Who do you want in the delivery room ??

Well, I guess you're the one giving birth, so you ultimately get to decide. I'd give some thought to yoru DHs feelings, though - it's a pretty magic moment, when your son or daughter comes into the world, and I can imagine he could be a bit gutted to miss out on it.

In my case, I was/am 100% happy for DH to be there. It's nothing he hasn't seen before, and I'm totally comfortable with him seeing me in the various states of indignity that come with giving birth. Not only do I not mind him being there, I want him there to cheer me on, keep me company and provide backrubs and drinks.

Other than that, that's about the limit of what I'm comfortable with. I could live with my Mum or a couple of my close friends being there, but wouldn't ever ask them (and would probably prefer they weren't). I'd be distinctly uncomfortable having, for example, DHs Mum there. As much as I like her, I couldn't handle her being there.

I had a friend who was keeping me and DH company with my last son. She was going to leave but when it came time, I said stay. I was so focused on what I was doing who was in the room was an after thought.
Labour is the scariest, most stress full thing you will do. But it is also the most rewarding. Having DH there with give him a closer bond. Put yourself in his shoes? How would you feel?
When it comes time, you will probably not even be aware of who is in the room and you will realise when you have kids, there is no room for embarrasement lol

Edited by Cinderella

I didnt have anyone but myself and the midwifes at the birth. Everyone thinks i was barking mad, but i really didnt want anyone there. My mom took great offence - and she turned up at the hospital anyway where my doll of a midwife barred the door. By the time DS was born i was seperated from his father but right from day dot i told him he wasnt wanted. He was gutted but respected that. I actually really loved it - it was all about me and DS and i didnt have to share 'our' moment with anyone.

Hate to burst your bubble but I do worry that your gunna go thru the next 8months or so very worried about your dignity only to have all your hopes of a "special, private affair" exploded into a million pieces on the day.

I wasnt overly keen on anyone seeing my lady bits, Dr's, MW's & DF included. But while I lay as naked as the day I was born on the operating room table with atleast 10 people in the room all looking up and in places I might have rathered they didnt, I realised when it comes to it, who the hell cares.

I got a beautiful little girl safely delivered out of it, and neither DF or I are scarred by the whole event.

Does that mean im any less prudish about things now? Of course not, but the best piece of advice I can give you is leave your dignity at the door, your gunna have enough to worry about hehe!

We re the opposite here dh doesn't want to be there at the birth he didn't last time too but I think he appreciated how helpful he was and tbh I haven't given him an option if I'm pushing a watermelon out o a hole the size of a pea then he can bloody well watch and support!!! Lol... My mum used to say to me that it's good for our other halves to see the pain of childbirth so they appreciate how hard it is to give birth... Makes it useful for later arguments...lol

I digress... At the end of the day it's your birth reff and if you re more comfortable with him not being there then that's your decision to make... I'll be interested to know what your dh thinks too;)

Yep flow is good.

DH just rang (he's working in Chch all week). So, despite him wandering around Warehouse, I explained my thoughts. He was a breeze, completely understood. He said 'oh, but I might be helpful' and I said that, of course, I'd want him on standby. Easy peasy.

Funniest bit was, he asked me 'have you thought about positions?' all innocently and apparently received a somewhat strange looking by the man near him! lol

I told DH he had to be there when Jack was born and he insisted he would stay at my head but worked his way down. The way I saw it, we both conceived a baby and we were both going to be there when he was born. I knew my Mum always wanted to see a baby born so she came too and was very helpful, held Jack while DH held my hand for the stitches.

With Ben it was DH and Mum again, oh plus a camera crew! I took part in the MOH bfing DVD so had the female director and a camera lady there as well!

The way I saw it, the circus could have gone through and I wouldn't have noticed it.
I am not really very comfortable with people seeing me, hate having a smear test, wouldn't wear a bikini etc. But when you have a baby all that seems to go out the door. Depending on how well your delivery goes you could have 1 or 10 people there to see you and baby through safely and there is really no room for embarassment.

Everyone has got to do what they feel comfortable with, the only think I can suggest is keep an open mind and see how you feel closer to the time.

A friend of mine actually asked me (b4 being prg) if I'd thought about it. She said it was quite a tribal thing and there were times she really didn't want him there.

But, yes NO mothers lol

BecBarrer wrote: I'd rather be tucked away in a room by myself for the day and try to sort it out myself (ha!).

Yeah me too! If only!

Eeek, see I don't even like him going down there really, not like that.

Glad your DH hasn't fallen in though - lol!!!!!!