who was/will be with you for your hb? - Page 2

[BoGiBoBo]

My first 2 births I had little support, my mom was at both and took pictures the whole time and with baby #2, dh was just trying to stay concious.

This time around I will have dh, my mother (who will be taking pictures I'm sure), my cousin who is a doula and her mother, one of my favorite aunts and just generally one of my favorite people, and my dad will be there to take care of the kids. And then the midwife and whoever she brings.

It may be quite a few people, and I don't like being the center of a bunch of peoples attention, but I can't imagine not having one of them there. And I know that if I want quiet, this group will give it to me. And I love the idea of being surrounded by a group of strong women. And I figure if dh needs a break, which he did with #2, it isn't so critical that he is leaving me, and that he won't feel pressure to be the main support person and will be able to enjoy it more. I do believe he was pretty freaked out during dd's birth.

[rere]

I had a midwife,a student midwife,my sister and my husband but most of the time it was just me and my husband.The midwife noticed things went better when it was just the two of us so they all backed off.It was nice.

[DoomaYula]

As far as people who will be IN my house: dh, 2ds, 1dd, their babysitter, mw, my best friend, possibly another friend who is an RN and can labor-sit me because the mw is 3h away.

As far as who I plan to have IN the room: dh, best friend, mw. I need a lot of privacy while I'm in labor. I have a walk-in closet that may be perfect if I need to get away from dh and my best friend!

[WeasleyMum]

I always liked the idea of a big ol' birthing party as well. Probably not going to happen for me, though. First, I'm most likely going to end up with a hospital or birth-center birth due to insurance-- I can't afford to pay for anything they don't cover. But, even if I end up at home, my DP and I are pretty isolated where we are, with no family or close friends (yet) here. I'd love to have my mom, my sister, DP, a midwife, a doula, but... we'll see.

[ecoteat]

My whole pregnancy I was adamant that it just be me, dh, and 2 mws. But when I was in labor, dh's cousin and her family brought over dinner (they didn't know how quickly labor had progressed--when we talked on the phone, I was just uncomfirtable, but when they got here, I culdn't talk through contractions anymore). Turns out we needed the help setting up the tub, timing contractions, etc, so they all helped until the mws got there. On a whim, we asked dh's cousin to stay and sent the rest of them home. She had hbed her kids and attended a few herself, so it seemed right. I was so glad to have her there--she had the experience to really understand how to be supportive and out of the way. I guess that's what a good douls is like, but I think this was even better because we are so close already and she knows us so well. And she loved being a part of the birth.

[goodearthmama]

I will have and invited :

midwife
her asst. (also a doula)
her student apprentice(also doula)
dh
mom
dad
sis
dogs

My mil, grandmotheril, and auntil all assume that they will be there-oh but they won't . If they were supportive and had anything positive to say about anything, then maybe!! That is a whole other rant on its own though...

[kim_nz]

For my homebirth (DS's birth) i had DH, my midwife, back-up midwife, my Mum and my MIL. We were going to have the girls there but it was at night. For this birth is will probably be the same as last time and may have the girls there but will wait and see.

[Gray's Mommy]

We had a bunch of people here & it was AWESOME!!
mw, mw asst, DOULA, DH, my mom, our DS, and a birth photographer.
I wouldn't birth without a doula...I needed that support.

[groovynaturemama]

this will be the first baby i will birth. my attendants include

dp
my sister
my mom
midwife
a doula, who i still need to find. (i'm carefully weighing all of my doula options)

i'm not sure if i want anyone else there, but if i am doing alright, then perhaps dp's parents will attend as well.

[workinmama]

For me it will be just my MW, husband and student MW. I was debating getting a doula, but that seems too many for me. In Dr. Micheal Odent's book 'birth reborn'. He states that woman will get exhausted and distracted if there are too many people and things going on around the woman in labour. It prolongs the process everytime. I want it short and sweet. People can always visit later. I need to focus.

[Phoenix_Rising]

It was me, DW, midwife and midwife assistant. It was perfect. I hemmed and hawed on having MIL there (FIL died unexpectedly 5 months prior) but I *think* I am happy with my decision. I've only had about 16 months to think back on it and decide