Mirror in the Delivery Room

You Know You're a Mother When: Mirror in the Delivery Room

October 24, 2008

Some things are best left unseen. For me, it was certain angles of my children's births. During my deliveries, the nurses asked if I wanted a mirror positioned so I could watch my wee ones enter the world. Aside from concentrating on pushing, I didn't think I could stomach seeing what was going on below. So I opted out and simply enjoyed the experience from where I was lying. Many women choose to view, did you?
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36 Comments

MissSushi 4 years 29 weeks

lol, i know what you mean by all the nurses in the hospital.. on top of at least 7 nurses, there were also several nursing students.. one of them said, omg.. it just keeps going back in!

Greggie 4 years 29 weeks

That should've been "or awesome to have not done it." *lol* Can we get an edit key for Christmas?

Greggie 4 years 29 weeks

I don't think it's awesome to have done it or awesome to have done it. I think it's just awesome to know what suits you and what will work best for your situation. Knowing stuff like that, I find admirable.

SweetnLow 4 years 29 weeks

YES.. and I LOVED it!! Like PP said, it was such a huge motivator, I could watch my pushing have an effect, and it was so completely amazing to watch her crown. I reached down and touched her head while I was waiting on the next contraction. Super cool. (Midwife giggled at her curls and twirled one, too, haha.)I saw a birth from that end when I was like 12 or so, and it completely freaked me out. I would NOT watch another one, or let me husband see one, or watch mine. But watching it happen for myself ON ME and my child was so awe-inspiring. I definitely want it for my next one, too. It really gives you a new appreciation for what your body does during labor and delivery.

SweetnLow 4 years 29 weeks

YES.. and I LOVED it!! Like PP said, it was such a huge motivator, I could watch my pushing have an effect, and it was so completely amazing to watch her crown. I reached down and touched her head while I was waiting on the next contraction. Super cool. (Midwife giggled at her curls and twirled one, too, haha.) I saw a birth from that end when I was like 12 or so, and it completely freaked me out. I would NOT watch another one, or let me husband see one, or watch mine. But watching it happen for myself ON ME and my child was so awe-inspiring. I definitely want it for my next one, too. It really gives you a new appreciation for what your body does during labor and delivery.

Great Sommelier 4 years 29 weeks

I had a mirror but only looked in it when she crowned. Other than that I was closing my eyes to push.

Jess8902 4 years 29 weeks

My doctor had a clear helmet thing on and I could see them in that both times. I would've liked a mirror though. I think it would've been motivating.

shoogerbooger 4 years 29 weeks

I think all of the women who used a mirror are awesome. I wish I had the courage to look! I am such a baby when it comes to pain. I think seeing what was going on would have freaked me out even more!

shoogerbooger 4 years 29 weeks

I think all of the women who used a mirror are awesome. I wish I had the courage to look! I am such a baby when it comes to pain. I think seeing what was going on would have freaked me out even more!

Black Velveteen 4 years 29 weeks

Some things are best left unseen. That sums it up for me! :scared:

BlairBear 4 years 29 weeks

I had a mirror with all 3 of my kids and let me tell you, it was my biggest motivator. Everytime I pushed and saw them come out just a little bit more, it was amazing to see results from all of my hard work. I didn't think it was gross or disgusting, just a miracle that their big heads could come out of something that was so small. The mirror was the best for me.

dstorm 4 years 29 weeks

I'm so surprised that no one found it helpful. The mirror was amazing to me! It really helped me focus the pushing and feel like I was actually making progress. Yes it was gross, but geez after 9 months of being poked and prodded and looked at and then 13 hours of labor I honestly didn't care at all. I had them take it away before they did the episiotomy. That was something I did NOT need to see.

luckyme 4 years 29 weeks

Not for me. Like Ladolcevita, they also had me touch her head, I guess for motivational reasons. I felt like I didn't need much more reason to get her out, 2 hours of strenuous labor was enough for me...I just wanted her out!

lilbrown 4 years 29 weeks

When I was in labor with my daughter, tons of nurses from all over the hospital (it seems like) came in to watch. I mean I know there should be some in the room but these were nurses that I didn't see the whole time I was in the room. So I demanded a mirror so that I could see what everyone else was looking at! Yea it was nasty but, I couldn't just let everyone else look at my sh!t and no one offered me to look.

anniekim 4 years 29 weeks

no, thanks.

anniekim 4 years 29 weeks

no, thanks.

bluebird 4 years 29 weeks

One of my friends just had a baby on Tuesday, and when they said she had to have an emergency C-section because he breeched, I looked it up on Baby Center... Let me tell you, it's not pretty. I don't have any kids yet, but bringing them into the world out of my body seems like it's going to be painful no matter how it happens.

bluebird 4 years 29 weeks

apma 4 years 29 weeks

I declined. I didn't want to try and touch her head either. And when they rushed me to have an emergency c-section, I didn't watch that either. I'm pretty squeamish and just didn't want to see it.

KadBunny 4 years 29 weeks

Oh my god. I had no idea there was even that option.. giving life is beautiful and all but honestly, blood and guts NO

KadBunny 4 years 29 weeks

Oh my god. I had no idea there was even that option..giving life is beautiful and all but honestly, blood and guts NO

aka Daria 4 years 29 weeks

i have no baby friends...and i don't plan on having ANYTIME..soon, but ewwwwww, screw that...i can handle seeing gore in horror movies...not so much when a baby friend is coming outta my bagina.

aka Daria 4 years 29 weeks

i have no baby friends...and i don't plan on having ANYTIME..soon, but ewwwwww, screw that...i can handle seeing gore in horror movies...not so much when a baby friend is coming outta my bagina.

Mel475 4 years 29 weeks

They offered me a mirror as well but I declined. Between not really wanting to see what was happening and trying to concentrate on the pushing, it didn't interest me in the least. I also touched my son's head while he was crowning - that was enough for me!