Question

Should children be present at their mother’s labor and sibling’s birth? If so, what type of preparation programs should be made available, and what criteria should be met beforehand?

Answer 1

It is very personal decision that children be present at their mothers labor and sibling’s birth because how magical the seeing giving birth is, it is very frightening for a child to see his mother in pain.

So, if children visit mother's labor then there should be some preparation like child should be explained the process of the labor and tell him that blood will be involved and unfamiliar sounds will also be there.

One adult should be assigned to the child to whom the child feel comfortable to talk to and be with. Person should also keep an eye on him and should take the child out of the room when child feels uncomfortable.

After birth when mother recovers, she should discuss the whole labor experience to her child and can ask her about the experience he/she had watching the labor.

There should be enough toys and snacks available for the child of he/she feels uncomfortable during the procedure.