May 2008 Hombirthin' Mamas? - Page 2

[Shanana]

Originally Posted by thismama

Anyone thinking of including sibs at the birth?

DD will be 2y9m, and I am open to having her there. My mil will be the person responsible for her, and they live really nearby. I figure we'll have her here, but if it becomes disruptive for me, or she isn't handling it well, mil can just take her over to their house. Or it could go like my friend's birth ... have the baby in the middle of the night and her other dd never even woke up . I think I prefer to birth during the day though. Like I get a say in the matter .

Anyway, we'll get some books, and my friend has a cloth doll that has a tiny baby that tucks up inside her belly with an opening by the vagina, so you can role play the baby being born. It also has a placenta and an umbilical cord that attaches to the baby's belly with a snap. There is also a snap on the baby's mouth and the mama's nipples, so you can show it breastfeeding. It is the cutest thing, and I'm going to ask if we can borrow it when I'm farther along. We will probably also watch DVDs of births to help prepare her. And talk about it. A lot .

One thing I will be very cognizant of, though, is the newborn's experience after the birth. I think it can be startling for them to be jostled and manhandled by a small child (and dd will still be awfully young) so soon after birth. So I will try to walk a fine line of honoring dd's interest in the baby and her desire to hold it (she LOVES holding babies!) with protecting the baby and keeping it feeling safe and secure.

[MamaVolpe]

Originally Posted by Shanana

One thing I will be very cognizant of, though, is the newborn's experience after the birth. I think it can be startling for them to be jostled and manhandled by a small child (and dd will still be awfully young) so soon after birth. So I will try to walk a fine line of honoring dd's interest in the baby and her desire to hold it (she LOVES holding babies!) with protecting the baby and keeping it feeling safe and secure.

You may want to try having the baby laying on the bed or couch and let your daughter sit beside her. That way she can touch and feel the baby gently but no actually hold. Less jiggeling about that way.

[thismama]

Originally Posted by MamaVolpe

You may want to try having the baby laying on the bed or couch and let your daughter sit beside her. That way she can touch and feel the baby gently but no actually hold. Less jiggeling about that way.

That is a good idea.

Mine is older and more steady and I'm actually really looking forward to seeing her hold her sib for the first time. I'm going to let her as soon as possible after the birth, I've already imagined it in my head.

But, balancing kiddo vs. baby needs in a larger, ongoing way is definitely something that is on my mind...

[diobolic_derbygirl]

i had a spectacular homebirth with my second baby and am thinking of doing the same with this one as well. my first was 3 at the time and very in tune and great about staying quiet, reading books with his grandma in the other room and playing with toys and floating some of them in my birthing tub.

i am hoping that my boys, now 8 and 5, will be just as eager to help me with this birth. it's all so new, but i'm so excited!