At what age do you think it's ok for a child to be in the same room and watch as their mother gives birth..? (yes i know certain hospitals have certain rules but if they didn't) Is it even ok in your opinion?
Would you let your child watch the birth..?

Mine arent/werent allowed because all of mine were/will be c-sections. Honestly, I am one of those that is not completely comfortable with the whole idea, for my family. But if others want to do it, I have no problems. But I do think that the child should be old/mature enough to "understand" what exactly is going on. KWIM?

Mine arent/werent allowed because all of mine were/will be c-sections. Honestly, I am one of those that is not completely comfortable with the whole idea, for my family. But if others want to do it, I have no problems. But I do think that the child should be old/mature enough to "understand" what exactly is going on. KWIM?

I have to agree.. My DD is very concerned with what's going on with me, and even though she'd be curious about all the medical equipment in the room, she'd be more stressed about what was "wrong" with mommy. I couldn't do that to her, or myself.. it wouldn't be fair to me to have to stress about her freaking out while I'm trying to give birth.

That being said, DD was a C-section, and were I to get pregnant again, I'd be having that baby via scheduled C...

I am afraid my child would get scared, and when they were old enough to understand I am sure they would not want to see it... I think I would rather be alone or just with the dad KWIM?

My kids wouldn't be allowed to, but to each their own. I honestly can't imagine a better source of birth control to tell the truth.

For me Im not really that type of person that's willing to share my birth experience with anyone. My dh is lucky enough that he's going to be there lol but I have no problem with other people doing it. Im sure its a great experience to see but its just not for me.

Sorry...wrong post...

I'm not really ok with the idea of my kids being in there while I am giving birth. I think it is something between me and DH. I wont allow anyone in there besides him once things get going.

I don't think I would have younger kids at a hospital birth- IMO the hospital is scarier than the birth, and well hospitals are nasty places for kids to be in for any length of time!

For #3 we will plan a home birth, and depending on how it pans out I would absolutely let the boys be there. I would make sure to educate them and teach them about birth being normal, along with all the sounds and smells and stuff to expect. And I can't say how I will feel while I'm in labor- so I will have someone to keep them occupied and be able to take them out if needed.

my parents actually allowed me in the room for the birth of my two youngest sisters...the first i was 10 a little too young for the hospitals rules but my parents talked them into it...

the second time i was 14 and i actually was videotaping it while my dad was by my moms side and all of my brothers and sisters where there...i have 5 so it was a family affair...

i don't remember the one when i was ten but i do remember bits of the one when i was 14 i remember trying to give my mom strength to push...to me it was scary and exelerating (sp?) at the same time...(not to mention gross)

i don't know if i would do the same thing...i think that at the age of 10 i was still to young and i think 13/14 years old was ok....though i doubt i will be having kids when DD is 13/14 yrs old..i don't think my parents should have had my siblings there just because i know some of them were scared too...

but that's just my opinion..

I wouldn't want my kid(s) in there but that is just me.When Dia did come to visit me for a few minutes I was having contractions like a wild and was trying to keep it together so I didn't scare her. Maybe if they were teenagers I would be a bit more okay with it.

i'd say not until teenage years. I wouldnt want my kids in the room unless they were older.. and by the time they are in their teenage years I wont be poppin anymore out! So who knows!

Depends on the kid. I watched four of my sisters and my brother being born. I was aged 4-5-7-and 11, respectively. I enjoyed it, still glad for being there. Liam will be almost four when I give birth, and if he wants to be there, and I feel he could handle it and the hospital allows, he totally can.

I'm fine with it if the child wants to be there.

No I would not allow a child in the room.

I know when I was younger, I would probably have freaked out seeing my mom give birth to my sister... (Freaked out as in scared...) I think it's a hard thing for a young child to grasp... Atleast that's why I won't let my DD watch me give birth. But I wouldn't think anything of it if someone else let their child watch...I'm just going by how I was as a child...

I think it all depends on the child's age.

I don't see a problem with it as long as both parties are comfortable with it. I would not force a young child to be in the room with me even though it might be a precious thing to remember. I will wait till the child is old enough to let me know if she is comfortable and want to share the joy.

