will your other children be present for birth? - Page 2

[mrs sauce]

My 8 year old son has expressed that he would really like to be present (5 year old and 2 year old daughter aren't interested) but I know from previous experience that I really need to be alone for most of labor and have had a hard time even going into labor if the kids are around. Not sure what I'm going to do.

[bluedaisy]

Mrs sauce - what about letting him come in the room when you start pushing, so he's there to see the actual birth but you won't have to worry about how he will affect the labor.

[zakdat]

We've pretty much decided that the kiddos won't be there.  DS1 will be 3 and DS2 will be 20mths.  We're planning a homebirth - my grandmother lives across the street from me, and the boys love going to gram's house so they definitely won't mind.  I know that my births seem to go easier if I can focus on what my body needs to do - I get a lot of power and strength in vocalizing, and I really wouldn't want to have a part of me worried about how the boys are coping with mommy's noises.  Also, they tend to be pretty sensitive - DS2 doesn't like loud noises, and DS1 is very empathetic with my moods.  I think we'll just have my mom and DH there for the birth (as well as our MW team) - everyone else is welcome to come over right after.

[mrs sauce]

bluedaisy, I am hoping he will sleep through most of the labor and then be woken up for the birth. I'll probably pack the girls off to my mom's (she lives a couple of blocks away.

Such a hard thing to plan, birth!