When/how do you plan to let people know you're in labor?

INmommy871278 · June 2012

Sorry if this is a repeat...I have been online doing all kinds of research and reading different articles the last couple of days and can't remember where I read what. Just curious as to when you plan to announce that you are in labor or if you are planning to wait until LO gets here to let everyone know s/he has arrived.

I have been taking this into consideration lately mainly because my family lives almost two hours away and SIL lives over 8 hours away. Also, I don't want DH or myself to have to be concerned with keeping everyone updated during the labor and delivery. So, after much reading and mental debating I think the best thing to do is choose one person on my side of the family and one on DH's side to relay any important information to and for them to pass it along to family members. I have one close friend that I will keep posted on the events, but other than that I don't want to have 50 thousand people texting and calling during L&D.

What are you plans on keeping people posted?

wallacewife06 · June 2012

I will let my husband know, but that's about it. Unless I want someone in particular I plan on calling people after the baby is born.

terri_doula2010 · June 2012

As soon as I know for sure, I'll be calling at least one of my 3 closest friends, as one of the will be coming to stay with DS while we are at the hospital. I'll also be calling my doula at that point. All 4 of these ladies live about 1.5 hours away, so calling early will be important.

Other than that, we'll tell my mom, MiL/FiL, SiL, and one or two more friends. I *hope* not to tell anyone else that I'm in labor because I don't want constant requests for updates or people worrying about me. All of these people except for SiL live out of state, so they won't be able to come to the hospital or anything anyway. (and SiL won't alter her plans for us)

As I said in a previous thread, with DS I somehow felt the need in my happy-dazed-gonna-meet-my-son-today to post on FB that I was in labor, but I also knew at that point that I was heading for a c-section, so I didn't feel like time was an issue. I didn't even remember that post until about a week after birth when I found it. I hope I don't do that again.

mrs.kapow · June 2012

Last time, I had my mom in the room with me and she kept my sister updated. My sister then updated my close friends and family via text as to the progress.

hunter91011 · June 2012

I really have gone back and forth. I think it depends in the time of day. If I go into labor in the night I won't call anyone, but if it is during the day we will probably let immediate family know...

JessAndTrav · June 2012

I think that once we get admitted to the hospital, or possibly when we're en route to the hospital, we're going to let our parents know if it's the middle of the night or something, because they keep saying, "It doesn't matter what time it is, just keep us informed" ---I wouldn't follow that if we weren't close to our parents, but we are, so I will. I will also let my sister know, because I really want her there with me.

If it happens during the night, then we won't bother our other siblings and grandparents until it's morning and an appropriate time.

We've also talked about letting 3 of our best friends know, and that'll also probably happen once it's an appropriate time of day.

That's the end of the line of people that we want to know while I'm in L&D. That's also about as far as we've gotten in talking about how we want things to go that day.

TaylorP5 · June 2012

We will probably tell our parents and sisters/brothers. That's it. Afterwards then we will tell our friends.

Knowing my fiance he will call his parents on the way there! Tongue Tied

Megroons · June 2012

TaylorP5:

We will probably tell our parents and sisters/brothers. That's it. Afterwards then we will tell our friends.

Knowing my fiance he will call his parents on the way there!

Just curious....why wouldn't he call his parents if you were calling yours ?

sandylou · June 2012

I will call my parents so they can get DS. Then my friend who is acting as doula and photographer. We will probably text the inlays at some point but they won't come until after baby is born.

Manx4 · June 2012

I was induced so family & friends were aware when I was going to the hospital. We didn't tell anyone he was here though until after we had been moved to the mommy & baby room. (MH's parents & my mom were already there)

Just because people call/text - doesn't mean you have to answer them. Turn your phone off if you want, or to silent. People better get use to having their phone calls/texts left unanswered because I was so flustered/overwhelmed those first few days/weeks after I had DS that returning messages was the LAST thing on my mind.

brideandbreve · June 2012

My mom is an hour away, so when things start to happen, she'll be the first person I call because we want her there when I'm in L&D.

