Calling/texting family when you go into labor?

Latina211508 · January 2016

I'm pregnant with my fourth baby and I was thinking that I might not want to let anyone know I'm in labor when it starts. I'm all about excitement but this is our last baby and I really don't want all those calls/texts asking "Is baby here yet?" or "how far dilated are you?" etc. So are you ladies letting family know once you're in labor, at the hospital, or until baby arrives? Obviously whoever watches our three kids will know.

satuttle1014 · January 2016

You may want to tell certain people you are heading to the hospital, I may let a couple of friends know and close family in the area. I will wait to tell more once the baby is actually here. I'm a FTM so it will be awhile if I said when I was heading to the hospital so I don't want to get asked, she here yet? A bunch of times.

thisusername · January 2016

This is my first but I'm only telling 1 friend, simply because she's in charge of feeding the animals. All my family is 3,000 miles away and I don't even want to fathom how annoying they will be about it. Rather just let them know after.

VitaLuna · January 2016

I'll let everyone know after she's here, except my parents, who will watch DD. I don't want anyone texting and asking how it's going.

Latina211508 · January 2016

@thisusername exactly, I will be only letting know my aunt or sister in law who will be watching my kids. But honestly this is pertaining more towards my MIL. She doesn't understand privacy and can get annoying by blowing up my husbands phone. My husband doesn't really agree on waiting to tell family..

SarahChristine12 · January 2016

This is #4 for us too, and with the first 3 my mom was the only one we called as she was watching our other kids. This time will be the same.

egraves4 · January 2016

I'm a FTM and don't really even want my family to know... But I'm sure they will find out. Hoping I go into labor at a really inconvenient time like on a work day lol.

pbtoast · January 2016

I'll tell my parents right away because they'll be helping with our pets and because I'll want them at or nearby the hospital for backup if needed (I have a feeling I'm going to want my mom, at least intermittently, when I'm in labor). We will likely call my SO's parents, too, but they're out of state and not planning on coming in for the birth, so they're safe.

We likely won't tell anyone else until after the baby is born.

thisusername · January 2016

Latina211508 said:
@thisusername exactly, I will be only letting know my aunt or sister in law who will be watching my kids. But honestly this is pertaining more towards my MIL. She doesn't understand privacy and can get annoying by blowing up my husbands phone. My husband doesn't really agree on waiting to tell family..

I know my husband won't agree either but when I'm screaming in pain I will shatter his damn phone if he disobeys.

he and his mom are super close but she hovers. She's across the country and I still feel her hovering.. Love her, but that's not a time to be so clingy. Plus I don't feel like hearing "you guys didn't reply! I was so nervous!"
Sorry guys, next time my lady parts squeeze out a melon I'll be sure to tell them to stop so I can respond.

MississippiCatfish · January 2016

My ILs will get a call or text not long after I realize I'm in labor, so they can prepare to come watch our kids when we need to go to the hospital. I'll send my mom a text at some point, probably around the time were leaving for the hospital, to let her know. If it's daytime and she wants to come sit in the waiting room, that's fine. If she wants to wait until baby's here, that's fine too. My mom is super respectful so I don't have to worry about her busting into the delivery room. And honestly, do people really expect you to stay in contact when you're in labor??? That's crazy!!

suteki325 · January 2016

I'm going to call my parents and in-laws once I'm officially admitted to the hospital and know that its go-time. Its up to them if they want to come to the hospital and wait there while I'm laboring, or just come after I have the baby. But the only people I'm allowing in the room with me while I'm laboring is DH and my mom (and only DH will be allowed when I'm actually pushing). I'll also text my close friends (one of which will be pet-sitting for us) once I'm admitted, but I won't be sending them hourly updates or anything, lol. They'll get another text once LO arrives!

wisco29 · January 2016

We told my mom because she came for labor, I told my dad and then my best friend that was IT! Everyone else found out once she was born.
I don't think it's anyone's business honestly, all of the questions wil just annoy you. With a rcs this time everyone will know the day but not the time or anything else which should be stressful enough to control people posting all over social media...
We are sending out an email with parking info in addition to privacy requests so maybe you can just tell them that because you want privacy this time you will let everyone know after baby born

winterviolethope · January 2016

I'm letting my mom know right away because I want her with me - with the exception of when I'm actually pushing. I'll have my husband call his mom right away as well because she lives in Atlanta and I'm in NY/NJ. She is going to fly In when baby is here and stay at a nearby hotel so we'll let her know asap so she can book. I'll let my mom notify the rest of my family and I'll probably text a couple of close friends. I definitely want visitors the next day at the hospital!

Ju111310 · January 2016

I will tell my sister and best friend (who will be in charge of DS1) when I go into labor. DH will notify grandparents once the baby is born. I can't stand the idea of my MIL asking about the condition of my cervix and telling the whole family and probably posting all over social media. Last time I told my mom when we headed to the hospital bc she had previously agreed to respect my wishes and not come to the hospital until we were ready for visitors 1-2 hours after the birth. Well she showed up at the hospital anyway and sat in the waiting room and tried to convince my sister to keep it a secret that she had lied to me. No way. So then I called her about an hour after my nephew was born and told her she could get ready and head to the hospital, she was pissed but oh well. Can't listen to rules, that's how you'll be treated.

BabySeaTurtles · January 2016

My SIL will be watching DS so she will know the second we are in labor. Everyone else will be informed by DH who will keep in contact through texts as he has a chance. This is how it ended up being last time through no planning of ours. (I would hope that no one really expects a minute by minute update.)

