My 10 y/o daughter wants to be in the delivery room...

Amber - posted on 03/06/2009

I was 9 when my sister was born and there for all of it.  I even cut her umbillical cord!  I think that if your daughter wants to be there it shows her maturity and love of the new baby.  Of course you should talk it over with your husband, but it's ulitmately up to how you feel about having her there.  Spaeking for my 9 year old self, I felt that it made me closer to my sister because I "helped her come into the world." 

Jenifer - posted on 03/04/2009

I really think it depends on how the labor goes.  My SIL had all of 4 of her kids in the delivery room when she delivered #5.  Her oldest is 15 and then 7 (almost 8), 5 (almost 6) and the youngest had just turned 4.  I don't know that it did any damage to the younger ones.  The youngest was so excited he just kept saying that he got to see her (the baby) pop out!  It was quite cute!

Stacie - posted on 02/26/2009

I was 13 when my mother had my little sister, and i was present for the majority of her labour, but not the actual delivery as there were some complications. My mother had a really terrible time of it, and eventually i was asked to leave (which i resented the midwife for, being that i was only 13!) My mother wanted me to be present as a form of birth control, but i have to say, having had my first baby at 19- it didnt work! However i do think that the bonding between siblings should start as soon as possible. I want to have a home birth this time round, and i want all the children to see their new baby brother/sister as soon after the actual birth as possible, so that they can all feel involved, and be part of welcoming our new arrival.

Stacey - posted on 02/09/2009

I wish i'd never seen a child birth video, its made me so petrified of child birth i used to get really bad panic attacks just thinking about it which i did alot before i decided to have a baby with my partner. I think you have to think carefully about how seeing you in pain will effect her. After finally getting over my fear now that im pregnant the panic attacks have come back with avengance and i wouldn't wish to put any though how i feel right now.

Jessica - posted on 02/05/2009

I think it' a great idea to have your daughter with you in the delivery room if she feels comfortable enough for it. I would maybe prepare her for what it's like by havinbg her watch a birthing video. And let her know that while you are giving birth you may look like you are in pain but that it's normal. I was 9 when my sister was born and if I was given a choice I would have been in there because I think it would have let me be closer to my family than I was at the time.

Kate - posted on 02/03/2009

Thanks for the input and congrats on your impending delivery! Do you know what you're having?

Heather - posted on 02/03/2009

I was 10 y/o when my sister was born. My mom chose not to have me in the room b/c there were some complications and she didn't want to scare me. I was right down the hall though. I remember hearing my mom let a loud scream at one point. Considering the difficulty with the delivery I'm glad I was not in the room. I think I would have freaked to see my mother in pain. 

It was very nice to be there as soon as the baby was okay. I remember it being a really emotional time. My mom said one of the nurses told her she had never seen seen such an overwhelmingly elated family! We had waited for my sister for ever! :)

By the way it was wonderful birth control. I knew how much work a baby was and I didn't want to take part in anything that would give me a crying pooping eating machine while I was in HS or college! :)  Now, ready or not my husband and I are having our in about 20 weeks! :)