To ask who you had at your DC’s birth and do you regret it?

[mojitosnow]

Inspired by quite a few threads I’ve seen recently about birthing partners etc. I realised that over the years I’ve seen a fair amount of MNers saying that they had their MIL, SIL etc present at the birth and I could never imagine having them there during labour even though I am very close with my ILs!

So thought it’d be interesting to have a thread on who you had at the birth and why, and if you’d change it looking back. I had my DSis and DH at the first birth and DH (a very lovely helpful man at all other times!) was just awful, he completely panicked and couldn’t cope. So for the rest I either had DSis or went in on my own, I’ve had very quick births so DH didn’t miss much and I wouldn’t change a thing

What about all of you?

Just a moody midwife who only had a chocolate muffin for lunch!

Dc1,2 and 3.. dh
DC4... my close friend had always wanted to see a baby being born and as she'd had three (and we'd laboured in hospital together with our number 2 babies!) I knew she wouldn't freak out . She got there an hour before I gave birth, stayed at the business end and said it was the most amazing experience :) Dh was there too and he enjoyed having a bit of company!

DC 1 I had DH and he was amazing.

DC 2 I had a planned csection and went on my own to theatre and he waited on the ward

DC 3 I had an emcs and DH didn't get there in time as he was arranging childcare for DC 1 and 2 so on my own again.

I had at least 2 nights in hospital with each one and didn't have any visitors apart from DH and our DCs.

I wouldn't have wanted anyone else there.

FWIW I am super social and love seeing people, I just didn't want to have to try and interact with people whilst dealing with childbirth. I had trouble breastfeeding and to be honest, I found the constant stream of visitors some of the other mums had on the ward a bit of a nightmare.

I found being sat in a nightie with a midwife holding my breasts whilst I was trying to breastfeed in a room with a load of strangers really hard.

But I understand it would be unreasonable for me to expect everyone to change what they did to suit me.

Various midwives and doctors only. DH faints at blood and needles - he was happy not to be there and I didn't want him there as didn't want to be worrying about him! Wouldn't change it at all.

DH - I only laboured the first time but have 3dc (1 emergency c section and 2 electives). He was fine at the c sections but if I could go back I wouldn’t have had him there when I was in labour. I couldn’t let go with him there - I was self conscious - I couldn’t relax with him there.