morning, she was wide awake in her papa's arms saying "Baby born!! Baby come out!!" LOL

With my 3rd birth, it was a mw attended hb in a brand new hotel suite. Both my dd's were there, ages 4 & 2. My 4yo fell asleep but I did have to carry my 2yo around and lie down with her for a few to help her finally fall asleep in a strange place. They slept on the pullout. I was 6-7 cm or so when I got her to sleep...and delivered in the wee hours of the morning. They awoke just a couple hours later and my oldest (now almost 11) still remembers greeting her brand new sister!

With #4 we had a mw attended hb (at home)...I did have my Mom take the girls once I was in active labor because it was what felt right and we live close by. They were 9, 7 & 5...and at the age where they would likely tell the check out lady all the details. LOL!!! They came maybe an hour after she was born...really as soon as things were cleaned up just a little and I was situated on the couch nursing the new one for picture taking and big sister greetings! This ended up being the best decision for them because we had a very small place and she was born face up (direct posterior) and it was a really tough labor, though my fastest.

With #5 I honestly don't know. I'm sure our then 2yo will likely be here but I haven't decided with the other girls yet. I'm fairly modest so I would be inhibited with too many people, but this is likely our last so I'm not sure. My Mom is at most 5 minutes away by vehicle so I do have options.

[eternamariposa]

Originally Posted by at_the_hip

My 2nd birth was in a hospital birth centre w/ mw...we didn't have family/friends in the area and dd2 (she turned 2 the day her sister was born so they share a bday!) was there with us. She slept a little but was up for a good amount of the time...when her sister finally arrived in the early morning, she was wide awake in her papa's arms saying "Baby born!! Baby come out!!" LOL

With my 3rd birth, it was a mw attended hb in a brand new hotel suite. Both my dd's were there, ages 4 & 2. My 4yo fell asleep but I did have to carry my 2yo around and lie down with her for a few to help her finally fall asleep in a strange place. They slept on the pullout. I was 6-7 cm or so when I got her to sleep...and delivered in the wee hours of the morning. They awoke just a couple hours later and my oldest (now almost 11) still remembers greeting her brand new sister!

With #4 we had a mw attended hb (at home)...I did have my Mom take the girls once I was in active labor because it was what felt right and we live close by. They were 9, 7 & 5...and at the age where they would likely tell the check out lady all the details. LOL!!! They came maybe an hour after she was born...really as soon as things were cleaned up just a little and I was situated on the couch nursing the new one for picture taking and big sister greetings! This ended up being the best decision for them because we had a very small place and she was born face up (direct posterior) and it was a really tough labor, though my fastest.

With #5 I honestly don't know. I'm sure our then 2yo will likely be here but I haven't decided with the other girls yet. I'm fairly modest so I would be inhibited with too many people, but this is likely our last so I'm not sure. My Mom is at most 5 minutes away by vehicle so I do have options.

Awesome, all of this, totally awesome.