Children are being invited to watch their mother's give birth

More mothers are inviting their children into the delivery room to witness the birth of their new brother or sister.

This is a popular thing to do in America as it is believed it prevents sibling rivalry. But mothers are also starting to do this in the UK.

OK, where do I start with this?!

Firstly, I cannot think of anything worse than for a child to witness their mother going through such an incredibly painful ordeal. Those screams of agony are surely going to echo through the heads of those children forever.

I don't think having to witness the birth of a child is too friendly for the mother's partner to endure, never mind a child.

It is something that a child can do without ever having to be a party to because, quite seriously, I do think it could scar them for life.

The only counter argument to this is that before hospital births became the norm, going back to as recently as the 1950s, it was normal for women to give birth at home and for all the other children to be in the house. Many a little child would have heard their mother's screams coming through the ceiling from her bedroom above.

Of course you could argue there is still a significant difference between this and physically being in the room and seeing the expression on their mother's face and all the blood and gore.

Then we move onto the sibling rivalry issue. How on earth does being there at the birth actually prevent sibling rivalry? If anything wouldn't it breed it. I think it would be the perfect ammunition to throw at a brother or sister. I saw you all wizened up and covered in gunk – ha ha ha.

It must also give that older sibling an even greater sense of power over the other child. They were the tough kid who got to watch it all while their brother or sister was just there all vulnerable and helpless. It hardly puts them on an equal footing if you ask me.

Finally there is the mother. I cannot think of anything worse than having yet another set of eyes on you whilst you are in such a compromising and degrading position. It is certainly not a sight you want your own child to witness otherwise how are you ever going to be able to tell them to tidy their room with any kind of authority again. The child will just be picturing you with your legs in the air.

The only plus I can see for this move is that it is potentially a wonderful sight for a child to see the birth of a baby - that moment when the baby finally emerges and takes in its first breath of air. If you exclude all that leads up to this moment, this is a special event for siblings to share.

However, as soon as I see the positive in this, I am reminded that that moment when a baby is born isn't always so wonderful. There are any number of complications through the birthing process and after a baby is born that a child should never have to witness. If a child experienced the birth of a stillborn baby they would never, ever get over it.