The ability to create and follow a single household in The Sims 4 through numerous generations has always been a highlight of the game. The Get to Work expansion pack is the only official pack that allows players to accompany their sims to a hospital to give birth. However, players can now use a realistic birth mod for The Sims 4, to make these moments even more memorable.
The Get to Work pack introduced a large birth machine, that many players often find overly cartoony. While the cartoony nature of the device is a great addition for some players, others often want a more realistic birthing experience. PC players can now simulate realistic birth in The Sims 4 with the mod created by PandaSama.
How to Install the Realistic Childbirth Mod
Before players attempt to add the realistic childbirth mod to their games, they will first need to make sure they have the Get to Work expansion pack installed. The mod will not work without this expansion pack.
To install the Realistic Birth Mod for The Sims 4:
- Install the Get to Work expansion pack
- Make sure the game is up to date
- Download the most recent version of the mod from PandaSama’s Patreon
- Unzip the file and place the two files into the mod folder (Default path: Documents>Electronic Arts>The Sims 4>Mods)
It’s important to note that players should not place mod files more than two folders deep inside their mod folder, or the mod may not work properly.
Preparing for Labor With the Mod
Once players have a pregnant sim, they will need to complete several steps to ensure that the sim utilizes the mod assets. Players will first have to use their sims phone to call an Obstetrician. This will bring up a menu that shows the various types of birthing options available.
Selecting the “Natural Birth” option will give players the option to experience a low-tech birth. This method does have unpredictable elements to simulate the real natural birth process. Sims that select this option can travel to the hospital once they are in the early stage of labor. Once a baby is born they will immediately be handed to the birthing sim for skin-to-skin contact.
Selecting the “Caesarean Section” method will work similarly to real C-sections. The doctor sims will create an incision on the sims abdomen and remove the baby. The baby will be handed to the sim after the birth the same as the “Natural Birth” option.
Selecting the “Surgery Machine” option will let players skip all of the additional options the mod adds and use the surgery machine available in the Get to Work expansion pack.
Players can switch these options anytime before the sim begins the labor process, by calling the Obstetrician again.
How to Get Other Sims to Attend the Birth
Another great addition to The Sims 4 that the realistic birth mod adds is players can now have other sims accompany their sim to the hospital. After players have selected a birthing method, they can invite a sim they have a close relationship with to accompany them to the hospital. This sim will arrive at the hospital and remain there during the labor process.
If the sim is currently on the same lot as the player’s sim, they can click on that sim and select the “Ask to accompany childbirth” option. If the sim is not on the same lot players can still invite them over using the phone.
How to Induce a Sim’s Labor With the Realistic Birth Mod
There are a couple of ways to induce labor. Sims can now “Sway Together” with their partner or use the yoga ball to have the attending sim give a back massage. Taking a bath or shower can also now help sims induce labor as well as speed up their dilation. One of the most recent mod updates added the “Do Breathing Exercises” option as well.
The mod gives players the option to use a birthing ball or take a walk to help with the early stages of labor. To access the birthing ball players will need to use cheats once they arrive at the hospital lot. PC players will need to turn on cheats in their game by pressing “Ctrl + Shift + C” (Windows) or “Shift + Command” (Mac). This will cause the cheat dialogue box to appear at the top of the screen.
Players will then need to make sure cheats are enabled by typing intestingcheats on and pressing enter. Once cheats are enabled players will then need to type in bb.enablefreebuild and add the yoga ball to the lot. The yoga ball is custom content created for The Sims 4 that is included with the realistic birth mod.
Have Sims Give Birth Using the Realistic Childbirth Mod
Once a sim reaches 6cm dilation their water may break and the option to ask their doctor for an epidural will appear. The epidural is not required to continue this process, but it can help them with pain relief. There is a chance the epidural will not work 100% of the time players use it, to further simulate a realistic birth. Players can select the exam bed and ask to have this process redone, however it still may not work.
At 10cm dilation, the sim will be ready to give birth. Players will need to click on the doctor and select give birth. If the sim is accompanied by another sim they will both walk over to the surgery table. Sims may float above the machine temporarily, however, this is not an issue and the surgery machine will transform into a labor bed. Once both the doctor and accompanying sim are at the bed, they will begin encouraging the sim in labor.
Players can then click on the surgery table after the epidural is working, to begin the process. Once the baby is born players will be prompted to name them the same way they do with non-mod births. Sims can then return to their home lot and watch the new family additions grow.
