A survey of 2,000 mothers has found that those in their 20s 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 aged in their 60s typically had only had their partner alongside the midwife present while they gave birth.

    For women now in their 50s this had doubled to two people, usually their partner and their own mother.

    Siobhan Freegard, founder of Channel Mum, said, "The younger generation are used to sharing every aspect of their lives, so why not birth?

    "Many women feel it is their biggest achievement and so want to share the moment with all of those closest to them.

    "The crowdbirthing phenomenon may not suit everyone but being part of the birth is an honor and privilege which unites friends and family like nothing else."

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

    Some are even hiring "birthing photographers" to capture every intimate moment.

    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 cited social pressure as a reason to have a birth without painkillers, complaining that others would regard them unfavorably if they did otherwise.

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

    Adding to the stresses of new mothers are women who write about their births on social media and talk airily of bringing new life into the world, and celebrities who make giving birth seem effortless.

    Some 15 percent of mothers said they felt under pressure from stars who have apparently sailed through labor, such as supermodel Gisele Bundchen, 35, who said her eight-hour labor "didn't hurt in the slightest" and claimed her newborn son didn't even cry.

    Words to Learn 相关词汇

    不利的一面

    bùlì de yīmiàn

    downside

    a discouraging or negative aspect

    剖腹产

    pōufùchǎn

    caesarean

    an operation by which a fetus is taken from the uterus by cutting through the walls of the abdomen and uterus

    分娩邀亲友围观渐成风气

    一项涉及2000名母亲的调查发现，十几岁、二十多岁的妈妈们平均带8个人一起进产房，这还不包括助产士或其他医护人员。

    这项由Channel Mum网站进行的调查显示，现年60多岁的女性当年生孩子的时候，通常只有助产士和伴侣在场。

    现年50多岁的女性则将这一数字增加到了两人，通常是她们的伴侣和妈妈。

    Channel Mum网站的创始人西沃恩·弗里加德说：“年轻一代习惯分享他们生活的方方面面，连生孩子也不例外。”

    “很多女性认为这是她们最大的成就，因此希望同所有亲近的人分享这一刻。”

    “分娩邀围观这件事也许并不适合每个人，但是作为见证分娩过程的一员是一种荣耀和特权，没有什么比这件事更能将朋友和家人凝聚在一起。”

    该调查还显示，婆婆现在成了仅次于产妇的丈夫和母亲的陪产第三大热门人选。二十五分之一的产妇选择邀请自己的父亲进入产房。一些妈妈甚至会雇“分娩摄影师”捕捉每个私密时刻。

    不过这项研究还显示，分娩围观也有不利的一面。

    因为害怕被人评头论足，产妇越来越不愿使用止痛药。三分之一受调查的女性称，社会压力是她们分娩不用止痛药的原因之一，她们抱怨说如果用了止痛药就会被说三道四。

    五分之一的人表示，选择剖腹产会使她们觉得自己好像“不会生孩子”似的。

    新妈妈的压力还源于那些在社交媒体上讲述自己分娩过程、炫耀自己将新生命带到这个世界的女性，以及那些似乎可以轻松分娩的明星。

    大约15%的母亲说她们因为那些明星看似轻轻松松就把孩子生了下来而感到有压力，比如35岁的超模吉赛尔·邦辰。邦辰在谈到她8个小时的分娩时表示“一点也不疼”，并声称她的儿子生出来时甚至都没哭。