I hear you - the thought of leaving my eldest DD with friends and her coming when it was all over seemed so wrong to me. Birth IS a family affair - weather or not you include your family is your personal choice but that does not change the fact that it is a family event. I agree that especially our daughters should witness birth and what it means/is/feels like. It stands them in good stead. DD assumed she would be present - she was and still is shocked that siblings do not routinely attend births. Plus trust me it is a good teenage contraceptavie also... All my children were devastated that they were not present for Immy's birth...