I think it is a beautiful thing and if the child wants to be in there and the mother wants it then more power to them. I love home birth stories where the siblings are there to welcome the newest little one to the family.

I think that more teens should see birth. Face it, they may think twice about sex if they knew PAIN comes from labor. I think around 13 is a good time. Kids know about sex and this is what could happen.

I don't like the whole family in the room when I gave birth. It is a very private/special time that I didn't want to share with anyone but my DH.

Anya was present at 21 months for Schyular's birth. She sat up where my head was and kept me company.

Then when Sylas was born she was there at the age of 8. She watched everything this time. To her that was the coolest thing ever to be able to be there, watch, participate and then be the first to hold her baby brother.

I think it all depends on a child's maturity level and what the parents deem as appropriate. I know when we have another child she will be right there by my side again, holding my hand and participating.

Yeah like I am ever having more kids, lol! But no, unless my child was a teenager I wouldn't let her be there. I will show her the "birthing movie" though when she is old enough and I think that should be sufficiently freaky.

I think it just depends on the child and parents.

Breanna was in the room when I gave birth to Johnny. She was 4 at the time. We didn't plan it that way; it just happened. Johnny's birth wasn't the best. When my water was broken we found there was meconium (sp?). When I started to push his heart started to go down so I was put on oxygen. The neonatal team was in the room because of the meconium and thank goodness they were. When he was born (it took 1 1/2 hours of pushing) the cord was wrapped around his neck 3 times, he was purple and blue, and not breathing. He was given CPR and a tube was shoved down his throat to suck out the meconium. I really wish she didn't have to see that. The whole time though she stayed at the table and mostly looked out the window. When Johnny was ok John took Breanna over to let her see him. When I got pg with Evan Breanna asked if she could be in the delivery room when I had him. My OB with Evan said no. Breanna was really upset about it. But I realized at that time how much she really enjoyed the experience of seeing Johnny being born. I hadn't realized that til then.

Depends on the kid. I watched four of my sisters and my brother being born. I was aged 4-5-7-and 11, respectively. I enjoyed it, still glad for being there. Liam will be almost four when I give birth, and if he wants to be there, and I feel he could handle it and the hospital allows, he totally can.

:yes if a child understands what birth is about then what's the big deal

If I were to have had a 3ed I would want my DD with us, she is 11 now. I don't know how I would feel if she were younger. DS is to young and to be honest he would rather play PS2 than watch me have a baby.:lol

I think it depends on the child and the mother and the birth experience. Often young children can be present at births and it is a truly rewarding experience for them.

I was allowed to watch the birth of my siblings and as miraclulous as it was, I felt embarrassed for my mom. I won't let my kids watch.

if i were ever to have more children which is not likely to happen and any of my kids asked i would say ok no matter how old they are. i know that when the my oldest was 5 she wanted to see my youngest being born but unfortunately the hospital said no.

I was 6 1/2 the first time I watched my mom give birth (I say first time because I was there for a different brother's birth when I was 19 and missed my last brother's birth when I was 20 due to flying across country to try to make it). I was placed towards the head of the bed on a chair so I couldn't see her privates, just the baby between her legs. It was an amazing experience and one I loved as a child. I used to talk about it all the time as a child because it was such a wonderful experience for me.

However, as an adult, I don't know. I think 6 1/2 is pretty young and I'm not sure how old I'd want my children to be when they saw that or if I'd even want them to see me giving birth. Plus, I have c-sections, so it's not really an option.

:lmao i dont think at the age my son is going to be when i have my second child which we are planning on haveing when he is around 7 or 8 he is not going to want to even be near me yet be in the same room to see his sibling being born he'll be so grossed out.. no i would not want my child in the room when i give brith to a baby.. no no

No way would I let Lydia in the room with me while I'm giving birth but that's because I think she's too sensitive (she cries when I get upset, she cries when I hurt myself) to stuff like that (and I think she would be too young, this baby is going to be born when she is not even yet 3). Besides this baby will be a c-section, I don't even wanna see that :lol. DH and I hide behind the curtain by my head and don't come out until the coast is clear but we are squicky like that.

