It is a scary thing to go through on your own but at the same time it can be scary for someone who has a phobia ofr childbirth so in that instance unless you are 100% comfortable you are best to say no. Its very sad that she considers you her best friend when she has only had a workplace relationship with you.

This is a bit sad that the mum to be doesn’t have anyone else to ask.

So said that she doesn’t have anyone to ask . I will propable say yes if it will be necessary not to leave anyone alone.

It is sad that this woman doesn’t have other support and there may have been better ways that she could have gone about it. But at the end of the day if you have a major fear of this, it won’t be possible to be the supportive birth partner that she is looking for

This is so sad that the pregnant woman doesn’t have anyone to be there with her. Surely money couldn’t be that tight to get her Mum there. Maybe the other woman could help a little financially.

I’m glad I’ve never been put in a situation like this. Maybe you could have put it a different way but still declined.

You definitely need someone in there with you, and she obviously felt a bond enough to ask them to be in the birth. How sad.

Tricky situation. I think maybe saying I’ll think about it first and then nicely saying that you don’t feel comfortable with it, would have been the way to go

To be so vulnerable and have no one by her side, as much as it would make her feel uneasy, she obviously felt a way with you and whats worse is not having anyone at all.

I think it’s a little strange but also sad if she has no one else there for her.

How sad that she has no one to be there for her and by asking a new co worker took guts. The new co worker could have dealt with it a little better though.

I’m so sorry this woman has nobody. If it was me, I would have said yes. I couldn’t have her go through this on her own. I understand they’ve only known each other a short while, but it must have been a big deal to ask. I’m not okay with childbirth. I nearly passed out when I went in to visit my friend immediately after birth when I saw the blood on the floor. I had to sit on a chair and put my head between my legs. I did that and recovered. I needed to for my friend.

Aww that’s really sad that she has nobody.

Aww that’s so tricky, I bet she wasn’t expecting a reaction like that. Maybe she could of at least thought about it for a while since she knows there is no one else who can go

Ooof what a thing! The poor dear has no support and the one person she thought she could ask made out like it would be the worst thing ever. Maybe OP could have discussed it a little more sensitively, true but then also, NTA for knowing her own strengths and boundaries.

Poor lady I feel for her if she has no one to attend

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  • • mom160270 replied
    • 07 Aug 2022 , 6:41 pm

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  That’s what I was thinking.

It’s a difficult situation for both women!!

Poor Jane must be feeling incredibly lonely. I think the lady reacted poorly and perhaps she could have said while she doesn’t feel comfortable in the delivery room with her, is there another way she can support Jane during the birth?

I feel sorry for these women. ‘Jane’ will find it hard going through the birth on her own, but it is also not right to go into a birthing suite if you are liable to faint and put the ‘Jane’ at risk that way. Either way a lovely ‘friendship’ has been broken and I doubt it will be repaired.

I think she presented her reaction badly, but at heart wasn’t unreasonable. She clearly feels she doesn’t know this woman well – and birth is not a fun thing if you’re not emotionally involved – and has an actual phobia. She just should have explained that more calmly. If she thinks she’d be unhelpful then it’s more than fair to say she can’t be there.

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  • • mom468034 replied
    • 08 Aug 2022 , 9:23 am

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  yes, that’s what I was thinking too