[muffin]

Hi everyone!

I mostly lurk on here (as I'm waiting yet again for another chance to try for a HB) but I have a question...

How did your pets react during the birthing process? DD was born at the hospital, but when we brought her home, my dog went NUTS! She thought that DD was her puppy and that she had to take care of her constantly. She wouldn't let her out of her sight and would constantly be on high alert. (Not in a cute way either. We called the vet on several occasions because we thought that she was going to give herself a coronary) She was super-overprotective while I was pregnant as well. Even with my last pregnancy (m/c) she was hovering around me constantly. I guess I'm just worried that she's going to act a little crazy or not let anybody near me or something? Anyone experience anything similar to this?

[navywifey2003]

My dog is very hands off hide type but extremely jumpy when people first get here so when we knew I was in labor my husband put the dog outback. Other than that she wasnt an issue.

[HippyMomOf4]

I just have 2 cats and I didn't really see them at all while I was in labor, If I still had dogs I would have put them outside or in another room.

[HappyHippy]

During most of my labor my dogs were outside. We have 2 large breed dogs. When I gave birth they were inside, but in the basement. They were very quiet. They didn't really react to the new baby, maybe because we already had a child.

[MissusF]

I've been wondering about this too. We have to shut our dog in our bedroom for 3 hours while our hypnobabies instructor is here and he whines and scratches and is pretty much a giant pain. I'm hoping to leave him out in the house while I'm in labor. Hopefully once he gets used to everyone being here he'll settle down and go sleep somewhere.

[sodagirl]

My cats were super clingy during pregnancy but AWESOME during birth! I distinctly remember burying my face in my cat's fur during a particularly tough contraction when I was feeling a bit stressed. They hid once I was in transition and were very respectful of my space once baby was here. I think having her born in the house helped them understand.

[lilemma86]

AWW i love that people's animals reacted pretty well!! I have two large breed dogs (pits), a cat, and a bird that does not like me to leave the room lol. When we do get pregnant we are gonna do the birth center route because my husband is going to be a little nervous and it eases his mind to be there, but when if we are blessed again I am going to push for a home birth! I think it would be awsome!! We live on a "family compound" where my grandmother lives next door and my mother next to her! I would love to be in labor walking around the compound hopefully nice weather lol!

[NYCgirl]

My cat sat on top of the couch where she could see everything the whole time. Our dog followed the midwife everywhere as if to 'help' her. The MW had to run up and down the stairs to get the birth pool filled in time. The dog went up and down with her every time! When my daughter came out the cat saw enough and left the room but the dog followed me everywhere until both my daughter and I were in bed - then he finally relaxed.