OrangeFox · January 2016

with our first my husband texted his parents and both brothers/sils as soon as we arrived at the birth center. I didn't know this until later. To be fair he was just excited and didn't know that it would bother me. We were only there 2 hours before baby was born so no one really had time to bug him, nor did he look at his phone again. I told him that this time he can wait until baby is here to let people know.

My mom knew that I was in labor because I called her when my water broke. I didn't know for sure that it had broken and wanted some reassurance/encouragement to call my midwife. DH was at work and I didn't want him to come home since I wasn't having any other signs.

This time I will let my mom know as soon as something happens because she's an hour away and will be watching DS for us. If I don't think she can get here in time I will also call my SIL who will watch DS until my mom gets here. SIL is local and can be at our house in 15 minutes to pick up DS.

g8trkim · January 2016

We will tell our parents and siblings plus my best friend. Other than that I will probably wait until she's born.

Achae · January 2016

I will tell my parents and siblings (either one will be watching DD) and I'm sure my husband will tell his parents and siblings as well. Everyone else will find out after LO is born and probably from my husband haha. Luckily we don't have any pushy family or friends that insist on seeing baby or seeing us asap so I expect the same relaxed attitude with this LO.

cMichelle0423 · January 2016

We didn't tell anyone when I went into labor with our second LO. It ended up hurting some feelings and causing drama. Which I couldn't care less about lol we called people once we got settled after I delivered. This time, we'll tell a few people but DH and I are making it very clear that our phones will be off and giving anyone updates will be the least of our worries that day. We also won't be having visitors until we're all ready and after we've bonded with baby and I've gotten to breastfeed. My FIL and his gf plan on coming to the birth center once I go into labor, but I've made my birth plan very clear to them and that I'm not changing my mind about anything just because they want to come and wait.

camusoh2011 · January 2016

We have a close friend who will come watch our boys if it happens on its own before our c section. Otherwise, we're telling everyone that our c section is happening a couple of hours after it actually is so that we don't have to worry about people hanging out waiting while I'm in recovery or trying to see the twins early. The only people who will know the actual time of the c section will be my parents and that's because they will be watching our boys and probably heading with us to the hospital (or following behind an hour or so) to visit and bring the boys in. We told everyone with our first via text and facebook. Our second we didn't because it was the middle of the night. We just announced after he was here. This one we'll announce on social media after they arrive with time and weight and such.

RRC216 · January 2016

Haha lucky you have an option. Ftm and I'd prefer to wait. However I'm getting induced. Not to mention we live with my in-laws who drive me crazy and will join us. My mil stresses me out. When I'm angry, hurting or upset her presence annoys me. I love her, but dear god! You do what you feel is right for you. It's your last one!!

Shatzegirl · January 2016

With our first, we didn't contact my inlaws until about 7 hours before our son was born. That's how far they live from us. We contacted my cousin pretty early on so she could take our dog to the boarding facility. We'll probably contact people a little earlier this time since we'll need people to take care of our DS. (Which I'm kinda dreading because it was nice to labor and not have to worry about people bugging.) If I remember right, my husband turned off his phone and focused solely on me though.

Mamacat316 · January 2016

With my first, we told nobody till like 12 hours after the baby was born. No texts, nothing. We just wanted to stare at our baby and I didn't want to be checking my phone. My thinking is: the world can wait, the first few hours go so fast and can never be repeated.

blueberrymomma · January 2016

Latina211508 said:
@thisusername exactly, I will be only letting know my aunt or sister in law who will be watching my kids. But honestly this is pertaining more towards my MIL. She doesn't understand privacy and can get annoying by blowing up my husbands phone. My husband doesn't really agree on waiting to tell family..

Sounds like my MIL. With my first I literally threatened to throw DHs phone at the wall if he answered his mothers call again.
My DH doesn't agree with only telling my mom(who lives 2 hours away) and his brother (who is watching DD). But last time MIL told everyone when we went into labor and posted stuff on Facebook, and convinced DH to let her in the room while I was being induced. She Denys any of this happened, but she is a huge gossip. Ask my mom is very respectful and helps me with my anxiety

Latina211508 · January 2016

@baya5 yes sounds just like MIL. She would post everything on Facebook and if anyone should post anything it should be me. I'm hoping I just deliver in the middle of the night because I really don't feel like getting into nonsense when I'm in labor.

Vkrosa · January 2016

To be honest I told my family when I was in labor with my first and my MIL showed up at the hospital unwanted and uninvited. I lived in CA at the time she lived in NY at the time. She didn't tell anyone she was coming she just showed up. Soooo needless to say I will only be telling my mom and the babysitter because they are in charge of me and watching my older kids.

Cheryl Renee · January 2016

We had alot of issues with family showing up un-wanted during our first child's birth. I had an emergency c-section and had a rough couple hours after, interrupted by both sets of overly excited parents. Needless to say, we are going to tell them when the c-section is planned for and ask them not to come to the hospital until invited. My husband will keep them posted on arrival and health of baby and myself and then tell them when we are ready for visitors. They will also be asked not to tell anyone else the c-section date. For everyone else who asks, we are telling them the due date, not the c-section date. They will find out after baby arrives. I wish I could not tell anyone, but its a scheduled c-section and they keep asking me for the date. They will get a date, but no time.

maddyclarkin1 · January 2016

This is my partner and I's first child and we aren't going to let anyone know until she is actually here as we want to have some time with her before others come and snatch her off of us!

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