How many people do you feel comfortable with at your homebirth? - Page 2

[medicinemansgirl]

I feel I could've written your very post. I, too, am expecting twins..our's in late Oct....and this will be my midwife's 1st twin birth....ever. She told me as soon as we discovered them at 21 wks that this drastically changed the birth plans but is taking precautions and has handled our privacy and my inhibitions about people very well. Dh and I did baby #7 completely unassisted and I loved that birth!! I am a no people there type of person. Mw has asked for 2 other midwives present, as she will be responsible for my care and 1 for each baby. Of those 2 one has immense twin experience which she thinks is neccessary given her lack of experience with twins and the other is just a midwife that is a dear friend of her's. She feels the need to have 1 certified midwife each for the 3 of us. Of the 3 midwives present 2 will have assistants, one's purpose is charting, the other's is gophering and an extra pair of hands to aid in needs fo them. I have also asked a dear friend to be here for it....a 1st for me since we have never had anyone else present but my dh and 1 mw and 1 assistant. Of our 8 children only our oldest daughter that is 9 will be present. So, to me, that is a TON of people. I find people to be a hindrance in a massive way. We have gone over the birth plan and I have expressed in no uncertain terms I want to just labor alone with dh. My mw will come in every so often to check heart tones and that's about it. Other than that we'll be in a birth pool tucked away in the bedroom. Everyone else will be free to enter upon pushing since once that phase starts I'm a bit oblivious to the rest of life. But overall, the plan is to labor alone with dh due to the fact I know pretty well there is a huge possibility that I will not progress with a "party" in the room.

We have about a 15x15 room and it will consist of:
dh and
9 yr old daughter
3 midwives (my main one and 1 for each baby)
2 assistants
1 dear friend that is a doula in training

So, in all that's 8 and then me!

[BeanyMama]

I can't handle being around people in labor, I've learned. This last birth was just me and DH, with the midwives in another room, just coming in periodically to check me. My mom and my kids were downstairs. It was great. I love the idea of having photographer or friends there, but it would really throw me off.

[dannic]

With my last, I thought I would want a friend or two there. Once in labor, I didn't. I never called them. I had my mw, her backup and her apprentice, dh and my mom.
This time, I am having dh, mw, backup and apprentice. No one else. And I was and want to be alone with dh for the most part.

If I was having twins, I would expect more mw's, ect for support of mom and babies during labor and delivery, and I'd be okay with that. I'd not want others there. But DH is my rock, so as long as I have him, I'm good.