Would you take your 3 year old with you to hospital?

MustangGTgirl · Mar 12th, 2012, 11:39 AM

So since our child care fell through for watching my 3 year old son I have decided to take him with us to the hospital when I give birth. I am actually looking forwards to it and I think it will be special for the 2 siblings. My hospital is totally ok with it and I think if I pack toys and snacks my little one will be ok too.

Has anybody ever had to do this? How did it work out?

mummymarsh · Mar 12th, 2012, 12:06 PM

this would e a huge no no n my book.. couldnt think of anything worse thhan having my 3yr old daughter there while i laboured and birthed lol... but good luck xxx

Novbaby08 · Mar 12th, 2012, 22:37 PM

personally, I considered having my 3 year old daughter in the room, but as it is, she is soooo very interested in my body as is. I could see her talking about the birth for ever. Like how her sister came out of my crotch. Just the other day we were in line at the store and she started talking to the people behind us about how my boobs were huge and such.
But i don't think she'd get scared or anything. But I just don't want to have to have her talking about the details publicly like I know she would

kat2504 · Mar 13th, 2012, 02:24 AM

I wouldn't. What if there is an emergency? What if you have to have a CS? What if she doesn't cope well with it and wants to go home? In either of those scenarios, your birth partner would have to look after her and you would be left on your own. Even if everything goes normally, it could take a while and a 3 year old up all night in the hospital, even with toys and snacks, might not be so easy to deal with while you are trying to give birth.

Sommerfugl · Mar 13th, 2012, 03:29 AM

I'm not sure how it'd work with a hospital birth, but I'm hoping for a homebirth and am more than happy for my 3 year old to be there, so long as I am coping OK.

So long as the hospital are OK with it, and you have toys and distractions, then I don't see a huge problem. But I'd be a little bit concerned that you'd have to 'share' your birth partner as they'd no doubt have to keep an eye on LO and his needs?

amerikiwi · Mar 13th, 2012, 03:49 AM

A few months ago, I would have said no way. However, my second birth ended up being an unplanned homebirth with no doctor or midwife, so my daughter was present at the birth.

I was surprised that she took it all in stride and was not scared. How did you handle your son's labour? I only ask as I became extremely internalized and went silent in both labours and I'd think that if I was a more vocal labourer it would have stressed my daughter more. We got a few weird looks in the following weeks though as she would grab her legs behind her kness, crouch forward, and waddle (that's how mummy walked to the bathroom as DS was crowning!) down the supermarket aisle.

I'd suggest labouring at home as long as you can though to keep him in home settings longer and limits time in hospital. Just my 2c. I'm sure you (and partner and son) will do great!

Dorian · Mar 13th, 2012, 07:22 AM

When my dd was born, her brother was 4, and I took him to the hospital with us. We sat and watched cartoons, read books, etc while in labor, then when I moved to the delivery room, the nurses kept on eye on my son in the labor room. Then I took both my 10yr and 6yr to the hospital when my younger son was born.

emilyjade · Mar 13th, 2012, 09:46 AM

Not a chance, my hospital wouldnt allow it plus my son is terrified of hospitals! It was hard enough when he visited me in hospital when I was being induced and my stay after

shinona · Mar 13th, 2012, 16:36 PM

It would be a big no no for me too. I would hate for my ds to see me in pain and I know he would be too little to understand what is happening. I think it would upset him and from a totally selfish point of view, I'd have to share dh's attention too (least of my concerns but still a concern).

x

freckleonear · Mar 13th, 2012, 18:22 PM

I'm impressed that your hospital allows it, in this country they generally don't. My son was asleep upstairs when my daughter was born, but for any future home births I hope the children will be awake to see their sibling being born. Hope it goes smoothly for you.

Mar 12th, 2012, 11:39 AM	#1
MustangGTgirl Trying to conceive (TTC) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,082	Would you take your 3 year old with you to hospital? So since our child care fell through for watching my 3 year old son I have decided to take him with us to the hospital when I give birth. I am actually looking forwards to it and I think it will be special for the 2 siblings. My hospital is totally ok with it and I think if I pack toys and snacks my little one will be ok too. Has anybody ever had to do this? How did it work out?

