How do/did you prepare your children?

[babycatcher12]

I am planning a HBA3C for this baby. I have a 7, 5 and 18 month old. The older two are very interested in the birth and how it will "be" because they have only known coming to the hospital to see a new sibling. How did you prepare your children for a HB? Are there videos you would recommend just so they can see how it might look?

They know where the baby comes from and that it takes a while for them to get here, but I'm not sure they really understand what labor might look like or what to expect. (Since it's my first HB I'm not sure that I really know what to tell them either. I've seen lots of labors, I'm a L&D nurse, but not at home).

[laurabfig]

Our local homebirth collective hosts classes for older siblings. Maybe you could ask your midwife if she knows of anything available like that? (or if she has any videos she would recommend?) I've also let my kids look through my natural childbirth books with me so they see pictures about what birth is like. We'll probably do a video too, soon.
I'm looking forward to the answers you get from others, too.

[TabithaB]

There are a lot of video's on youtube. I watched some of them and then showed some of the ones that I thought were appropriate to my 7 1/2 year old son. Some are more graphic than others so you may want to watch some and then bookmark the ones that you would want them to see.

[CoopersMommy0308]

We are currently preparing our 2yo for a HB.

For his birthday in March he got a baby doll and the Dr. Sears childrens books "Baby On The Way" and "What Baby Needs". These are his favorite books.

We have also been watching slideshows of births. I'm still searching for some vids to show him.

We also have our son present for all pre-natal appointments. He knows that the MW is checking on the baby and will come to our house when the baby is ready to be born. He also knows that the baby will come out of my vulva and I will be in a big pool (hopefully lol).

We really just spend a lot of time talking about it.

Good luck!