Home Birth with a toddler at home?

I don't have experience with it but its not something I'd ever consider because of Daniels personality type. He hates pain and hates blood. Terrified of blood so I know that him in that kind of environment would totally freak him out and he would be hysterical over it.

I haven't but there is another NZ Forum which you may find more useful than here! The Natural Parent.

We are planning a homebirth for #2 when that happens. We want DD to be part of the birth as much as possible so overnight we'll have either MIL or my mum to look after her and DP will be able to as well as with my first Labour I wasn't too keen on DP doing much. I just wanted to be off in my own bubble so to speak!

Regarding getting scared etc that's where having someone to entertain, watch, distract them comes in handy!

All the best!

Thanks so much for the advice everyone! I don't think I was too clear, my mum will be here from the UK and she will be on toddler duty, but as she's staying with us there isn't anyone's house we can take her to. Although we do have some awesome neighbours who probably wouldnt mind, I'll definitely ask them.

DD will be so young, not even 2 so I'm not sure how much I can help her to understand in advance. I'd really love to have a homebirth though. We'll see in about 30 weeks lol!

Hey, I had a homebirth in May when my daughter was 2yrs 2months. I went into labour in the middle of the night so was hoping DD would stay in bed, but she must have known something was up as she got up just after 4am (DS was born at 5am). We were planning to just see how she would cope if she was there, and my mum had said we could ring her at any time and she'd come over. DD was wanting lots of attention which I couldn't give her so DH called my mum who arrived at 4:50am and took DD into another room and they both came out about 20mins later after DS and placenta had been delivered and I was a bit more decent
Unfortunately I needed stitches and DD watched this happen. I REALLY didn't want her to but everyone else was busy (mum holding baby, DH directing the light so MW could see what she was doing, Student MW holding my hand and MW doing the stitching!) and DD was just standing there watching saying "Mama got blood on leg" . I was saying "I wish she wasn't watching!!" but my MW said she wouldn't be traumatised. And she was right, DD isn't traumatised. She still brings it up occasionally. A few days ago she was talking about it again hehe and she's definitely not traumatised, just speaks matter-of-factly about it.

During my labour she was in the room with me for about 40mins and I'm not sure if it was her presence (or if I'm just tough ) but I wasn't noisy at all, just breathed during contractions and squeezed student MW's hand so DD wouldn't have known I was in pain. I was glad she was out of the room while I was pushing though as I was more noisy then and she may have been traumatised if she'd heard that

I'll let you know in about 3 months!

I'm planning on having my 21-month-old there, with a friend to be her support person. I've spoken to my MW and she said usually it's fine, but it's worth having a backup plan so that the support person can take the toddler out of the house for a bit if need be. If I think DD needs to go for a short time, I'm hoping the park or a friend down the street (who is mutual friends with the support person), or if it needs to be longer, probably round to my sisters which is further away.

How noisy were you in labour with your first? I wasn't all that loud (I don't think - maybe I'll ask DH!) with my first, so don't expect to be much different this time.

But I think it'll take a load of your mind to know there is the option to take her somewhere else. Lol, my DD LOVES furniture stores - so many beds to jump on - so maybe I could just send them there if it's raining?

Good luck!!

Hey TP, I had about 4 hours of labour at the house of my friend who was helping me thru labour. Her kids were 1 and 3 and asleep in their rooms at the time. I was extremely vocal and they never stirred!