Homebirth and your pets

[mommatouch]

For the veterans of homebirths, how did your pets deal with you while you were in labor.  I have 3 cats and take alot of comfort in their companionship when I am not feeling well. 

For those with cats, did they stay close to you while you labored or did they hide until it was over?  Two of my cats are jokingly referred to as nanny nursemaids.  They must lay ontop of me whenever I am ill.  I believe they think they are making me feel better when they do this.  In reality, laying by my side is generally much better, but even when I am miserable I appreciate their efforts.  I am curious to see how they will react when I am in labor. 

***edited for typo

[Chloe'sMama]

we have 2 dogs and they were outside when DD2 was born, but they both started barking right when she took her first breath.  The midwife thought it was the most amazing thing.  

They are usually inside, but they were very restless at the end of the birth.

[averlee]

I also have 3 cats. They were definitely no trouble during the birth. 2 of the 3 stayed out of sight the whole time the midwives were there. The 1 friendliest cat followed the midwives around the house some, but stayed off the bed and out of my way until just after the baby was born when he got really nosy- not about the new baby, but about all the interesting supplies and things the midwives had brought. The midwife had to make the cat get down off the end table where he was sniffing at/getting fur all over all the gauze pads and stuff. It wasn't until the next day that any of the cats approached me & the baby.

[goldenwillow]

During our HB... my dog (12) and my cat (5) were right there.  When I was pushing, my pup was in my face breathing which drove me nuts an my MW put him to go outside, which I didn't really want, she just acted on impulse.  My cat was on the bed. 

[CBEmomma]

We have 2 dogs and they were outside for most of my labor. For about the last 4 or so hours of my labor they were inside, but in the basement, they were quiet. The next couple of days they were calm and quiet.

[Onkiekat]

I had two (medium-large sized) dogs and a cat. I don't really like my dogs very much...lol. They are more of DH's thing. I knew they would drive me bonkers, so I had my SIL take them and watch them at her house for the birth and the week after. They would have been fine, I am sure, but would have barked a LOT with all the people coming and going. I was relieved to not have to worry about that during labor. My cat was concerned about me, I think, but she didn't interfere with anything. Just kind of kept an eye on me....lol:)

Editing to add a pic. This is my cat, Jasmine. This was when my labor started getting really hard, and she was concerned!

[KimMamaLove]

We have a 9-yr-old dog with a very calm disposition. But in thinking about all of the things that might break my concentration during labor/birth (my first homebirth!), it would be the dog barking her "Hello!" to her favorite people every day if she's outside. Inside she doesn't bark unless someone is coming up the long driveway. I will have to make my wishes clear to my husband on this :-)

I wonder, too, how she might react to a birth going on. She's such a cool dog, though, I can't imagine her freaking out or being a bother otherwise.

[cocoanib]

We have 2 yorkies and they were supposed to go to a neighbors once labor got intense.

It did'nt work out that way and they wound up going over for awhile and coming back home.

I called them my doula dogs all during pregnancy, because they were right there up under me whenever MW would come over for visits.

They hid out under the bed during labor when I started getting vocal.

At some point we put them in our walk in closet with a baby gate up, so they could still see.

I wound up birthing about 5ft in front of the closet. They are usually very vocal dogs, but they were dead silent the whole time. I can only imagine what they must have been thinking! They did'nt utter a peep until DD started crying after birth! 

[mommatouch]

Thank you all for your responses!