Once we're at the hospital and we're getting put in a room, we'll let DH's parents, his sister and her husband, and 4 close friends know. Then that's about it. No updates on FB.

Once the baby's here and we're in the recovery room, I'm cleaned up, and DH and I have had some time to ourselves with him, and our parents have met him, then we'll make the big announcement to everyone else.

superned · June 2012

Last time I called my mom as soon as I realized I could be in labor. She works about 10 minutes away from the hospital and was there just minutes after we arrived (with my dad - she had also called/emailed everyone else by then, I'm sure). DH called his parents once we were admitted. Everyone was relegated to the waiting room and they knew to stay there and not to invite anyone else.

This time I will have to call my mom and/or sister to arrange for care for DD.

I know a lot of people don't plan to call until after baby is born, but here's my cautionary tale on that:

I had a complication-free labor and delivery, up until DD was actually born and it was clear she had aspirated meconium and was having troubling breathing. I was only able to hold her for a minute and then she had to go to the NICU for supplemental oxygen and x-rays of her lungs. DH went with her, leaving me all alone to get stitched up and try to process everything that was happening. I am so, so thankful that my mom was right there in the waiting room and I was able to send the nurse out to get her.

For this reason, I'll likely be asking my sister to care for DD this time so that my mom can be in the waiting room again, just in case.

hmp1 · June 2012

With DS. We called our parents around 7:30am to let them know I was admitted (we arrived at 5am but didn't feel the need to wake people up). I called my boss to let her know I was not coming in and was starting my maternity leave. I texted a couple of my best friends.

We had already arranged for our parents to send out family emails letting everyone know. DH had both our phones and read me the funny/cute texts and emails that came in throughout the day. He was in charge of responding to everyone and keeping them updated. He emailed both our parents at the same time when "it was time" and let them know he would respond back when possible. About an hour after DS was born, he emailed a picture of him with his stats to our parents. He texted a few friends later that night letting them know. He also called or texted the people we were allowing to visit the following day to set up their time to come.

The only difference this time is that my parents will hopefully be at our house already and we won't have hospital visitors with the exception of my parents and DS.

I wasn't on FB last time so I'm not sure when I will post that update. Probably a picture and stats the following the day when DS visits.

cmiller0623 · June 2012

my sister lives out of state but is going to try and be here for delivery depending on when DD decides to make her apperance so if shes here definitely her but other than that DF i plan to go to the hospital alone and then inform the grandparents and they can delegate from there (DF has a huge family)

i plan on letting his cousin and my BFF know cause if my sister isnt there one of them might be in the room i told DF idk how i'll feel at that point but i want the option and they both know the story and agreed to be in the room if i asked but respect it if i change my mind.

SoEnamored · June 2012

Ugh, I just don't know. I don't think I want anyone at the hospital until an hour after baby's arrived but I do wonder if I'll regret that, feeling like we've missed out on something. Maybe it would be nice, before pushing, to share the excitement and the experience of labor and have additional support. Then, we could kick people out when the pushing begins. I feel badly because I know my mom wants to be as involved as possible.

I think we'll tell immediate family when I'm admitted and ask that they stay home until further notice. I know my mom is going to want to wait in the waiting room. Maybe I won't care when it comes time but I don't want the pressure of feeling like she's waiting on me and I don't want to feel bad that my mom's 50 feet away but I'm purposely keeping her out.

I should probably stop worrying about other people but that's how I roll.

BakerMommy · June 2012

We'll be operating on a need-to-know basis. MiL will probably take care of DD, and my sister will be relaying info to both sides of the family (she's awesome at running interference), so we'll call them. Other than my doula, that's it.

TaylorP5 · June 2012

I won't be calling my parents until we are actually there and sure I am in labor. I don't want his mom in the room with me when I have the baby so that's why I am dreading it. I know she will end up in there. I wanted it to be just us. I want to call them when we are settled in and all that junk!

bosha711 · June 2012

Our families are within an hour of us. With DS, I called my mom & sisters on our way to the hospital. MH called his parents once I was actually admitted. The gang was all there within a few hours. They took turns coming in to visit with me since we were only allowed 2 visitors at a time besides MH.

