Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.7.0.8 $; site uiucuxc Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uiucuxc!pking From: pking@uiucuxc.Uiuc.ARPA Newsgroups: net.kids Subject: Re: siblings witnessing delivery Message-ID: <104200005@uiucuxc> Date: Wed, 14-Aug-85 08:57:00 EDT Article-I.D.: uiucuxc.104200005 Posted: Wed Aug 14 08:57:00 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 04:35:54 EDT References: <640@ttidcc.UUCP> Lines: 24 Nf-ID: #R:ttidcc.UUCP:-64000:uiucuxc:104200005:000:1172 Nf-From: uiucuxc.Uiuc.ARPA!pking Aug 14 07:57:00 1985 WHen our last child was born some four years ago, our older children were six and four. At that time the concept of siblings being present at delivery's was fairly new in our area. my husband and i talked about it and then our oldest,(a boy) and his father watched a pbs program on childbirth. our son was very upset by the program and the idea that there was going to be pain for me in order to get his new sister. I spent a great deal of time after that consoling him and talking to him about what was going on, and the idea of the pain I was going to experience. After that he attended a class given by the hospital where I was delivering for siblings but still seemed distressed, his point being he hated to see me in any kind of pain. Needless to say he didn't witness the delivery, nor did our younger child. It is not a decision I regret. Our older children are and were from the time she came home from the hospital very involved in their sister's life, and have enjoyed her very much. Currently I still have very large doubts about the wisdom of allowing siblings to watch the birth, but what is right for me and mine may not be for others.