I had a room full of people literally, people who I invited because I wanted them to be there is such a sacred moment of birth.
No, even for a medfetter like me, it was not weird having them there (or I would have asked them to leave). It was an amazing supportive environment. But honestly when you’re giving birth you sort of go inside yourself in a way I can’t describe but basically if you’re unmedicated, you’re not focused on anyone or anything else except laboring and moving in whichever ways feel best.
It’s a very intense (and the most amazing) experience to give birth and a woman’s instincts and responses to certain things take over so that you’re too busy to worry about (or get excited about) being naked or what clothes you have on. Lots of women get very HOT as labor goes on and they can’t stand the feeling of clothes on their skin. Most women get progressively more and more naked as labor progresses.
I sat in a birthing stool to give birth (a much better alternative to laying on your back in bed) so I wasn’t in lithotomy position but I wouldn’t have cared. No one could really see the baby crown or see her at all until her whole body can’t out in one push because my pelvis and vagina were positionally oriented downward to the floor instead of up towards the ceiling in spread eagle like most women.
However, I did get a little bit of a tear in my perineum, which is pretty normal and no big deal but I had to get stitches and I went to the table completely naked right after the baby and placenta came out and got stitches right then and there in a room full of people and I was aware that I was naked in a room for of people getting my perineum stitched up but they were all focused on the baby, plus the rush of hormones that you get after giving birth is a high like none I’ve ever experienced. Complete bliss. So happy. I even just took a shower and didnt close the door or curtain because the nurse was concerned I could fall for some reason and I happily showered with her right there. I renember thinking to myself that I was literally naked taking a shower in front of two people, but not excited or embarrassed about it. Just free and happy. And so I didn’t care. I was so glad all my peeps were there for the birth because it was the greatest moment of my life.
Also, since that experience I have learned to appreciate my body much more than before and I don’t feel modest about showing my friends + family any of the 200+ pictures from my birth or the video of when the baby actually came out. It’s completely natural and beautiful. In a sense it’s liberating too.
At my next birth, I plan on having as many people or more present - not for any sexual purpose, but to experience the joy and general miraculous nature of birth and welcome your child earth side.
Obv I am a big birth nerd, for non medfet reasons. I want to give birth at least 2 or 3 more times.