We texted friends after DS was born. I also texted my boss saying I wouldn't be able to come to work the next day, lol.

With DD it will be a little different b/c someone will have to watch DS, so we'll have to call our families before leaving for the hospital.

TaylorP5 · June 2012

Afunky6:
As soon as we are check-in to the hospital for delivery, I will call my mom and dad (they live far away and either will be here around that time or will be leaving as soon as they get the call) and let them know. My DH can call his parents if he wants, but we will probably wait for labor to progress before telling them only because I really dont want everyone and their cousin at the hospital (DH has a big family and so I dont know what my MIL will do as far as calling people to tell them). I only want my family and my DH's immediate family there, and I guess I am really afraid that everyone else will show up while I'm trying to bond and/or nurse.

Same here to all this. I just want my space when I am trying to adjust.

JaZavitz · June 2012

I will let my parents and DH parents know... as one of them will be looking after DS while we are in the hospital. Other than that ppl could just hear from one of them!

Flamingemu · June 2012

mnkate:
Just DH and our Doula will know. Everyone else (including Grandparents/Family) will find out after LO arrives.

Minus the Doula, this is me. Only DH will know and everyone else will find out after baby is here.

OSUWifey09 · June 2012

Besides H [if he's back], my sister and mom will be the only ones to know. I'll call both of them when I think labor's starting because they're relatively close [sister's less than an hour away; mom's 2 hours away], and one of them will watch DS #1 during labor/delivery. I also want both of them there anyway. My mom will let my dad know since he won't be in country for the birth.

The only other person I miiiiiiight contact is my best friend. Other than that, no one else will know until after baby's born - no Tweets, FB posts, nothin'.

EDIT: if something happens in the middle of the night or I have some sort of emergency, I have two friends in town who are available and can take DS #1 at a moment's notice. I have no plans to contact them unless I have to though.

GeorgiaYankee · June 2012

I haven't even thought about this. I was induced with DD1 and the only person I called was my mom (and obviously DH). I assume DH called his parents and my mom told the rest of my family, because everyone certainly knew but I never thought about who was calling whom and when. Our families live several states away so rushing to the hospital isn't an option. I don't have to worry about unwanted visitors. I'll probably just call/text people as I feel like it during labor. If I want the distraction, I'll call everyone. If I don't want to talk to anyone, I won't.

cmarie520 · June 2012

The majority of by DH and I's family live town, so travel time isn't a factor for us. That being said, I'm fairly certain that I don't want anyone other than DH in the room with me while I'm laboring or giving birth. I absolutely know for a fact that after my son is born I want some time to bond just the three of us and try breastfeeding. Right now, my plan is to not call anyone until after he's born and then have everyone come down and meet him, however it depends how long my labor is. If it is not progressing very quickly then we may call people just to give them an update, but I know it will be hard for me to have that bonding time alone just the three of us, if I know my whole family is just out the door waiting to meet him.

For what its worth, my family has a history of very short labors, with most of the women in my family having total labor times under 4 hours. My mother had a 2.5 hour labor with me and a 1.5 hour with my younger brother. I'd like to sign up for one of those please

mrsbhk22 · June 2012

No one but DH and Doula until DD arrives. My first labor was long and people would have been freaking waiting on news. I sat in a waiting room forever when my sister was in labor and won't be doing that to anyone else.

ELCJet · June 2012

My husband got so excited that he posted on his FB status that I was in labor a few hours after we'd called our parents. It took him a while to recover from the birth, but he announced DS's arrival on FB a few hours after he was born. I had no idea what he was doing.

Since then, I've had two friends with catastrophic outcomes and we will be absolutely silent until we are sure we have a healthy baby in our arms. I hate being so jaded....ignorance was bliss.

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