Then opinions changed and the father was expected to be there to share in all the pain and joy.

 

But now it seems that so many people are crowding into the delivery suite¹ you could almost sell tickets.

 

A survey of 2,000 mothers has found that those in their twenties or teens are taking an average of eight people into the birthing room with them - and that doesn't include the midwife or other medical staff.

 

The survey, conducted by the website Channel Mum, said that women now aged² in their sixties typically had only had their partner alongside³ the midwife present while they gave birth.

 

For women now in their fifties this had doubled to two people, usually their partner and their own mother.

 

Mothers-in-law are now the most popular birthing supporter after the mum's partner and mother, the survey suggests. One in 25 even chose their own father to be present in the delivery room.

 

But the research also shows there is a downside to giving birth in front of an audience.

 

Mothers are increasingly refusing to take pain relief because they fear they will be judged. One third of the women surveyed cited⁴ social pressure as a reason to have a birth without painkillers⁵, complaining that others would regard them unfavourably if they did otherwise.

 

One in five said they felt that opting⁶ for a caesarean section would make them feel as though they had 'failed at giving birth'.

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