I was with my daughter for her first baby. It was such a priviledge and as my daughter didn't have a partner, I felt I could be useful and supportive.
The midwife seemed to think my daughter was making a fuss, and made a sarcastic comment saying "That's why it's called labour ... because it's hard work!"
When she left the room, I had a chat with my girl. She has never been someone who makes a fuss (she is not a shouter and screamer like those on TV), so if she said she was in a lot of pain, I believed her. I pressed the button for the midwife who then actually paid some attention, and realised my daughter had very quickly reached the stage of pushing.
As it was my daughter's first baby, she didn't know what to expect, and judging by the midwife's attitude I think she would probably have ended up giving birth alone if I hadn't been there to insist on help.
It was absolutely wonderful to hold my first grandchild minues after birth while the midwife attended to my daughter, and we have a tremendous bond because of that.
When I left my daughter so that she could sleep, I sat in the car park and sobbed with joy.