Is it better to have just your husband in the delivery room when giving birth?

Question

I've heard of people taking in numerous people, however has anyone found its a personal experience & a little to revealing to show half your family?

Answer 1

I think my wife was in too much pain to care who was in there......but i was only in there w/her.........Ya might want to keep family out...lol you never know where yoru fist will go when that next contraction out......if you hit your hubby he can take it :))

Answer 2

I wanted my husband and my mom definitely. My doctor had rules about other people being there. Fortunately, my sister came in and she was a co-coach along with my husband and my mom was able to film the birth (standing by my head). I am so thankful for that. I wouldn't want anyone else though. The funny thing is about half way through labor I realized I wasn't shy anymore about all the nurses and doctors seeing me because I just wanted the baby out and knew they were there to help and that they see women giving birth everyday.

Answer 3

Personally - I didn't want anyone but my husband to visit until I was tucked into bed after a shower and I brushed my teeth and got a little rest.

Professionally, I can tell you there are MANY people who have a whole bunch in there, even at c-sections (as many as they are allowed). A few people like the dad and mom can be helpful but masses of people are often in the way and no help at all. I can't believe how many people have their entire family at the birth - or their 3 year old outside in the waiting room at 2am. Then they all move over to postpartum at 3am and babble loudly waking everyone up and I can hardly move around to get baby's vitals, teach mom to breastfeed and assess my patient. I know it's a happy time but usually the mom ends up being exhausted and just wants to sleep anyway.

Having everyone there sounds like a great idea when you are still pregnant but in reality it's pretty exhausting. Do you really want to have to entertain everyone while you are in labor, or hear them chatting about Uncle so-and-so's surgery or planning what movie they'll see that weekend while you are in labor?

Answer 4

I think from the point of view of the medical staff in attendance, it would be better just to have your husband there, so they have room to move about! I certainly found it far too personal an experience to share with anyone apart from my husband. I'm not sure if any of my close friends and relatives would have wanted to be there anyway - it's not everyone's cup of tea!
-Having just read some of the other answers let me add that when both my children were born I felt very little discomfort and there was no yelling and screaming! Maybe I was lucky, but I don't want you to be scared!

Answer 5

Depending on how smoothly the delivery is the doctors may regulate how many people you may have in the room. High risk pregnancies, including emergency c-sections, and multiple birth deliveries only allow the spouse, and sometimes not even. As a neonatal nurse I say the less people the better you only need one person there for support, the others may make you uncomfortable, and cause stress during the delivery, and speaking as a member of the delivery team its nicer for us when the room is less crowded. Although it is completely up to you.

Answer 6

Its not that personal of an experiance to me and my family and friends. We have all had the maximum number of people in our rooms. We enjoy sharing the first moment of life with everyone we love. No men though, only female friends and family. Even the babies fathers usually get pushed out.

Answer 7

For me, I thought I wanted my husband and mother in there. But when it came time, I only had my husband with me. My mother threw a fit and tried to barge past a determined nurse, so they had to open the door and me tell her its what I wanted.
For me, it was pain, and hard work, and the beginning of my family. He's the only person I wanted to see me in that kind of pain. I also DID NOT want anyone seeing my vagina with a baby's head comming through it. I didn't know how I would act during delivery, and I knew he'd never hold against me any of my behavior if I acted crazy. I mainly just whimpered and panted hard, but that was a moment for just us. It was our first child being born. And I didn't want to share that with anyone but him. After the baby was born, it was just us two and this wonderfully precious child we had brought into the world. There is plenty of time for family to bond later, the delivery room was just too personal for me to share with anyone except him. And you know what? Both our families were totally ok with that.

Answer 8

I had not been near my wife while giving birth , because I was not allowed in. But the birth lasted 30 mins, which was the only time period I was away from my wife..

Answer 9

You might not want him there if he's going to freak out and pass out.

I've never given birth.. BUT I would always have my hubby there and probably wouldn't like much more of a crowd than the doctor and nurses.

I don't really even want it filmed... the moments after, maybe.

Answer 10

I believe the birth is too personal for the entire Family.Just the Husband is enough.
On the other,the birth of a baby is close to Miraculous,and i suppose grand parents or Aunties could be invited if they wanted to be there.

Answer 11

Whatever makes you comfortable. It's up to you, it's your show! I don't think you are going to care once the pain has begun, but hey, make the decision now and tell people about it now. Hopefully everyone will respect your wishes.

Good luck with your delivery!