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?

Just DH & medical staff. Having my mother there would be just weird.

I think having mum there would depend on the relationship you have with her. I'm very close with my mum and she used to be a midwife so is very calm, not overbearing at all, and gets on brilliantly with DH so can help to keep him calm. This is my logic anyway! I can't imagine my mum not being there but that's purely because we have a close relationship.

Ds1 h at the head end of the bed and around 12 medical staff - prem delivery.

Ds2 equally early but a different hospital which broke all guidelines so 2 midwives, a pead and neo natal nurse. I sent h home by stage two.

DH and any hospital staff who had to be there. Nobody else was invited and one person who did turn up was told to feck off anyway can't understand why people feel the need to bring an entire entourage to the hospital to give birth just have your baby and go home to settle down in peace

For DD, DH and DM. My mother was so supportive, and if I had another DC I wouldn't hesitate to have her again. DH was there in body but his sprit was watching the World Cup football. He is now EXH. Also present was a lovely midwife and a student midwife who delivered DD. It was a lovely experience.

Husband and medical team. Planned for Home birth but there were complications during pregnancy.

I originally wanted just my husband and midwife.

The thought of any family, especially my mum, fussing fills me with nausea. She’d have made me do a brew run for the nurses!

Your body; your choice!

First two xh (then h), and my mother who was there for first birth couldn’t be bothered for second.

Latest baby DP & DMIL, it meant a lot to DMIL & she also cut the umbilical chord, I didn’t initially want anyone but DP there but DMIL has asked and as I neared due date I decided I didn’t mind having her there and it would mean so much to her. I did ask her not to look down stream which she agreed (& totally disregarded when the time came).
She was a real support to both DP & I and so so so happy.

My youngest s delivery was the best in terms of support and how it went I think probably because I was so relaxed during the last birth.

Dh, paramedics and a cab driver- let's just say I didn't see the inside of a hospital. The cab driver was a star btw and made sure we were safe before the paramedics got there as DH was stressed out, I was so happy to have him along that we almost named ds after him. But in a ideal world I would have wanted DH and midwives only.

I wondered why you wanted to know who was present when I was born... 😜

DD1 was an emergency C section, so just DH and around 20 medical professionals at various points. About 10 in the room at her actual birth.

DD2 normal birth, DH and 2 midwives. DD1 & her grandma came in to see us (DD1 only wanted to collect her "hello big sister" gift, glare at us all and sashay off into the sunset with her grandma) around an hour later.

In the room was DH and midwife, in the hallway was midwife 2 who could not fit into my bathroom as it was too small.

My husband.. a few other people, no idea really (both mine came very quick, no time for introductions)
Wouldn't of wanted anyone else there.

5 midwives (two shift changes +2 students) and my partner. My mum swapped with him at one point so he could get something to eat. I vaguely remember some student doctors but I could be wrong.

DH.

First, husband, midwife, student.

Second, husband and who ever is on a full sergical team, plus a paediatrician. Probably about 8 medical staff.

Husband & me

My Mum and my DH :)

Just DH and the two midwives.

I was so whacked out on pethidine and exhaustion I wouldn’t have cared who was or wasn’t there to be honest.

I’m hoping to have a quicker labour with DC2, so might ask Mum or my sister if they wanted to be there.

I'm due in 3 weeks so my mum and my brother are planning to be there, I don't have partner involved and my brother wants to be really hands on with my son, which I think is lovely, he's only 20 as well

DH, neonatologist, obstetrician, 2 midwives

@Blugh the idea of having my brother in the room whilst I'm giving birth is one thing I cannot fathom you're brave!

With DS1, born in hospital, DH and one midwife
DS2, born at home, DH and two midwives
DS3, born at home, DH, three midwives and a student midwife (I was pushing during shift change and the orignal midwife and her student stayed to watch!)

In an ideal world I would have had entirely unassisted births with only me and DH there, but as I must live in the real world, that wasn't an option open to me :)

I had my mum and dh at a hospital birth. This time I'm hoping for a home birth with just me and the midwives (at the moment)

My mum and DH. My mum partly because I didn't know how DH would react to seeing me in pain and I thought my mum would make a good support.
They were both amazing.

He's definitely staying at the head end though!! I'm not convinced he'll manage it but I'll let him try.