Do you know, I've never seen a birth apart from those of my own sons. Have you?

[BellaBearisWideAwake]

I'd love to be present at a birth. Might have to have words with my sister.

If you have, is it amazing?

I had a CS so was behind a screen so didn't see anything. DH watched and said it was amazing and a lot more bloody than he imagined.

I've never even see one on telly.

I think I would cry. I cry at One Born Every Minute.

I'm the same.

I've had 3 children but I've never seen the actual birth iykwim apart from on telly.

I've seen a lamb though... does that count ?

My mum had had 3 babies, but never seen a baby born from the other end (so to speak) until she saw DS born. She said it was amazing, and she was first to hold him after me and DH. She dressed him in his first babygro too

Lamb counts a little bit!

It must be a real privilege to be a midwife for that part of the job.

I have. About 40 natural and approximately same number of C/S.

It is amazing but to be honest very gory and the sections are much 'nicer' as they are more clinical and feel really priviledged to have been apart of them.

Wow! Are you a midwife?

I have been present at 30 births now, from CS, to VBAC, Twins, homebirths, all sorts!
I enjoy seeing the journey through pregnancy to motherhood and supporting the new family after the birth too.
There is a special energy around labour and every one is a surprise. You can think you know how far along things are and be totally surprised!
I am especially moved by attending births of mothers that have had previous traumatic experiences and watching them discover their strength and autonomy as mothers and experiencing the joy of an empowered birth.
To be honest the couple of cesareans I have seen have been the most stressful, both were EMCS, I was glad we had the technology but sad the babies had to be born that way.

selinadoula, why does it make you sad the babies had to be "born that way" if that was the best option at the time for mother and baby what is sad about it? have you ever seen an actual traumatic birth? that is actually the most stressful. a cs is not necessarily stressful in itself.

No, I'm trained as a doctor. Not practising. Had a very intensive obs/gyn 'block' at uni.

I was at my nephew's birth. He was born at home. It was amazing and I felt so impressed with my sister as well as stunned at the miracle of life etc.

It also really helped me when I was in labour with my first DD because I knew what to expect (although my labours were much less relaxed as I was induced. Also, naturally, I found them much more painful :o). I am really glad I was there and grateful to my sister for letting me be.

yummytummy I think its sad because the early days of parenthood are hard enough without having major surgery too and having to recover from that as well as sleepless nights etc
But I agree, procedures dont neccesserily cause trauma, its usually lack of empathy, bad communication etc
I would hope that I could mitigate some of the trauma of a difficult birth by being present as a doula but I have talked through lots of them with others.

well, for what its worth i found it much much harder to recover from my traumatic birth and care for a newborn than i did to recover from a cs and a newborn and toddler! i guess everyones experience is very different.

The two CS that I've actually been present at were EMCS so I suppose its the dissapointment of needing one too.
One of my clients had a second EMCS after a failed induction, I didn't go in with her but she said it was much better than her first because we/she had planned that it might happen (she had other risk factors too) and had a birth plan that was listened to by her attending doctors etc
I'm sure a planned CS can be much less stressful than a traumatic birth (and easier to recover from!)

I delivered my neighbours baby whilst waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Just me, mum and baby in the house. I had only been in there 5 mins before baby arrived and I was on the phone to the ambulance crew so it was a bit of a shock.

It was also the most amazing experience and it is a memory I will always carry with me - being the very first person to hold this little life. couldn't get to sleep that night though!

I was there when my sister had both of her children. She was amazing despite being a drama queen normally.

My baby sister (not an actual baby, she's 23) has asked me to be her birth partner in November. Her partner and my mum will also be there, but apparently I come highly recommended as a birth partner!

I feel very proud and honoured that she has asked me, and I can't wait

Wow. I'm actually jealous!

I have as I'm a midwife and I still think birth is an awesome thing.

Must admit I often have a little tear when I'm at a birth

I'd cry. I cried at the Vicar Of Dibley christmas Special, fgs

I've watched One Born Every Minute. That counts.

I have, I was quite shocked & terrified when the M/W left me alone for a minute and cried at the first.

I reckon the crying I do at OBEM would reach epic proportions if I actually got to hold the baby as well!

I watched my neice being born, was very emotional. I was quite :( that I coudn't be there for her new baby.

I have seen lambs, plus I heard (but didn't see) my hamster. Which was a surprise, given that I'd been told she was male.

I also saw a lot of my emcs with ds1 - screens were up, but there was a plain reflector behind the theatre light above the consultant, and I could see the reflection. Fascinating