who did you tell when you went into labour?

[Cazm2]

Hi all posted in pregnancy but maybe better here! 37 weeks with first bubba. Wasn't planning on me and Dh letting anyone know when in labour however kmil has announced she wants to know Dh wavering. I might if things get complicated or need extra support tell my mum. But I don't want Dh constantly on phone with updates or disappearing mil is demanding. What did you do?

I was induced with both, so MW was the first to know! Then we told folk after the boys were born

We only told a neighbour as we'd asked her to look after our dog while we were in hospital. Everyone else, including both sets of parents, were told once dd was safely here.

Nobody (well, dh and the MW) for the first two. This time a friend knows things are happening (or not happening really) as she has just had to babysit my dcs while I went to hospital for a check since my waters have gone and she iwll have to look after them tomorrow while I go in for induction unless I get some contractions soon and actually go into labour.

I told DP and he rolled over and went back to sleep. Had to kick him to get him out of bed.

Other than, I didn't tell anyone but my mum guessed because I didn't answer the phone and I was a week overdue so it was very much expected.

Having been on the other end, ie; informed when my sister went into labour, I think it's an awful idea. I just worried until I heard baby had arrived safely.

I think both sets of parents knew first time. It was hell. My labour was very long and I hated the 'pacing' from them.

Second time was overnight, so told no one except DH and my doula. But had already planned not to tell anyone until afterwards.

If you want to be diplomatic and have a nightmare MIL, offer to text and then,ooops, did it not arrive?

DH and whoever is looking after other DCs, then let everyone know whenbubba arrives.

Couldn't stand people texting/ringing for updates whilst I'm labouring/giving birth.

Also helps delay hoards of visitors descending before we are ready

First time: technically Mum & DH - but I had a bleed first so it was only when mum was on the phone to the hospital that we realised my waters had gone too (36 weeks£

Second time: was 6cm dilated with no contractions at a routine appointment, was sent to labour ward. Called DH to come. Then called my Mum for a chat and to let her know to start looking at flights (she was looking after DD1 at the time)

Told nobody else until after - but I'm sure Mum did . Didn't bother me too much. - nobody got in contact with me or DH & I have fairly fast labours, so was able to give news fairly fast.

Time difference between us & MIL meant that there was no real question of letting her know until after the baby had arrived.

Didn't tell a soul.

A few people might have known the first time as it was an ELCS, but they also knew it might not happen that day. For the second two, the only people who knew were friends who were looking after my kids.

No-one!

No one apart from DH of course.

Second time I told the whole of MN by starting a live birth thread, although I only managed a few minutes as from start to finish my labour was 1.5hrs! First time round I called my dad & grandad when my waters broke to ask them to pray for me.

Just DH. Then after being in labour in hospital for ages, a friend who was on standby to feed the cat. Couldn't have coped with anyone else knowing, my mum was upset at the thought of it afterwards, I wouldn't have liked to think of her worrying when it was going on for so long. Mind she spent a grand total of about 3 hours in labour for 2 children and expected me to be the same.

Thank you its my first so already anxious and didn't want Dh having to be bothered with phone calls texts etc. I know my sister didn't tell anyone and was in labour for 38 hours I found out halfway through and worried till I heard. She didn't tell my mum she found out cos she kept calling to get hold of her! Dh seems more worried about upsetting mil feelings

Not a bloody soul other than DH! Was on the phone to my best friend in early labour and she kept asking me, I kept denying it

My bestest friend went into an extremely long and drawn out labour 10 days after I had given birth. I found out about halfway through, she texted from the birthing pool! I was so so worried and tbh wished I hadn't known as it was all too close in my memory! I was pacing and constantly on edge, my dh thought I had gone mad. This time we'll let our two mates know who are in babysitting stand by, but that will definitely be it!

Both sets of parents and our siblings.

Wish I hadn't in some ways:

My parents - they live hours away, and they wanted to see the baby when it was born. so they drove to us (without me knowing). Exept that despite regular contracstions for 2 days, I wasn't dilating very fast, and so the hospital sent me home to progress there. Which is when my parents arrived. So I spent my time going from 1 cm dilated to 4 cm at home, overnight and into the following morning, with my parents there. It was awful. I didn't want an audience, and I wished they weren't there. I was exhausted already and, as I said, didn't want an audience.

DH's sister - kept calling all the way through when we were at the hospital (during established labour, being in the water, going on a drip, having epidural etc). We kept saying that we would call whenever there was news, but no, she kept calling to ask. It really annouyed me like you wouldn't believe!

For DS1 I had to tell my parents as labour started in the early hours and we were supposed to be going there for lunch. It was a bad idea. After 24 hours my poor frantic father phoned the hospital only to be told they couldn't tell him anything which was perfectly normal, but which he took to mean there was bad news. It was another 12 hours before (oblivious) DH phoned to tell them their first grandchild had arrived. This was only 10 years ago and none of us had mobile phones

2nd time they also knew, as they were minding DS1, as did 12 mates I was supposed to be going bowling with that night, but DS2 was born only 2 hours after mum collected DS1

Agree with lots of the other posters on here - we didn't tell anyone except whoever was needed to mind the other children for any of my 4 labours - it was SO fab being able to call people with the good news rather than being in labour knowing they'd all be wondering what was going on. Think it would have put loads of pressure on me (performance anxiety!) if I knew people were waiting for me to get on with it and produce a baby!
Also - I know my sister in law is currently in hospital in labour - and I can hardly think of anything else (hence being on this forum!!). Nightmare.

With first - nobody (well, dh, obviously). With subsequent dcs, only the person that was looking after older one(s).

No-one! I'd have hated the feeling that my parents or in-laws were worrying & waiting for news. Much easier all round to let them know once the baby has arrived.

No one except DH, obviously. That was for DD1.

DD2, we had PIL minding DD1 so they knew but didn't keep them updated after we left for the hospital. I did text my friend when it was labouring in hospital, but only as it suited me to.
Texted everyone details about 3 hours after birth, when I felt up to it.

Dh of course! Had to tell my parents as my dad was my lift to the hospital as neither of us drove then. With this one my parents will know again as they will be looking after ds. I'm sure my mum told people tho. I thinl she was just excited no time to be worried as my labour was less than 5 hours start to finish and she expected me to be ages lol!

Nobody. Until DH had to call his sister after about 12 hours to ask her to go and feed our cat.

With subsequent DCs it's probably a luxury you can't afford because of arranging childcare so make the most of the opportunity with your first.