Kids in the delivery room? No thanks.

I read somewhere that there are parents who want to bring their children into the delivery room - apparently it avoids jealousy.  The article irritated me so much that I just had to take pen to paper as I think this is a foolish irresponsible approach, and is something I would never ever consider. The delivery room is NOT a place for children, whatever the reason.

 

It's a stressful and often scary event which children (regardless of the age) are not ready to deal with. Even in a best case scenario where there are no complications, mum is still stressed and in pain, there is blood, there are doctors and it can take hours - not the ideal setting for a kid IMO. Anyhow, my kids don't sit still eating or watching the TV and that's all fun stuff - how would they sit still through labour? And I don't want to even think what would happen if there was any sort of complication for mum or baby. Not to mention the serious mental damage that you would do to your young children as they watch you go through that agony - which is so worth it in the end but who am I as a mum to ruin my child's innocence as to what really happens when giving birth? Isn't there a secret unspoken rule amongst women that we don't really share the horror until after another mum has joined the club?

 

I do think it's really important to involve siblings in the overall event, and for me there was merit in the new baby bringing little gifts for the other two, but beyond that, there is just no need, and this idea is just madness. Apparently it's not common place in Ireland and I think it would just be wrong if it was.