I am in the "no crowd" camp. For DS's birth I had my DH present for all of my labor, my mom for about half of it, my doula for 3 hours, my best friend for 30 minutes, the doctor's assistant for 45 minutes, and the doctor for 30 minutes. All of these people were then present during pushing and the actual birth (1hr15m pushing). It was too many for me (even though most of them weren't there very long). I was at the birth center for 30 minutes "rest and be thankful" and then the pushing & birth. The rest was at home.
This time I plan to have my husband and my mother there for most of my labor. I will probably also have my little sister (16) there to be responsible for my 2.5 year old and I expect that she would come in during the actual birth after having kept DS occupied somewhere else. I plan to call my midwife at the very end of the labor and maybe not until shortly after the baby is born (I'm not fully committed to UC yet, we'll see what evolves in the next couple of months--I'm 17 weeks now. I don't have a sig that reports these things, because my dial-up is so darn slow that I have all of those turned off in order to be able to read these boards at something more than a snail's pace!).
I have had to strongly clarify for myself that I want people at my birth who are there because I want/need them, not for ANY other reason (like they need experience, or I want to be "nice," or because I was there for their births, or because I want to enlighten people about homebirth, etc., etc.)
Molly
This time I plan to have my husband and my mother there for most of my labor. I will probably also have my little sister (16) there to be responsible for my 2.5 year old and I expect that she would come in during the actual birth after having kept DS occupied somewhere else. I plan to call my midwife at the very end of the labor and maybe not until shortly after the baby is born (I'm not fully committed to UC yet, we'll see what evolves in the next couple of months--I'm 17 weeks now. I don't have a sig that reports these things, because my dial-up is so darn slow that I have all of those turned off in order to be able to read these boards at something more than a snail's pace!).
I have had to strongly clarify for myself that I want people at my birth who are there because I want/need them, not for ANY other reason (like they need experience, or I want to be "nice," or because I was there for their births, or because I want to enlighten people about homebirth, etc., etc.)
Molly
i was a planned HB, but ended up as a Hospital transfer. My MW was concered that having a camera crew might prevent me from being as free as possible, but it is so true that when you have no medication, you are not concered withh those around you. As long as everyone is supportive if your decision, i think you'll have a great experience. good luck 
