Annette's Grandson

[geordy]

Baby Van will look so cute in a beret and other French fashions!

Congratulations to all!

[sandy]

Annette, I´ve just realised that you said you were in the delivery room when your daughter was giving birth. I watch some TV shows on the Home & Health network (I think one of them is called A baby story), and I was always amazed to see that the whole family (including brothers, sisters, parents, cousins...) was in the delivery room. I thought it was just for the TV show!! Is that really a custom in the US?
It seems really auckward seeing the mother with her legs open and the whole family nosing around.
Here in Argentina we don´t give birth in the common room. We are taken to a special room, similar to the operating room, called "sala de partos", and only the husband is allowed (if he has the courage to attend the delivery), or only one family member if it is a single mother.

[sunshine817]

I was allowed two people with me throughout my labor -- so my husband and my sister were at my side. When it was deemed that I would need a C-section, my sister stayed behind -- and my husband was with me until they realized that they were going to have to sedate me completely. Only reason he had to leave is because the delivery surgeries at that hospital are very small, and there's just not room for everyone!

[sandy]

For C-sections the husband can stay here too, but I think he also has to leave if the mother is completly sedated.
Oh and even for a normal birth he has to wear sterilized cap, robe and shoe protectors. I see all the people wearing plain clothes in the TV shows.

[Megan]

That really is a beautiful baby - congrats to you and the family !

I want one !

[annettecinca]

Sandy, it depends on the hospital. It used to be that only the labor coach (typically the husband) was allowed in with the mother, but many hospitals are becoming more liberal about the rules. The hospital my daughter delivered in allows 2 other people of the mother's choosing to be in the delivery room at the time of the birth. Up until then, as long as they are quiet and well-behaved, as many people as the mother wants (within reason) can be in the labor room with her.

For most of the day, my daughter was kept company by her husband, myself and my hubby, and our son and other daughter. We were asked to step behind the curtain whenever the nurses needed to check progress, and everything was done very discretely--it wasn't a big "show". My daughter wanted those she loves most around to talk to, as a diversion to what she knew would be a very long wait (she checked in to the hospital at 4 am, delivered at 7:30 pm). As soon as her epidural wore off tho, she sent my husband, son and other daughter out!

Anyway, being able to be there for the birth was definitely one of my life's great moments. I'm so proud of my daughter, and I feel very honored to have been asked to share that sacred time with her.

Shoesy, this one's for you!

[Shoesy]

Those 2 handsome guys seem to have bonded beautifully. That picture is priceless, Annette. You must be so proud and happy. Hugs and kisses to you all........

[mez]

That is a great photo - they're intently looking at each other.

[denise]

:)In the Uk it is considered very unsupportive of the father not to be present when a mother is being delivered. Often the woman has another female relative or friend with her too. Perhaps her mother or sister.
Sometimes the woman will want more members of the family, but frankly as a midwife I feel they often distract the focus away from the woman and the job at hand.
We stopped wearing masks and gowns years ago, as research shows that they do not prevent the incidence of infection, so they are a luxury we cannot afford. Unless of course the woman goes into theatre for a C section, and then we don't wear masks unless we are at the table and then we wear clear plastic visors that protect all our face from accidental splashes..
A person of the mothers choice can stay with her for support in theatre as long as she is awake (as with epidural or spinal anesthetic) if she has a general anesthetic the supporter is asked to leave.

Denise
love from England

[Anne]

When my first daughter was born, my husband was there but when I asked whether my mom could attend too, the midwife was very reluctant to have more than one member of the family around, and I didn't push .
When my twins were born with a C-section, my husband was strictly forbidden to attend, even though I was awake . A nurse was staying by my head (I had a big vertical clothe at chest level in order to prevent me for looking "down") and she kept talking with me throughout the process .

Annette, this baby is really beautiful

[Happygoin]

Annette, that picture is just priceless. What a couple of handsome men you have on your hands!

I'd have that picture framed tout de suite!

[Jody]

Priceless, I agree. Little Van looks so alert for a NEWBORN. The gentleman in the picture is very easy on the eyes too!!

[Laura NY (aoi33)]

Also Sandy, in New York anyway, when you check into the hospital you are admitted directly into a labor/delivery room which can look as simple as a hospital room or as beautiful as a hotel suite. There are the usual amenities, plus every piece of equipment a doctor would need during delivery hidden behind cabinets or closets. Unless you need an emergency c-section, in which case there are several operating rooms down the hall, you stay in that room from the time you check in until several hours after the baby is born, when you are both moved to the nursery floor.

I, too, was allowed to have as many people with me as I wanted in the room with me. I was also allowed to have my acupuncturist with me if I had so desired to help with pain management and bring the baby faster.