IPs in Delivery Room

This thread asked for advice about having IPs in the delivery room as something written into the contract.  It’s a long thread so I don’t know if you want to read the whole thing.  Towards the end, someone said it was “selfish” to put the desires and comfort of the surrogate above the IPs desire to witness the birth.  

I disagree strongly and said so.  My main argument being that a too strong adrenalin response (caused by fear or stress in the woman in labor) can cause labor to slow down or even stop.  This is a hormonal thing not under a woman’s control and is something that happens in other mammals as well.  To have a safe and effective labor, the woman needs to relax.  That’s the safest thing for the baby.  And so, I think it would be selfish on the part of the IPs to insist on their preferences for the birth as more important than a safe birth.  


For my first delivery, my mom was supposed to be one of my support people, and I had her kicked out.  She protested so strongly that the nurse had to threaten to call security.  But they got her out.  Anyway, I will not hesitate to kick out anyone who I feel is threatening a relaxed and safe labor whether it’s an IP, a particular nurse, or my own chosen support person.  Mostly, I expect this to be a moot point.  My labors are fast once they get started and I doubt a troop of dancing bears would bother me because I get so inward focused.   As long as they (the troop of dancing bears or the herd of med students or the IPs) don’t touch me, we’re cool.  

That has previously been an unpopular viewpoint with IPs…but that I’ve found 3 previous sets plus my current set shows that some IPs are willing to agree with my preferences on the matter.  I’m sure it will be an unpopular viewpoint on SMO and I’m just waiting to be blasted.  It’s no matter.  I get a lot of blastings on there, I’ve learned to mostly ignore them.  I wanted to voice what probably at least a few others think but wouldn’t say.  

What did surprise me is that this morning my IM found the thread and posted a comment.  Very supportive.  Very cool.  She really doesn’t post much so it surprised me.  My IM is an awesome IM.  

I just had to share…