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I had it part way and then told them to get rid of it because it was distracting. I pushed for two hours, it didn't help.

I had one for a little bit and it was great to see LOs head (and hair!), but I agree that it was distracting and I really needed to focus on pushing .

Oh hellz no!!!! My eyes were clamped tight and I was in the zone.

I was open to it ahead of time, but the pushing took so long and my epidural failed and basically I was a disaster at the end. I was so out of it that I'm not sure I would have realized it was even me that I was seeing!

I didn't think I'd want one but the midwife brought it out and it was amazing! I loved it. I only pushed 20 mins and seeing helped so much. Also I was so focused on her head crow if I didn't even see the icky bits, lol

Yep. When I was pushing (after a long, awful labor), I got into this very POWERFUL FIERCE WOMAN place, and felt just really beautiful and strong and like I was manifesting the miracle of life. At some point they wheeled the mirror in, and I said no, thank you, just wheel that right back out - let's don't spoil this nice feeling with reality. But I'll ask for it again this time.

This would've been me with a mirror:

@lawbee11: hahaha yes! My dr said "are you sure?!" I was like YES I'M SURE AHHH

I never got to that point, but I would have declined!

(It was on a wooden stand and they had it turned toward the wall. When we got settled in, he asked me why there was a "podium" in the room. Ha!)

Hell to the no

My DD1 was posterior/ brow presentation (though they didn't know it at the time) and I had trouble pushing her out, so they kept asking me if I wanted the mirror and I kept saying NO NO NO! But they brought it over anyway, and it lasted about 2 minutes.

I found it very distracting and discouraging because as soon as the contraction was over, I would see her head suck back up the birth canal and it was like I kept taking 1 step forward, 2 steps back. Every time I saw the top of her head, it disappeared again.

Yes, it actually really helped motivate me. With each push, I could see her come forward and stay, so I was able to keep going strong.

Yes. I declined it at first, but after pushing for 45 min with an oxygen mask on due to decals, I said yes. I found that it helped motivate me and helped me make the most of every push. I used it for the last 20 min or so, but don't remember seeing her actually be born... I think a nurse stepped in the way.

Noooope. No one was down there but the doctor, the nurse, and maybe the doula. I did agree to feel the baby's head when it was right there, which was kind of cool. Slimy, but cool.

I initially declined then asked for it to try to get more motivation when everyone was talking about being able to see his hair. Nurses were in front of it when he actually came out (not that I would have been able to pay much attention to looking anyway).

@lawbee11: Wow, I saw that a photo had been added to this post and was very very afraid to click!

Hellllll no!!! That would scar me for life!!!!!!

This never occurred to me for LO1, but I only pushed about 5 times so there really wouldn't have been time. Plus I would have been grossed out with #1. I actually even honestly thought the idea of my husband seeing everything would be horrifying. Little did I know that he would be one of my official leg-holders for checks and he SAW IT ALL. And I didn't give a damn!

But for the second this only just occurred to me. I mean, my husband's seen it. I'd kind of like to know what he's seen.

I'd like the option, but I don't think I'll know until I'm in the moment whether it would be a motivator or unapealing.

Before actually being in labor, I didn't think I wanted it for the same reason as everyone else - I thought it would be pretty horrifying to see what was going on down there. But my OB brought one out when I started pushing without asking, and I thought it was really cool to see everything and motivating. It's far enough away that you can't see things like tears. *But* I pushed only for 45 minutes and tend to be very not squeamish normally, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.