How about arranging for someone to stay nearby, but not be in the room with you as you labour? If your little one gets distressed, DH can simply pop her out to the babysitter quickly, without leaving you for too long; have a supply of Tim Tams on hand and some magazines for whoever is babysitting. I'm sure if you explain why you want them not to be in the room, they'd understand. I've done something similar for a friend, and I had no problem making myself scarce for the most part.

You can practice with your little one in the lead-up to labout to prepare them for the sights and sounds of the birth. Get down on all fours with them, and a little dolly - practice rocking, moaning, and yelling, and then you can give birth to your dolly. When it's all done in fun, it will be much less confronting when it is happening for real.