who'll be with you when you give birth

[Carolbrad]

Im only a pregnant newbie but am worried about this. Do most people have just their hubbies in there, or their mum for most of it.

what is everyone planning?

I'd have hated my mum to be there. The only person I wanted when I had dd was dh and I genuinely don't think I could have done it without him- he became all assertive and decisive and instinctively knew what I wanted/needed (most out of character!). I'm due again in feb and I don't think he's as keen on being there this time but that's tough! I personally couldn't imagine anyone except for him being there

I had mum and hubby for dd no1 in hospital. Mum, dad, hubby and 2 midwives for ds born at home. No3 imminent. will be hubby, ds and dd (now aged 8 and nearly 10) and poss mum and dad if they're here (they live 6 hours away, so may not be!).It will all depend on when no3 decides to put in an appearance! DS and DD I think will decide whether they actually ant to be there for the birth, but they'll almost certainly be around somewhere or other! Am hoping for a relaxed atmosphere anyway. Has anyone else thoughts or experience on older siblings being there for the birth?

I am glad so mnay of you had your mum there. I did too with DD1 and alo of people made me feel a bit wierd about it. They kept asking if she had seen down there, etc. It was definately the right decision. DH was very nervous () and my mum was really calm. Next time will just be me and DH and mum will look after DD.

dd1 my mum and dp took it in turns to sit with me during my labour - looking back both were great but at the time I kept telling dp he was useless and to stop fu**ing rubbing my back cos he wasnt helping and didnt have a clue what i was going through - mum was fab - poor dp got a hard time for trying to be helpful - dp was there at the birth as I was only allowed 1 person. DD2 laboured totally on my own in the ante natal ward with 2 other women in beds beside me - i wasnt aware how far my labour was progressing. Mum and DP both there for the birth - I insisted dd wasnt arriving until they both did. lol

I'm inviting the favourite of our two cats, but not DH. This may cause slight consternation in some quarters but at least the sodding cat won't do sudoku all the way through and munch toast in my hungry ears.

DH is coming to the elective section as childcare will be less of a burden on family if it's planned.
But if I go into labour first, plan is to somehow get my sister instead, while DH looks after our kids and hers. Not sure how the logistics of that works - I may end up being dumped at the hospital on my own for an hour or so!

Sorry, point is I know my sis will be a fab doula and fight for me, DH was a bit submissive to the staff in our first labour experience. Now I know another mum will be more help. He doesn't mind a bit natch.

I originally just thought dp would be there but my mum came down too (from 200 miles away!) and she was great, don't know what dp would have done without her. I had far more people than I would have chosen around as I had an induction and tons of monitoring.

DP and his mum. I know DP wil be useless when it comes to getting me what I want during labour, whereas his mum will stand up for me. Plus she only has sons so will never see her daughter give birth, at least this way she sees her grandchild born.