[CryPixie83]

I would like to make a sign to tack up on my front door when I go into labor. I'm thinking something that tells visitors that there's a birth in progress, please do not disturb, etc but I also want to portray natural/homebirth in a positive light. I was wondering if anyone had a similar sign during their birth or if anyone has any creative ideas?

 

[applejuice]

Are you in an apartment building or in a housing tract?

I would simply put a do not disturb sign on the door.

If you are in an apartment building, I suggest that you notify the Superintendant of the building or the landlord.

If you are in a house, just tell your neighbors.

Much of this depends on the relationship you already have with your neighbors/landlord.

A little

T, but I recall an alternative slant to the "no room at the inn", Christmas story. The author of this version said that the innkeeper let Mary and Joseph have the animals' shelter since he knew if she were to deliver soon, she would disturb the other guests with the birthing noises. Therefoe it was an act of compassion to give them the animals' quarters, being that it was warm and private.

Just an interesting aside.

Good luck with your birth and baby!!

 

[Elyssia]

i would not tell your superintendent or landlord
unless A) they live near and might hear you or B) you are close and they are cool w/ it, in which case they probably already know
they might take it upon themselves to tell you that you can't do that if they are a homebirth skeptic and you absolutely CAN
you do have a right to privacy
you might tell people in earshot, upstairs downstairs neighbors, if you share a wall w/ somebody
but i would even tell them, if anything, that you are planning to labor at home and if you get a little noisy, that's what it is and it's ok
i've had 3 births, 2 different apts and a duplex
and nobody ever heard a thing
it is scary to think of worst-case scenarios like somebody hearing noise and thinking you are being beaten to death and calling the police or something
but i think it is probably MORE likely that you tell somebody ahead of time, they don't understand homebirth and they give you crap about it
kwim??
so i don't know, i think you have to feel it out in each situation
i would be scared tho' to tell my landlord ahead of time (i never have)
afraid they would try to say i can't and it would be a stupid hassle

assuming that anybody who would hear you knows already that you are pregnant, if you leave a note i might say something like
"thanks for your concern, everything is fine"
or "please respect our privacy"

 

[MonikitaUT]

If you come up with a good one, please share!

I'm due on 11/8, but have been thinking it would be really cool if she came on Halloween, my favorite holiday. But then I was just sitting here thinking, what if I were having the baby Halloween night and trick o' treaters were coming to the door the whole time? LOL

Monica

EDD 11/8 and mom to

: Truman and

: Febe

 

[Teensy]

Do you get many unannounced visitors? I probably wouldn't do a sign unless you do. I gave birth in a hospital, but labored at home for about 28 hours before leaving. I don't remember anyone coming to the door. But maybe you are more popular than me!

Good luck! I would like to have a homebirth next time, but I've gotta get pregnant first!

 

[CryPixie83]

We live in a triplex, so one purpose is to let them know what's going on (though I'll probably tell them ahead of time if I remember). Also we do tend to have quite a few unannounced visitors (usually when we don't want them) so I guess it's also a polite way to ignore the knocks on the door. Plus I think it would be pretty neat to have in the baby book lol

 

[Walkin' Mama]

I had Sammi at home (11-06-03; we were kinda also hoping for Halloween-lol) when we lived in an apartment. Although we weren't real good friends with the neighbors, they we all pretty cool. My dh told him when he was out taking a break and he ran into them. He only put a sign on the door after we got an unexpected caller. The sign read: "Working mother needs peace and quite. Please do not disturb." By the way, since there was nothing in the lease about homebirths, we did not inform the landlord!

 

[Sherry]

i dont think the landlord needs to know, and your neighbors only if you think you might get vocal and worry them...otherwise no one needs to know.
if you want to make a statement with a door sign, how about "natural homebirth in progress...do not disturb!" or to be cute, "hey! we're in here having a baby!"

i hope the point is moot since your edd was two days ago and that right now you are holding your new little blessing!

 

[CryPixie83]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherry if you want to make a statement with a door sign, how about "natural homebirth in progress...do not disturb!" or to be cute, "hey! we're in here having a baby!" i hope the point is moot since your edd was two days ago and that right now you are holding your new little blessing!

LOL Nope! Still baking

Actually I'm hoping to go a little longer (I love being pregnant so I'm really not ready to not be pregnant yet, on the other hand I am ready to hold my baby lol)

I think I really like the "Natural homebirth in progress...do not disturb" idea. Simple and to the point

 

[mommy2zander]

If you have a midwife maybe she would have some ideas. My midwife gently told visiters (friends and family that stoped by cause they thought the baby should have already been born) that we would call them once the baby got here...

I do think the sign is a very good idea, even if it is close friends and family stopping by, cause my 48 1/2 hour labor seemed to come to a complete hault when people made it all the way in the house to see me before the midwife caught them and ushered them back out...

my midwife also has a sign she puts on the door after the birth, saying at homebirths we mother the mother... to only stay a short time and to help out around the house...

Hopefully someone here has a sign idea for you during your labor/birth...

 

[Aura_Kitten]

i've been thinking about this same thing.

i'm thinking about making 3 large (full 8 1/2 x 11) signs to put up on my front door...

* SHHHH Quiet Please!

* DON'T KNOCK

* Please Come Back Later!

they would cover my knocker and the spaces on either side of the knocker, where people normally knock if the knocker is covered.

i don't want any disturbances during labor + birth! not to mention if my dad happens to stop by for a visit while i'm in labor he'd freak out and make a huge scene and screw up my birth plans.

i figure the quiet thing is a little more ambiguous for those interfering people who may drop by, kwim?