Who was present at your birth?

[LatoyaLondon]

I would like my mum and partner present. I know people who have had friends present, aunts, and one had a doula. Out of pure curiosity, who did you have present at the birth of your child(ren) and why?

My DH and hospital staff. One midwife for most of it and two at the end.

I wouldn't have wanted anyone else there

Partner

Midwife and Surgeons

Perfect

Many many dc and only ever dh ad a midmife (occasionally my consultant and once a trainee male mw!)
Bewilders me why some people all but put a bus trip on to the delivery suite!

For DS my husband and a midwife

For DTwins my husband, my consultant ObGyn, junior ObGyn, 3 paediatricians, 2 midwives, anaesthetist, various operating theatre staff and a few med students - it was a planned, early C section and a bit of a demo show for everyone.

Boy1: husband, 2 midwives and 1 paramedic because the midwives were very late.
Boy2: 1 midwife. Husband and Boy1 were in another room. 2nd midwife didn't arrive in time.

Mine were both born at home so immediate family was there and midwives for safety..

DH for support and because he was partly responsible for the whole situation! A midwife and just about a second midwife to make sure baby was OK.

DH and midwife, I can’t think of anything worse than having anyone else tbh.

Partner, midwife, student midwife, anaesthetist who told me it was too late for an epidural and the other midwife who had turned up to let mine go for tea break. 9 mins from 4cms to delivery - ended up with quite the room full

DS1 my DH and my mum was there. In hinsight unfortunately some other family members disapproved of her being there.(my MIL a little jealous and thought it was 'weird') It's part of causing a big family rift

DS2 just my DH. For reasons stated above. (It was possibly part of my reasoning for having an ELCS- so there was no choice in the matter as only one person can accompany you to theatre.)

My DH and any medical staff needed. One midwife for DS2 and 3, the world and his dog for DS1!

I had this ridiculous notion with my first labour that I wanted lots of people there (I’m
a twat). What ended up happening was it was me and DP in a room in the labour ward with my doula arriving at the end.

With DS2 it was just me and two midwives and it was fine.

If it was too late for an epidural then why would an anesthetist need to still be in the room for the actual birth?

Me, my mum and nursing staff.

Husband and midwife for both of mine, I would have loved my mum to be present and for my second I’d invited my best friend (it was on her bucket list to see a birth) but both labours were so quick it just didn’t happen.

I thought of inviting my boss and the neighbours round to look at my fanny and admire me pooing into a blue paper towel. But in the end I didn’t have time to do a suitable announcement for my twitter feed ( although DP managed to get some photos on insta ).

Partner and mum, midwife walked in just as babies legs slid out.

DH

2 midwives

A registrar

An anaesthetist I think

Maybe a HCA...

Both were forceps births and I wasn't really taking a lot of notice of who was there and I'm usually VERY private

I just had my DD a few days ago and it all happened a bit quick and my DH missed it.
Actually it was fine, I was calm and 'in the zone'. We didn't plan it like that but it was all ok.
For my first he was there and the thing I remember most is the sheer look of panic on his face! I think it was actually better just to be able to focus on myself and not worry about him!

Birth of my children;
Dc1: hospital birth, me & then-DH, midwife (No idea if there were 1 or 2).
Dc2: planned home birth, very quick so was just me & then-DH, although he was on the other side of the room sorting plastic sheeting and I delivered dc2 myself. Dc1 was in the house but asleep as it was midnight.

I had two home births with just DH, the midwife, and another nurse/carer right at the end (different system here in the Netherlands). I absolutely would not have wanted anyone else there at such an intense, private, vulnerable time, least of all my mum (who I love but she's hard work, selfish and tactless). We also didn't want DD(4 at the time) there for the birth of her sister as I didn't want her to be scared. Imho a drug-free birth is no place for a kid to be, with the blood and pain and screaming etc. I know some people like to involve their kids but it just seems unnecessary stress on them to me.

My husband. We didn't want anyone else there, we wanted it to be just us (despite mums disappointment.
And one midwife and one student midwife (who were 2 of the nicest ladies I've ever met).

Me, husband. 2 anaesthetists, consultant, another doctor, possibly a nurse, 3 midwives, 2 paediatricians, students. I had said no to students beforehand, but they only brought them in when I was flat on my back, full of the drugs so I didn't really notice them till it was all underway.

My partner, my mum and whatever medical professionals needed to be there.

This time I'll just have my husband and the midwives/doctors.

Dh and midwives. The very idea of anyone else being there makes me shudder. Dh was an absolute rock.

Husband and what felt like 90% of the hospital staff.