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From: todd@SCIRTP.UUCP (Todd Jones)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: Sibling presence at childbirth
Message-ID: <302@SCIRTP.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Aug-85 19:48:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: SCIRTP.302
Posted: Mon Aug 12 19:48:14 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 20:45:25 EDT
References: <306@luke.UUCP> <16600003@convexs>
Organization: SCI Systems, Research Triangle Park, NC
Lines: 30

> We had not planned to have Lara around during delivery, but we had done a 
> certain amount of ``prep'' work with her, just to satisfy her curiosity about
> the pregnancy. Fortunately, when time came for Lara to leave with a friend,
> she absolutely refused, then broke into tears when I tried to force the issue.
> So, after a brief conference with my wife and the attending midwives (yes,
> we were having a home birth; flamers take note), I made Lara a peanut-butter
> sandwich, and she stayed through the entire delivery. She was actually pretty
> helpful--she took over the job of stroking her mother's head, applying cold
> cloths, etc. As I rememember, Lara was as pleased as we were when John was
> born.


> Joe Ahearn
> {allegra, ihnp4, uiucds, ctvax}!convex!ahearn

This scenario seems like a much healthier way to include a sibling 
at the delivery of a baby than the others mentioned.
This way the sibling can retreat to his/her room if things get
hairy. This has got to be healthier than instigating some
organically inspired parental notion that sibling presence
at delivery will enhance the sibling/baby relationship.

For what it's worth, I approve.

   |||||||
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   [ O-O ]       Todd Jones
    \ ^ /        {decvax,akgua}!mcnc!rti-sel!scirtp!todd      
    | ~ |
    |___|        SCI Systems Inc. doesn't necessarily agree with Todd.