We hired a student doula to support ds, who is 5.5, during the birth. (Thank you to those in this forum who suggested the idea!)
I am starting to think about planning activities to keep ds occupied during birth in case it's really long (last one was 40 hours - first 20 I could still play and stuff, but the last 20 I was in labor land and couldn't seem to talk, much less play).
I have a couple ideas for crafting projects I think he'd like:
tie dye (is this nuts??? he would love a couple more play silks)
one of those boards with nails to wrap string around
some beading
I'll also get supplies for a baking project (to do with the doula).
He also has a ton of toys (like building kits - he likes to build things), and will be welcome to use the computer, PS2, and DVD player freely.
And of course he's welcome to come in the birth pool and just hang around experiencing the birth.
Or maybe he'll sleep through the whole thing.
The sensible part of me is totally aware that this will be (more than) plenty to keep him busy (and hopefully not too bothered that I'm not focusing my attention on him as I normally do when I'm home).
The other part of me is worried that if I don't have enough new and interesting options available he'll be more likely to try to pull dh away to play with him, rather than the doula.
What did your children do during labor/birth, especially if it went on for a long time?
Did you plan anything new or special for them to do?
How was it?
I think this is my biggest concern going into birth this time. I think the doula thinks I'm nuts worrying about this so much... when I told her about the tie-dye she definitely seemed to think I was crazy (not that she was opposed to doing it, just flabbergasted that I thought tie-dying during a birth was a reasonable idea). Her take was that any babysitter worth "a grain of salt" would be good at engaging a child and keeping them occupied. Perhaps I should add that ds has never been left with anyone other than dh or I, so he is used to having one of us available.
Any btdt advice? Thanks!
I am starting to think about planning activities to keep ds occupied during birth in case it's really long (last one was 40 hours - first 20 I could still play and stuff, but the last 20 I was in labor land and couldn't seem to talk, much less play).
I have a couple ideas for crafting projects I think he'd like:
tie dye (is this nuts??? he would love a couple more play silks)
one of those boards with nails to wrap string around
some beading
I'll also get supplies for a baking project (to do with the doula).
He also has a ton of toys (like building kits - he likes to build things), and will be welcome to use the computer, PS2, and DVD player freely.
And of course he's welcome to come in the birth pool and just hang around experiencing the birth.
Or maybe he'll sleep through the whole thing.
The sensible part of me is totally aware that this will be (more than) plenty to keep him busy (and hopefully not too bothered that I'm not focusing my attention on him as I normally do when I'm home).
The other part of me is worried that if I don't have enough new and interesting options available he'll be more likely to try to pull dh away to play with him, rather than the doula.
What did your children do during labor/birth, especially if it went on for a long time?
Did you plan anything new or special for them to do?
How was it?
I think this is my biggest concern going into birth this time. I think the doula thinks I'm nuts worrying about this so much... when I told her about the tie-dye she definitely seemed to think I was crazy (not that she was opposed to doing it, just flabbergasted that I thought tie-dying during a birth was a reasonable idea). Her take was that any babysitter worth "a grain of salt" would be good at engaging a child and keeping them occupied. Perhaps I should add that ds has never been left with anyone other than dh or I, so he is used to having one of us available.
Any btdt advice? Thanks!