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Mar 12th, 2012, 12:06 PM	#2
mummymarsh Other Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: RAF Marham, Norfolk, UK Posts: 2,379	this would e a huge no no n my book.. couldnt think of anything worse thhan having my 3yr old daughter there while i laboured and birthed lol... but good luck xxx

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Mar 12th, 2012, 22:37 PM	#3
Novbaby08 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 2,658	personally, I considered having my 3 year old daughter in the room, but as it is, she is soooo very interested in my body as is. I could see her talking about the birth for ever. Like how her sister came out of my crotch. Just the other day we were in line at the store and she started talking to the people behind us about how my boobs were huge and such. But i don't think she'd get scared or anything. But I just don't want to have to have her talking about the details publicly like I know she would

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Mar 13th, 2012, 02:24 AM	#4
kat2504 Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Northamptonshire, UK Posts: 5,297	I wouldn't. What if there is an emergency? What if you have to have a CS? What if she doesn't cope well with it and wants to go home? In either of those scenarios, your birth partner would have to look after her and you would be left on your own. Even if everything goes normally, it could take a while and a 3 year old up all night in the hospital, even with toys and snacks, might not be so easy to deal with while you are trying to give birth.

Status: Online

Mar 13th, 2012, 03:29 AM	#5
Sommerfugl Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: UK Posts: 1,297	I'm not sure how it'd work with a hospital birth, but I'm hoping for a homebirth and am more than happy for my 3 year old to be there, so long as I am coping OK. So long as the hospital are OK with it, and you have toys and distractions, then I don't see a huge problem. But I'd be a little bit concerned that you'd have to 'share' your birth partner as they'd no doubt have to keep an eye on LO and his needs?

Status: Offline

Mar 13th, 2012, 03:49 AM	#6
amerikiwi Press/Research Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 1,382	A few months ago, I would have said no way. However, my second birth ended up being an unplanned homebirth with no doctor or midwife, so my daughter was present at the birth. I was surprised that she took it all in stride and was not scared. How did you handle your son's labour? I only ask as I became extremely internalized and went silent in both labours and I'd think that if I was a more vocal labourer it would have stressed my daughter more. We got a few weird looks in the following weeks though as she would grab her legs behind her kness, crouch forward, and waddle (that's how mummy walked to the bathroom as DS was crowning!) down the supermarket aisle. I'd suggest labouring at home as long as you can though to keep him in home settings longer and limits time in hospital. Just my 2c. I'm sure you (and partner and son) will do great!

Status: Offline

Mar 13th, 2012, 07:22 AM	#7
Dorian Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: California Posts: 927	When my dd was born, her brother was 4, and I took him to the hospital with us. We sat and watched cartoons, read books, etc while in labor, then when I moved to the delivery room, the nurses kept on eye on my son in the labor room. Then I took both my 10yr and 6yr to the hospital when my younger son was born.

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Mar 13th, 2012, 09:46 AM	#8
emilyjade Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: notts uk Posts: 8,996	Not a chance, my hospital wouldnt allow it plus my son is terrified of hospitals! It was hard enough when he visited me in hospital when I was being induced and my stay after

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Mar 13th, 2012, 16:36 PM	#9
shinona Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ayrshire Posts: 1,587	It would be a big no no for me too. I would hate for my ds to see me in pain and I know he would be too little to understand what is happening. I think it would upset him and from a totally selfish point of view, I'd have to share dh's attention too (least of my concerns but still a concern). x

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Mar 13th, 2012, 18:22 PM	#10
freckleonear Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Devon Posts: 4,050	I'm impressed that your hospital allows it, in this country they generally don't. My son was asleep upstairs when my daughter was born, but for any future home births I hope the children will be awake to see their sibling being born. Hope it goes smoothly for you.

Status: Offline

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