Parenting

14 Moms Reveal Their Biggest Delivery Room Regrets

ParentingPublished Nov 3, 2016
By Liz Alterman
mom midwife baby delivery room

When folks are expecting a baby -- especially their first -- they are hoping for the best experience ever, but they never know what might happen in those life-changing moments. Even with a plan in place, depending on the circumstances, things can go very differently, leaving a new mom with a touch of remorse. We asked moms in our CafeMom community to share some of the delivery room regrets that bother them no matter how much time has passed since they welcomed their new babies. 

More from CafeMom: 13 Labor & Delivery 'Surprises' We're Kinda Glad No One Told Us About

Trying to decide between a home birth and giving birth in a hospital? There are pros and cons to both options, but the most significant is realizing that with a hospital birth, one is dealing with a busy staff and other patients. There are lots of rules and regulations in hospitals as well which inhibit a more personalized birth plan as well. This isn't to say that one type of birth is better than the other, but it's important for women to understand both sides of the equation before they make a final choice. Which is why we spoke to real women who have given birth in hospitals to ask them what their biggest delivery room regrets were. Take a look at their answers, which can help make this difficult decision a little easier -- and see if their advice is helpful!

Image ©iStock.com/Soren_Jessen

1/14
Being at the Hospital -- Instead of Home-placeholder
Being at the Hospital -- Instead of Home
The Light Photography/Shutterstock

Being at the Hospital -- Instead of Home

"With my hospital births, [my regret] was delivering in a hospital. I don't regret anything with my home births."

2/14
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Crowds
Tyler Olson/Shutterstock

Crowds

"That I allowed no less than 12 people to be in the delivery room with my first child. It was a total circus sh*t-show."

More from CafeMom: 12 Dads Confess How They Really Felt in the Delivery Room

3/14
Getting an Epidural-placeholder
Getting an Epidural
Firma V/Shutterstock

Getting an Epidural

"Getting the epidural. I wish I'd have been strong enough to not be talked into it and tried for a natural birth."

4/14
Being Unprepared-placeholder
Being Unprepared

Being Unprepared

"With my first, I didn't prepare well. I should have gone to a birthing class or something. I just didn't want to.

With my second, I don't really regret anything. I was well prepared and felt in charge the whole time. I ended up choosing most of the same stuff as my first, but it was my choice this time."

5/14
Entertaining in the Recovery Room-placeholder
Entertaining in the Recovery Room
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Entertaining in the Recovery Room

"Not making my fatigue clear to my guests immediately after delivery. I forced myself to stay awake and play hostess in my recovery room when I should have been resting."

6/14
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Filming in the Delivery Room -- Without Approval
Ivonne Wierink/Shutterstock

Filming in the Delivery Room -- Without Approval

"Letting my mom and his mom remain in the delivery room. My mom drove me crazy; his mom videotaped the birth without my knowledge."

More from CafeMom: 14 Stages Men Go Through While Their Wives Give Birth

7/14
Not Getting That First Photo-placeholder
Not Getting That First Photo
Halfpoint/Shutterstock

Not Getting That First Photo

"I didn't get that traditional mom-dad-baby picture after she was born."

8/14
Having a C-Section-placeholder
Having a C-Section
Martin Valigursky/Shutterstock

Having a C-Section

"This! And because of this I have never and will never have a vaginal birth ... three unnecessary C-sections."

More from CafeMom: 10 Celebrity Moms Who Had C-Sections

9/14
Not Catching Some Shut-Eye-placeholder
Not Catching Some Shut-Eye
RobHainer/Shutterstock

Not Catching Some Shut-Eye

"That I didn't sleep when I had the chance."

10/14
Vomiting-placeholder
Vomiting
pathdoc/Shutterstock

Vomiting

"Vomiting on the guy delievering the drugs during my C-section -- and on my husband."

11/14
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Not Standing Up for Myself
ollyy/Shutterstock

Not Standing Up for Myself

"I regret not standing up for myself. The on-call doctor just wanted my baby out as fast as possible and kept telling me to push for 10 seconds straight and kept telling me to push harder. It was my third natural birth and I thought I was going to die of pain. All my other births by my regular OB were amazing and hardly painful. She let me push when and how I wanted."

12/14
Not Having a Doula-placeholder
Not Having a Doula
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Not Having a Doula

"That I did not go with my intuition and have a doula. My husband was useless as a coach and I was scared. There wasn't anyone who really helped me, explained what was going on, etc. At least a doula would let me know everything was on track, help me switch positions, get me off my back and in a better position to deliver, those kinds of things."

13/14
Not Breastfeeding Immediately-placeholder
Not Breastfeeding Immediately
Dmitry Lobanov/Shutterstock

Not Breastfeeding Immediately

"Not trying to breastfeed my son immediately after he was born. They let me hold him for a few minutes and then took him away to get a bath and go into the nursery."

More from CafeMom: 13 Genius Breastfeeding Hacks to Make Life as a Nursing Mom So Much Easier

14/14
Getting an Episiotomy-placeholder
Getting an Episiotomy
riopatuca/Shutterstock

Getting an Episiotomy

"That I let my doctor cut me down there to make room for the baby's head, when in reality he could have used two fingers, pushed down, and made more room. I delivered three other babies and one was 9 pounds, 10 ounces, and I did not need to be cut."

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