What did you do with your other children?

[pilllowhead]

So, how many of us had our older children at the birth? What were your plans and did they work out the way you wanted them to? My ds woke up right when I was in transition, we had been unsure about whether he would stay or go and a friend had offered to take him. He wanted to be there and had the special job of finding out if it was a boy or a girl which he took rather seriously! In the end he was there for the most dramatic part and collected just before I started making progress in pushing. I wish it could have been better resolved for him as I think just that much was a bit scary but, he was great while he was down and he is loving his sister.
So, how did it work out with your lot?

[Juvysen]

My dd hung out w/my mom for the day... mostly out (they had a lovely day shopping and going to the park) and then thet came back and watched elmo and ate dinner upstairs while I labored downstairs. By the time I gave birth, dd was asleep in bed w/my mom. She met her brother the next day.

[bdavis337]

My oldest was 4 when MT was born, he spent the night with my dad and came to see us in the morning, he loved having a "sleepover" with grandpa and doing some special things with him. This time, the boys will either stay at my folks' houses separately, or my mil will stay here at our house overnight. They're kist far too demanding to be here when I'm in labor, and there's no easy way to have them at a hospital birth.

[phathui5]

Pretty sure I'm in labor now. I just called a friend to come pick up whatever kids want to go berry picking with her (though almost 2 year old ds has to go!).

[bdavis337]

Yeah, it's the two year olds that just aren't workable when you're feeling like this!

[phathui5]

No, he kept wanting me to pick him up. No thank you. He's out with the sibs and my friend now.

[becoming]

My DS stayed with my parents the night before, and he was at the hospital for the last 4 hours or so of my labor. DD stayed with her dad the night before, and he brought her to the hospital a couple of hours before the birth. They were the first two in to see the baby after he was born.

[meg-momto2]

when i finally realized i was in labor around 3am, i sent DS(3.5yrs old) up to sleep with my sister until i was getting close to push. around 7am DS and my sister came down and around 9am i was pushing and everyone was there. DS did great and even did a happy dance when his sister came out.

[imgr8ful]

our plans were to call the inlaws to come up (2 hours away) if labor started during the day. but what happened and worked perfectly was labor started at 9:30pm after the boys were asleep and baby was born at 2:45am. they slept right through it all and were very surprised in the morning!

[trmpetplaya]

My 20 mo dd was present. My mom and sister were in charge of her and she was fine. She was a little concerned about me (came up to me and wanted to hold my hand a couple times), but my labour was only 1hr 10min so it was over soon. We let her get in the tub with us after her baby sister was born and she thought "her" new baby was very neat :

love and peace.

[Shahbazin]

We brought 14 mo. DD along to the hospital w/us, & DH either held her or set her in her Pack N Play w/some toys & books. We were only there for about 12 hours, & packed meals for her & DH. She cried a little right at the end when I got a little loud, but more because loud noises sometimes worry her, rather than that she thought anything was wrong w/mommy. Otherwise, she was happy as could be. In some ways, I think it was a lot easier having her at the birth this young, than if she were more mobile (she just started walking) & more aware of what was going on. She got to touch Elizabeth right after the birth, & seems to be adjusting pretty well. I had a doula to be w/me, since DH was occupied.