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Delivery Room Visitors
Deciding Who Will Attend Your Baby's Birth
By Jessica Williams
Delegating responsibilities may feel strange at first, but remembering that this is your labor and birth should keep you and your support members focused on your goals. It will be easier for each person to support you if you are clear about what you expect. Anita's friend Robyn was the one who gave Anita information about homebirth. She had also studied photography in school, so Anita assigned her to take pictures of the birth. Another friend, Tracy, was given the role of "second supporter" after Anita's husband. Tracy attended homebirth classes with the couple and provided support to Anita during the pregnancy. Anita's friend Paula was responsible for smaller tasks, such as providing ice, cool cloths, music and water. Jodie, another close friend, was in charge of meeting Anita's 4-year-old daughter's needs.
Anita had prepared her daughter, Sydney, for the event by reading books and watching videos about birth. "Sydney's understanding of the process was wonderful," Anita says. "She wanted to be there, and although I wasn't sure how she'd be when it came right down to it, I wanted her to be there too. I needed someone to be there for Sydney; someone that I wasn't dependent on for my needs during labor, someone just for Sydney's needs." Anita felt comfortable with her choices because she knew what she wanted from each member of her team, and she knew that they would respect her decisions. As Anita puts it: "Everyone understood everyone else's 'job.'"
The Joy of Sharing
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