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Delivery Room Visitors

Deciding Who Will Attend Your Baby's Birth

By Jessica Williams

Having loved ones share this wonderful event can bring a sense of joy to each who attend. The feelings of those who witness the birth of new life often radiate throughout the room. Cindy felt a sense of pride while watching her loved ones during the birth. "The look on my sister's face when the baby crowned was very inspiring," she says. "She was in amazement. She had tears in her eyes, and to see the joy on her face gave me extra strength to continue pushing." Looking back on her glorious experience, after all her planning and preparing, Anita also remembers how connected she felt to her supporters. "My support team was part of me; an extension of my will," she says. "They anticipated my needs. I didn't have to think."

The type of support you will receive will be different from each person, which is why you benefit so much from having loved ones with you. Sarah is grateful for her family's presence and knows just how much they helped her. "There is something almost magical about having a group of people cheering you on," she says. "As long as you trust the people and love them and are secure in the knowledge that they love you, I think it can only be a good experience.

Want to see more?

• Partner Power: How Your Birth Partner Can Help in Labor
• Birth Stories
• Pregnancy and Birth diaries
• How to Prepare Your Husband for Childbirth
• The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth
• Talk about it