Community Chat

[jonbon]

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@RetRN wrote:

The delivery room is no place for a 3 and 5 yr. old. Why on earth would they need to witness this? I find it appalling. 

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It's not the delivery room, it's a homebirth with midwives attending. Not at all uncommon for siblings to be present in such a situation.

[ECBG]

That never would have crossed my mind!  Talk about trama!!!

[J Town Girl]

I had a co-worker who had both her father and brother in the delivery room during the birth of her first child.     I certainly never said anything to her but there is no way I would have ever wanted my father or brother present while I was in childbirth.   

I may be old-fashioned but I think childbirth should be a private experience.  There are so many things changing and not all of them are positive.  

[Mindy D]

I am laughing a little. There are some squeamish members on the board. Some had a huge problem with a photo of a surgery on an ingrown  toenail. It was too much for them to view. Yet, in this thread, there are so many that aren't in the least bit squeamish or reticent about the viewing of labor and natural childbirth by themselves or by very young children. It seems to me that the childbirth is more graphic than the toenail surgery. 😁😁😁😂🤣

[stevieb]

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@Mindy D wrote:

I am laughing a little. There are some squeamish members on the board. Some had a huge problem with a photo of a surgery on an ingrown  toenail. It was too much for them to view. Yet, in this thread, there are so many that aren't in the least bit squeamish or reticent about the viewing of labor and natural childbirth by themselves or by very young children. It seems to me that the childbirth is more graphic than the toenail surgery. 😁😁😁😂🤣

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Yep, what can you say, people are weird... I guess one is supposedly 'beautiful' while the other is not... Get real... As a concept, giving birth might be just lovely but the reality isn't at all...

[mamaslittlepotato]

No way. They have plenty of time to learn about that stuff plus I think even if things go smoothly, it could be very traumatizing for children to see. They will most likely not understand and shouldn’t have to understand at their age. If anything, watching a cat or dog give birth is enough. Besides, I think it’s a very private thing and feel only the father, wife or SO should be present. JMO

[mamaslittlepotato]

Meant to say husband, not father

[Mindy D]

Then there's the issue of patience and waiting. Two things that young children have difficulty with. Labor and birth can take a long time. Children of the age mentioned in the OP might be able to keep attention focused for five to ten minutes at the time of birth but having expectations of them being able to wait out the entire process is not realistic. They can be kept busy by one adult that is solely assigned to watch them and offer them other things to occupy the time. They also would need preparation in advance of the birth to foster some understanding of what they will witness. 

i

[Mindy D]

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@ninjawife wrote:

My oldest was four and half when her younger sister was born.  I would not have been comfortable with my older daughter in the room during delivery.  She came into the delivery room shortly after her sister was born (after the afterbirth and her sister was cleaned up). My oldest did particiapte in a siblings program at the hospital before her sister was born so she a chance to see the delivery room and had an age-appropriate understanding of what was going to happen during delivery so it would not be a shock to her when she came to visit her sister.

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Sensible. Age appropriate in terms of the developmental ability in the ages of your children. I see no problem with this. 

[Diva on The Q]

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@Mz iMac wrote:

I personally see nothing wrong w/it.  My children learned at an early age that "the stork" did not drop them down a chimny or dropped them on the doorstep.

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@Mz iMac: I get what you're saying. But...a child learning about the miracle of life and actually witnessing it are two entirely different things. I just don't think a young child is mature enough to watch the birth of a child.