Did you have your children at the hospital for labor and delivery? We are planning on having Isabella there unless of course it is like 3 in the morning that we leave for the hospital. I am just curious what others have done. When the baby comes she will be 4 1/2 and I think she would be sad to miss it. TIA

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When Phoebe was born, the girls were at the hospital with us. They were not in the room for the actual birth. My mom and brother were up there with us so when it was time to start pushing, they took them to the waiting room. After Phoebe was born, the nurse went and got the girls to be the first ones to meet their new sister. I, personally, didn't feel like the miracle of birth was something they needed to see at 7 and 9. But I know that is just my personal opinion.

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Jack was under 2 so he stayed with my parents. Lily was born at 9pm on a Friday, which was past Jack's bedtime, so her visited her the next morning. He slept over his grandparents' house for 2 nights so Juan could stay with me and the baby in the hospital.

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Sydney was 2 1/2 so she was at home with my sister. I can't imagine having here there at that age, because I would have been so worried about her, and I wanted to focus on the baby and the birth. Isabella is older, so it might be a different situation, but for me....birth can be unpredictable, so I just felt better having her wait at home. Plus, I got to spend some time with Adam without worrying about Sydney feeling slighted and then when she arrived, I could focus my attention on her.

I can't believe you are getting so close, Kim!!! I'm so excited for you!

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Stephanie (33)
DH (33)
Mom to Sydney, born August 8, 2003
and Adam, born April 13, 2006

E was born on a monday morning at 10am. Alex was there but not by choice. I actually went all natural and to be honest I would have preferred Alex not be there while I was laboring but I was at home for most of it. Alex is very sensitive and got really upset seeing me in pain. he kept asking me what was wrong and I had to focus on not snapping at him because I just wanted to be left alone. Then at the hospital he got freaked out and Leo had to take him out of the room and missed the birth since it happen like in two seconds. He was a little over 3 at the time.

A couple hours after the baby was born my MIL got there and took alex. He was with her most of the time I was at the hospital and really loved it because I was able to focus on E. Not have to juggle the two. I had to deal with that enough at home when I got home...LOL

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I just want to say that was not our plan because enrique wasn't suppose to come then but he didn't agree with our plan..LOL

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Isaac was at the hospital until it was getting really late. I went in at 9:15/30pm. We waited til my parents got there so they can take him out of the room and into the waiting area. At 10pm, my mom took him to their house while my dad waited til Carson was born. Then they brought him to see us the next morning.

This time...don't know. All depends on the time of day it happens and how fast things go, but hopefully no kids will be in the room when Im showing pain. Not comfortable with that. And my parents are always open for this type of thing. Plus they live less than a mile from the hospital, which is really nice. They will be with them most to all of the time when Im at the hopital. Nights dh might take them home, all depends on the time I go into labor. Worried about Carson (sleeping situation and long time separation issues still).

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Rachel
Proud Mother of 2 Boys and a Girl
Isaac David born February 24th, 2004
Carson Eli born January 18th, 2006
Kianna Rachelle born May 25th, 2008







***Just Add Baby ACD***

***Host of Baby Dust Grads***

I've had all C-sections since Amanda so I've had my parents keep the kids at home and bring them the next day....I'm never up for it the day of the delivery...

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Jen (37) Rob (38)
Amanda - 9/9/03
Robby - 4/18/05
Sami - 3/21/07


Rob and I on a kidless trip to Mexico in December

Sami and Me over Thanksgiving

Simone has requested that she be present for the next birth (no, not preg yet). She's seen lots of birth videos and LOVES them. Since she would be nearly 7 or older, since she has initiated the request, since she has seen me up to transition (which I consider the worst part), and since she has some sense of what natural birth is like, I would consider bringing her. The hospital requires, and I think it's a good idea, that a separate person be there just to look after a child present for the birth. I would ask our good friend who was present for Simone's birth.

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Kate
hcg @ 12 dpo 95.4, Progesterone 18
@ 17 dpo 960.6
@ 26 dpo 28,970.8
Heartrate @ 33 dpo (6w5d) 130

Beansie's EDD: May 12 (arrived May 10)
Lucky Clover's EDD: July 2 (arrived July 3)
Little Boo's EDD: January 25 (arrived January 31)
Heartrate @ 8w3d 174

I feel stressed out even thinking about my son being in the room while I give birth! He's three and I think I would be too concerned with him seeing me in pain...and I wouldn't want to feel like I couldn't be expressive while in pain.