On the other hand, if other people want their kids in the room, more power to them. It's a natural part of life IMO and I'd probably show my kids a video of a baby being birthed if they were curious. But for me, no. I don't want Lydia seeing me in that kind of pain. She would be scared and it would go from being a natural part of life to a terrifying experience.

My children will never be allowed to.

If I knew it wouldn't scare or traumatize them in some way, I wouldn't mind. But my ds has already expressed concern for me because he heard it hurts to have a baby. He says he is scared the baby is gonna make me cry. He is a big momma's boy and doesn't want anything bad to happen to me.

I don't know how I will feel when I actually have kids, but for now I'm going to say...no, never! If other people want to do it, fine, but it is just not something I want my kids to see. Frankly I don't even think I'll want my future husband to see anything that goes on below the waist when I'm in labor.

And looking at it from the other side...I'm perfectly happy not to have ever seen my mom giving birth!

At what age do you think it's ok for a child to be in the same room and watch as their mother gives birth..? Adult.

Is it even ok in your opinion? No. I do not feel its appropriate for our children to see the birth of a child, nor do i see the purpose. Childbirth, while a beautiful process, is still a very private/intimate moment. I would not show my vaginal area to my children under any other circumtances and childbirth is no exception. Its just not appropriate and they would have no desire to see anyway.

Would you let your child watch the birth..? No, I would not. I do not feel that children are emotionally ready to handle watching a baby come from their mother's body. If a grown man can faint and fall to the floor..imagine what a child will think. To each family their own so if others are comfortable...so be it. For us....no.

Christine is 15 and she was in the room when Bailey was born.

Mine arent/werent allowed because all of mine were/will be c-sections. Honestly, I am one of those that is not completely comfortable with the whole idea, for my family. But if others want to do it, I have no problems. But I do think that the child should be old/mature enough to "understand" what exactly is going on. KWIM?

I totally agree!!!:agree

Well, I don't have any kids but if I did and I were having another one I would personally not want them in the room regardless of how old they are.

For "me" personally I would not want my kids in the room, however I will not put others down if they allow their children to see a birth.. I agree with Donna about the child being old/mature to understand what is happening though

I wouldn't want my children to be there. They can wait out in the waiting room :lol I'm not even so comfortable with my kids being in the bathroom with me anymore. I know I wouldn't want them to watch me give birth.

when we have kids, the only person i want in there with me is dh. but i'm very private like that.

My mom let me come to my sisters birth...I was about 8. I chilled in there the entire time and by the time she started to push I freaked out and went to get a popsicle. When I came back my sister was there. Ha ha! I think some children would be facinated and some would be scared and freaked out...but I'm not sure what age I really think it's 'appropriate'...:dunno

No one but the doc will be in the room! DF will be there up at my face but he won't look down there. I've heard that men are turned off sometimes if they watch the birth.

No one but the doc will be in the room! DF will be there up at my face but he won't look down there. I've heard that men are turned off sometimes if they watch the birth.

eh dh said he was going to stay by my head but when i ended in a c/s he watched the whole thing, all my insides being moved around and everything. don't be surprised if he does want to see the babies head coming out or whatever

I was there when my first sister was born and I was only 5. I don't really remember much except feeding my mom ice chips. My sister and I didn't have the same dad so I think my mom wanted me to be included so it didn't make it seem like my mom and step dad were having a new baby and I wasn't important anymore. I believe I knew what was going on and everything was explained very well because I wasn't scared at all. There is a picture of me when I see my sister coming out and I look like the happiest little girl in the world.

I wanted to be around for my second sisters birth (14 years later HAHA! she is about 8 weeks old now) but my step mother was only comfortable with my father being in the room, she ended up having an emergency c-section anyway.

I'm not sure what I would want for my kids but I will definitely consider my children 5 years and older being in the room... its a very special experience and it definitely makes the child feel completely part of the experience.

ok i haven't read everyone's response...
but there is no way i would have EVER watched my mom give birth to my little sister.
i would have hit the ground and prob thrown up for the next two weeks.
i just can't handle that, and i prob wont have my kids in the room either whe i give birth (forever from now)
but... if your child is old enough to understand and WANT to watch it i dont think age should matter, each child matures at a different time. /
but im 21 and couldn't do it today to save my life lol :giggle