this is a strange Q!

[alicesmum]

hi all
don't know if anyone will have much in the way of experience or opinions about this, but i was wondering whether it will ever be appropriate to show your child photos from their birth???????

having only one 10 month old, i haven't much idea about older children and adolescents. And i wonder if the fabulous pics that the midwife insisted be taken during birth and which i really didn't want at the time but was eternally grateful for afterwards (!!) are EVER viewing material for your offspring!!?? Thinking about it for myself, i think I would have only wanted to see such a thing when I was pregnant myself and "in the zone" of the whole birth and baby thing, however I grew up in a more conservative family and thankfully, we seem to be becoming more open and comfortable with natural processes these days.

My cousin who had a C/S said she will be more than happy to show her twins the pictures once they are old enough to be interested, but i reckon there's something more intimate about photos of a VB???

what do ppl think?

thanks...rachel

[drewid]

I think this is a very interesting question!!

I think when your child is old enough to be seriously interested in a graphical portrayal of childbirth will probably be when they reach child-rearing ages themselves. And even then, i can't imagine boys being interested in seeing their mummys bits in that situation! I suppose for girls it would be different, if they were interested in the whole childbirth thing. Especially given that most pregnant women read up a lot and see lots of graphic pictures and videos in the lead up to birth anyhow.

I guess I would just be worried about showing those pictures when the kids aren't as ready for it as they think they are - you wouldn't want them to get scared off the prospect of childbirth, or to get a bit phobic about things like that.

I do agree with you, the C/S pics wouldn't be as confronting as the VB!!

Will be interested to see other peopls opinions on this topic!!! :)

Nic

[mumofethan]

i would be hesitant about showing that one to kids... it could be a little traumatic, but u will be the best judge on when/if your kids are ready...

:D

Michelle

[AM]

I think it is totally apropriate.
I would just treat the photo's as any other.
It is only going to be an issue if you (generic you) make it into one.
I would use it as a teaching oppurtunity about female anatomy if the subject came up, I don't think it is a big deal at all.
Kids will inherit our hangups about nudity/ taboo's if we pass them on, and if we don't they will treat genetalia as just another part of the functioning body, not something which needs to be hidden away.

Angie

[willsmum]

I had 2 cs so my pics are more surgical with a bit of blood & guts but none of my girly bits on show.

Why don't you give your kids the option when they are older. Let them know the pics exist and what they show and if they choose to see them, then go for it. Or just show them some of the less explicit ones.

[alicesmum]

thanks for your reponses so far ladies. maybe it all depends on the child. some may be more open to this kind of thing by their very nature and of course, there would probably be big difference btw girls and boys. I should have said i was asking with reference to daughters mainly.
cheers
rachel :)

[madvoice]

I never had any in depth photos taken at Raleigh's birth. I was under a general for the c-section so maybe that's a good thing. I've got a few photos of her directly after her birth with Raleigh covered in vernix and such and I'll show them to her but in my opinion, I would show them to my children if they wanted to see them.

Several years ago with my ex husband, we were at a Father's day luncheon and then hubby's stepsister decided to hand around c-section photos for everyone to see. I found that a little inappropriate at the lunch table. I guess some cope with it better than others.

[Kat]

I just wanted to add my 2 cents worth to the comments on photos / appropriateness.

I haven't exactly decided when / how to show my DD the graphic photos of her CS birth, but I have to say that I feel very strongly that photographs of a vaginal birth are going to be far less confronting to a child than surgical photos! Thats my opinion anyway. Obviously I don't have vaginal birth photos of myself to compare to - I have seen pictures of a pretty serious episiotomy and it was pretty gruesome - so perhaps it depends on the level of surgical intervention!

My DD is quite perceptive and I think if I'd had a vaginal birth I would already be showing her photos and saying 'that was you being born' - come to think of it I think she has glanced at her cs photos - but I still have problems with how to tell her how she got out! I find the whole - you were cut out of me to be really rather gross. But I digress.

Also what I am doing is an album for her to keep - it has pregnancy records, her birth story, the cs photos plus comments from me on what is in the photos, and all manner of things like that in it. The personal stuff I am keeping separated from the general album by putting one page protector over 2 pages - keeping it for when she is older and wants to know. I have also found that if the photos are in the album MANY people who I think ordinarily wouldn't want to look at the cs photos will look - I always warn people first and I've found only one or two people have opted to skip that page, nearly everyone wants a peek! I wonder if they'd feel the same if I said "this page is of my baby crowning" :eek:

Does anyone else worry that if they show their birth photos to their girls when they are curious teens that you'll totally freak them out? The little voice in the back of my head says "great way to put them off experimenting with sex" !!! :D

Kat

[Ana Gram]

I think if you make a big deal out of it, it will become a big deal to your child now and in the future. If your child asks about it, then I would think that would be the time to be straight forward and frank about how they were born and show pitures if they are interested. And as someone else said, it may become a useful tool during the teenage years.