So yeah, nope he wasn't there when Cole was born! Braiden was with my parents and stayed the night with them so that DH could stay at the hospital with us and we could both focus on the new baby for the first 24 hours.

I missed Braiden horribly though.

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Jaime...Mom to Braiden


Born 2/2/2005
4 lb. 13 oz
17 3/4 inches long

I had an emergency c/s, Tucker came along for the ride but I had my mother pick me up. He got real nervous when the nurses would start hooking me up to monitors. I sent DH out w/ Tucker when I had to get IV's started.

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I had a scheduled c-section w/ Alana so my parents kept Kaili the night before (we had to be there at like 5am for a 7am surgery). Then they brought her to the hospital with them and they all visited me in the room after I delivered.

If I was going to have a vaginal delivery I wouldnt have wanted Kaili in the room during the process. I just dont think its something they should see - mom in pain, blood, etc. But that's just my personal opinion for us. I would definitely want her to come in and see me and the new baby once everyone was cleaned up and happy.

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Michelle (30) and Wayne (34), Kaili (11.11.03) and Alana (07.14.06)

(Wayne and me)

(Kaili and Alana)

Brynna was with my sister (at her house, then in the waiting room) during the labor/delivery. Then they came in after we both had been checked out and found to be OK. Brynna met Kayleigh when she was less than 1/2 hour old. She was 2 1/2 then. She'll be 4 1/2 (almost 5) when this baby comes and we'll probably do it the same way again.

Not too long now for you!

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Hayden stayed with my parents and came the next morning. Even at 4 I don't think she'd be interested in being in the delivery room (and I'd be stressed having her there). But if Bella is truly interested go for it! Just make sure you have grandma or auntie there, too, so she can take Izzy out if it gets to be too much for her.

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We dropped Dominic off at my parents house. We picked my mom up and he stayed with my dad. My water broke at 2:00 in the morning.
I never planned to have him there for the birth.
He saw me sitting on the toilet, moaning, in pain and he was very scared. During my contractions, i tried explaning to him what was going on and that his little brother was coming. He came to the hospital the next day. I think he would've been too scared to see me in pain, to see the blood and to see a baby come out of me

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We didn't have Drew their when Ryan was born because we had to be at the hospital at 5:00 a.m. for the c-section. Also, he was only 20 months at the time. I would say if you are going to have her there with you I'd make sure you have someone else there like a grandma to keep her outside if things get crazy in the delivery room!

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My Guys!

DH and I talked about it over lunch today with Isabella and as long as there is not any complications or as long as it doesnt happen at 3 a.m. we will grant her wish to be there. We have taken birth classes with her and sibling class and they really didn't hold back anything especially the birthing movie. We often tell her how much pain I will be in when we talk about it. My MIL is the one who will be there in the event it proves too much for Isabella and will just take her out and check back in every once in awhile and of course if it is too late or too early.

I was my nieces person with my SIL and she was one day shy of 4 when my SIL had her baby. I have to say she did wonderful and I only took her out of the room once when the baby was crowning and she was yelling. My niece was not scared, but I sure was I didn't have a child at the time. It was truly a wonderful exoerience for all of them and if I am that lucky it will be for us too.

Maybe it is more common around where I am because I know lots and lots of siblings who were present for the birth. I guess we know our children best and ourselves. I of course will let you know when the day comes and how it goes. Hopefully it will be great......if ot thats what MIL is for

Thank you so much ladies for sharing your experience of what you did

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Since I had a c=section with Sami, my parents brought Holly in a few hours later and she did great! She was too bored in the hospital, so she stayed for about an hour and they took her home for the night. My hubby brought her in once a day while we were there....

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[center]Sue and Peter
Proud Parents to Holly Ann (4) & Samantha Rose (1)



CENTER]

I think it is a great idea to have Isabella there as long as everything is going well. I didn't even consider having Kate there when Jack was born because she was still a few days shy of 13 months. Plus my babies all seem to come late at night. Come to think of it, I don't even remember what was going on with Kate when I was in early labor. My mom must have been mostly taking care of her. And she was probably asleep by the time we left for the hospital. Hmmm... funny how you remember some things so clearly and completely forget other details.

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It sounds like Bella is well prepared I'd have someone there to take her out though if she gets scared or needs a change of scene. You know her best Kim.

Tim wasn't with me and I am glad of it because he would have been too distracting for me. And I think he would have been scared too because he gets distressed seeing me in pain or with blood or anything "broken". (He cries if I break a plate even).

Either that or he'd be trying to dismantle the hospital bed to see how it worked.

I'm very excited you are getting close!!!

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