HTT - L&D Edition

In my lifetime, I’ve only seen one baby be born ... and it wasn’t Miss Dub.

I mean, I was most certainly in the same room when she made her big debut, but I was on the other side of the action, if you know what I’m sayin’.

The baby I saw enter this world was the firstborn of my dear friendsista, Gfunk, who is now the proud mother of FIVE – and an amazing receptacle of pop culture knowledge and urban street smarts.

I must brag that I was the sole “sister” in the delivery room that day, along with Glamma Fabulous, though her sisters have made up for that day by being at the subsequent births of her children.

In fact, it’s pretty much a party in Gfunk’s hospital room when it comes time for delivery. The more, the merrier, in her opinion. And I’m glad she feels that way because seeing Son X make his way into the world was such a sweet, memorable experience for me, even if he is now seven and would probably kick me in the shins if I ever tried to hug him.

On the other hand, only Mr. Dub and every medical resident in the greater Chicago area were on hand for Miss Dub’s delivery. Since my mom was all the way out in Arizona, I decided to have her come out after I was back from the hospital rather than try to fly her in last minute. I wouldn’t have minded her being there, but I wasn’t devastated by her absence either. And while I would have reciprocated for Gfunk or Mrs. Jay, I pretty much don’t plan on inviting my friends and/or mailmen into the room in the future, mostly because those rooms are really small and labor is pretty boring.

Other people I know are even more adamant about NOT having anyone there. No mothers. No outsiders. Maybe not even their husbands.

And while I will fight to the death to preserve a laboring woman’s right to anydarnthingshewants, I wonder if their motivation is to have a more intimate experience or worries about someone seeing their hoo-hoo. And if it’s the latter, I say, “Hey! As long as the doc has taken a peek, who cares?”

And what about your other children? Is it cool or not to let them be there for the baby’s first moments of life? I hadn’t thought about this much until a friend brought up the Hot Topic. I’m thinking it’s a bad idea only because small children can be really annoying, especially after you’ve been pushing for two hours. But, then again, it is a miracle worth witnessing at some point in your life.

Soooo ... what’s your delivery room like? A public party or a private engagement only?

And if you haven’t been on the other side of the stirrups, how do you feel about being in the room for someone else’s labor and delivery?

Go.