Home birth - what should I do with my dog

[walkercv]

Hi, I'm due with my first child in January and I am planning a home birth. I have been reading up on introducing you dog to your new baby and how to prepare but mostly they talk about on your return from hospital. I wondered what other people who had home births had thought about whether your pet dog should be at home or not? I don't mean in the room! Any advice welcome.

Hi, I had a home birth with both dogs at home. I suppose it depends on the dogs but my two showed no interest at all in what was happening. I laboured over night and they slept in the room next door. But they already knew the midwife and my husband walked them in the morning (nearly missing the birth!). It was lovely because it wasn't a big deal introducing them to DD2 as I never left the house.

I have a friend whose dog was in the same room as she gave birth ato home. The dog has always been absolutely devoted to the child (to the point that they had to have some additional training when she got a bit over-defensive when any stranger came near the child, however innocently) which she's always attributed to a pack-loyalty feeling being so much stronger due to being there at the birth

Some points

1. Dogs usually like routine. How will it cope with 2am activity or no walkies? Not being able to access all areas?

2.Some midwives are allergic to or are afraid of dogs.

1. Sometimes emergencies occur. The dog would have to cope with this including paramedics, ambulances, people in and out of the house.
2. Space. Will the dog get in the way of people or equipment? I know of one dog that punctured the birth pool!

I have delivered babies in dog owning households. In most cases, the owners arranged someone to take the dog until it could return to a calm environment when the family was ready.

my mum took the dog when I went in to established labour, along with the other children. The LAST thing I would have needed was the bloody dog sniffing around.

If it was my dog I would shut her I one of the bedrooms out of the way. I know she would be fine with this though. If you have any doubts, could you send the dog to your parents, or a friend?

Well I went into labour at home and was in lots of pain before I made it to hospital (long story)

But my dogs were not happy, they were unsettled too, one hid and both wouldn't be in the same room as me. They are sensitive souls though

They also annoyed me. I didn't want to be touched and they kept trying to investigate what was going on. I had to ask DH to move them.

I would try and arrange somewhere for them to be as it could be scary for them to see you screaming etc.