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Would you want 8 people to watch you give birth? The average woman does
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A new survey has found that women allow on average 8 others to watch them give childbirth. Is this for real? - photo by Herb Scribner
Childbirth is slowly becoming an experience shared between mothers, fathers, in-laws and anyone whos got a smartphone.

Recent research from blogging website Channel Mom has found that expectant teen and millennial mothers have an average of eight people in the delivery room with them when they give birth, The Independent reported. Though the research came from a survey in the United Kingdom, it seems this is also a trend in the United States.

Many women feel it is their biggest achievement and so want to share the moment with all of those closest to them, Siobhan Freegard, founder of Channel Mum, told The Independent. The crowdbirthing phenomenon may not suit everyone but being part of the birth is an honour and privilege which unites friends and family like nothing else.

In fact, crowdbirthing has been on the rise in the last few decades, according to The Independent. Women who are now in their 60s mostly had two people in their delivery room often the father and a midwife, The Independent reported. Fast forward 10 years when women started including their partner and their own mother.

Now, mother-in-laws and fathers are included in the delivery room, too, The Independent reported.

Modern mothers are also sharing their birthing experiences online, which could potentially reach millions of people, The Independent reported.

The younger generation are used to sharing every aspect of their lives, so why not birth? Freegard said, according to The Telegraph.

But its important to remember there are certain dangers associated with letting people into the hospital room.

The survey found that some women would refuse pain relief for the fear of being judged, The Telegraph reported. More so, one in five women said that having a C-section during crowdbirthing would make them feel like they failed at childbirth, according to The Telegraph.

And that phrase of having too many cooks in the kitchen holds up, too. Today.com reported in 2013 that some hospitals limit the amount of people who can be in the hospital during childbirth because it can present additional stresses to mothers while in labor, which could affect the childbirth process.

For example, The Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., only permits two extra people besides the mother during delivery, according to Today.com.

And its not just birthing mothers who could be affected by child birthing circumstances. Ami Turnham, a licensed midwife, told Today.com that shes seen young sisters and relatives cry and stress out while watching their relative give birth.

But if things get too stressful mothers still hold the power to change their minds, Today.com reported.

Ive seen lots of situations where laboring moms change their minds about the team theyve created and need to ask people to step out, Megan Davidson, a labor and postpartum doula told Today.com.
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