Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Flip

Original poster

Advice on having my dog around at homebirth/ Introducing baby to dog

23 replies

Violette · 19/05/2007 19:13

I'm planning a homebirth and am wondering whether it's best to have my dog in the house when I'm in labour or let her stay with mum-in-law, in peace (!)...she's quite a sensitive soul, and if I'm making a lot of noise she may get upset?! On another note, anybody have any advice on best way to introduce new baby to dog?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Hilllary · 19/05/2007 19:15

I dont think I'd want a dog under my feet when in labour tbh, its time for you and your baby, I'd leave it with MIL for a couple of days give you chance to bond.

WriggleJiggle · 20/05/2007 10:28

Definately leave dog at mil's. She would either get very upset at seeing you behaving oddly, or would try and get her nose into everything. Its also just one less thing to think about for you.

Ours were great with a newborn. We let them have a good sniff when they wanted to and that seemed to satisfy them. Then they started to associate baby with lots of walks (trying to get her to sleep), and they adore her now.

We had to make sure ours didn't squash dd by accident - they're rather soft cuddly things. Sometimes their tails knock her over, but a small price to pay for the 'cuddling' and 'stroking' they have to endure from her!

Only downside was that one of them became rather protective of us and baby for a while (6 months or so), but seems back to her old self now.

MarsLady · 20/05/2007 10:28

You need HertsnEssex! She's good at the whole dog and baby thing!

Muminfife · 20/05/2007 10:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

purplemonkeydishwasher · 20/05/2007 10:41

make sure you make a big deal of your dog. so that they don't get jealous of the new baby. also, don't freak out every time the dog goes near the baby. she's going to be curious about the new member of the pack and if you make a point of being relaxed about the whole thing it'll ba a lot easier.

if you can bug your dog as much as humanly possible right now. toddlers poke and tug and bite etc and if the dog is used to that kind of behaviour then she won't be so surprised when the wee one does it!!

SweetyDarling · 20/05/2007 10:48

I would be concerned that she might think you are in danger and try and defend you from the midwife or whoever she thinks is the problem.
I don't think it's fair to put her through it.

Original poster

Violette · 20/05/2007 10:50

Thanks everyone who has replied - I think it's best to let her go to hubby's mum's whilst I'm having the babe.
She's been around all of my nephews and neices and is absolutely great with children, but when I've had a friend over with a newborn, she started to whine and get upset when the baby cried, bless her. I think a bit of rescue remedy in her water might help too!
But I've heard one bit of advice that when you show the dog the baby for the first time, you should put the baby on the floor and let the dog go and up and sniff. Surely not?!

OP posts:

Muminfife · 20/05/2007 10:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

WriggleJiggle · 20/05/2007 10:56

If I had put dd on the floor they'd probably have walked on top of her - they're not very delicate things. Whatever you do you have to act confident and calm. Personally I'd hold her. But do expect a great big wet nose to give baby a really good sniff. Nappies and faces always smell particuarly good!

hertsnessex · 20/05/2007 11:05

ok, re the dog in the house - id keep her with you - unless you will be too worried. she will 'go with it' and wont be upset by it. keep her in a different room if you feel concerned.

as for introducing the baby - she knows its coming already. she will be prepared. i wouldnt put the baby on the floor though.

i would hold the baby, get her some treats and for the frist day or so, when she sees the baby give her a treat. therfore baby = treat!

im sure you and she will be fine.

(i took a canine psychology course with a view to going into that profession before i trained as a doula - dogs and babies are my thing!!!)

LynetteScavo · 20/05/2007 11:07

My midwife said she wouldn't allow dogs at a home birth.

hertsnessex · 20/05/2007 13:52

suprised at that, - as they dont really have a say in if there are dogs there or not - as its in the ladies home, and they are generally alot more open minded. as long as the dogs not sitting next to the women, then there isnt a prob.

Original poster

Violette · 20/05/2007 16:00

thanks hertsnessex...I wondered at the impact of sending her away or having her here at the birth - both have their pitfalls and upsides. Really good idea about treating her during the first few days. Whatever happens, I just have to accept that my dog is going to have to adjust to the new little family member too!

