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Kids in the Delivery Room
Should They Be in There?
By Kendeyl Johansen
- Arrange for an adult other than Mom or Dad to be there for the child. Birth can take a long time and the adult will make sure the child's needs are met.
- Discuss birth with your child. Tell them you won't be wearing clothes. Let them know that blood and sounds, like grunting, groaning or shouting, are normal.
- Prepare kids with books and videos.
Drue Ramirez reassured her 7-year-old godson as he watched his mother give birth in Pomona, Calif. "His mom talked with him beforehand, explaining that she might scream, and that was normal," Ramirez says. "During the delivery, I explained what was happening and gave him hugs when he seemed scared. He handled it pretty good and it made him feel included."
Ramirez wanted her own 6-year-old son present when she gave birth to her second child, but the hospital wouldn't allow it. She encouraged her older son to come to the hospital shortly after she gave birth and he spent the night in her family suite. "He held his brother when he was hours old and loved it," she says. When they arrived home, Ramirez let her older son watch the video of his brother's birth. "He was fascinated. His responses were 'Poor Mommy!' when I screamed, and 'He looks like an alien' when his brother's head popped out," she says.
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