OP posts:

PrincessPeaHead · 20/05/2007 16:08

I've had two homebirths and I must say the dogs couldn't have been less interested in anything. I was upstairs though (where they aren't allowed to go) but I don't think they lifted an ear at anything. Similarly both have been completely disinterested in the babies - both have sniffed once, and then ignored, until the babies were old enough to clamber all over them and pull their tails (when they still ignore, but scarper as soon as possible!).

You know your dogs though - if you think they might behave differently then follow your instincts

PrincessPeaHead · 20/05/2007 16:10

Yes I wouldn't put baby on the floor. They have come over to sniff when I've been feeding or something. THey have always known that the baby is more important than them, I've never made a fuss of them with the baby around, they basically get ignored and the baby gets the attention.

MorocconOil · 20/05/2007 16:10

Our dog kept coming into the room during my homebirth. I kept asking them to take her out but the midwife who was a dog-lover encouraged her to be there!!

The dog was wonderful with both our newborns and we let her come into the bedroom whenever she wanted. Our DSs adored her. She died 2 years ago and am really pleased I let be around for the birth of DS2, as it is such a lovely memory of her, and our DC love hearing the story.

I'd say do what you feel is right. You know your dog best.

ManchesterMummy2b · 20/05/2007 16:27

Really glad you've posted this Violette! I have a slightly similar concern. I'm not a dog lover (I tolerate them) and my MIL has the most horrid, unruly dog going. She refuses to get the thing trained (she says it's cruel!) and I'm so, so worried about that dog being anywhere near our baby (not due til Oct so time to deal with it!) it makes me feel quite ill. It barks and barks and barks and clambers and licks and I just don't want it anywhere near my child. Plus, it's a big dog who's very overweight!

We don't live that far away and she wants to look after the baby one day a week when I go to work - a lovely thing for her to offer - but it would have to be at her house with that the dog there too.

Sorry for long ramble!

Original poster

Violette · 21/05/2007 10:16

Hey ManchesterMummy2B - I have a friend who had the same issue with her mum's dog - a vicious jack russell! - and had similar concerns. All I could suggest is that you insist that the dog is supervised around the baby at all times - I don't think babies/children should ever be left with dogs on their own anyway. It's really hard when it's someone else's dog, and they are not taking responsibility for it's actions!! You could sweetly ask her to keep the dog in a separate place when the baby is staying there and share all of your concerns with her, which I hope she will take seriously. Good luck!

OP posts:

ManchesterMummy2b · 21/05/2007 19:34

Thanks Violette - I know I'm going to have to have that conversation at some point!! She rewards the barking, usually... She's mad - don't get me started!

monkeymonkeymoomoo · 21/05/2007 19:35

Ours went to my Mum's (I had a homebirth), they are quite sensitive and didn't like seeing me in labour. Its one less thing for you to worry about IMHO.

Annie75 · 22/05/2007 10:47

Oh, I started wondering the same thing the other day. I think I'm inclined to follow Hertsnessex's advice and keep the dog at home as the baby won't then be a surprise. Also, part of me thinks that I'll find having her around comforting. I don't think she'll be freaked... guess we could always put her in another room if she is.

ChasingSquirrels · 30/05/2007 06:55

complete ditto to princesspeahead - ds2 was a homebirth upstairs - although no noise and v quick so even if she had have gotten upset there was really no time for her to do so.
I have left the baby on the floor.
Dog completely ignores both boys (4y and 16m) and always has done apart from sniffing the travel cot/moses basket for a min with ds1 the first day he was home.
She doesn't even acknowledge their presence (If I say "where is dh, find dh" she will go and find them, if I say "where is ds1/ds2, find ds1/ds2" she looks at me blankly).

Nbg · 30/05/2007 07:59

Very nteresting to read about your experience PPH.

My oldest dog has a very strong sense when something is wrong. If ever any of us are ill, he seems to know and will sit and lay with you constantly.
When I had my morning sickness this time round, he sat next to me outside while I retched

I too am wanting a HB. Practically, it would be better for me to give birth downstairs but I know my dog will be worried seeing whats happening and not being able to get to us.

I would say to you Violette that you know your dog best. If you think she's not going to like it, it will be better for all of you.
I'm sure when you bring her home though, she wont have much interest in the baby.
If anything, she'll probably make a new bed in the far corner of your house to escape all the crying and screaming

Flip