How to deal with MIL

[Aaliyah1]

How do I tell MIL she can't come to the scan ? She invited herself to the first one and just turned up. She keeps asking when the next one is...how can I tell her she can't come without offending her? Make up a lie?

Think you need to get DH on your side on this one and get him to tell her that its a really special time for the two of you, or you could just lie and tell her after you've been and say it was a cancellation

Easy, just don't tell her. Jilted's suggestion is very good, a 'short notice appointment' could be the answer

My MiL came to one of our scans (16 weeks) but that's because we asked her if she wanted to come. I can't believe anyone would self invite themselves, lol - cheeky MIL

I can believe it writer my mother tried to invite herself to the birth and seemed a bit put out when I said no. This was after a lifetime of constant criticism, I had visions of her telling me I was doing it all wrong with every contraction

I think dh & you need to tell her gently but firmly that it will just be the two of you at your next scan.

My mother presumed she would be at the birth of my dd. I just had to say it to her. She was disappointed but its you that's pregnant so its your choice who attends scans.

You shouldn't be the one telling her she can't come for a start - your DH should be explaining that the 2 of you want to go on your own. Maybe offer to go round & see her afterwards to chat about it & show her the pictures to keep her in the loop? Might smooth any ruffled feathers.

Failing that, just tell her the hospital has changed its policy regarding how many people can attend with the mother for the scan so only your DH is allowed.

Haha - being at the labour would be the last thing my mother would want to do!! She is the most maternal....she wouldn't even come wedding dress shopping with me when I asked her to Mothers (and MIL), very strange and unpredictable creatures

The thing is my mother isn't maternal at all and that's partly why I was so . She started working nights, through choice, when I was 6 weeks old because "it was better than being at home with a screaming baby and I just left your dad to sort you out...". That was partly why I was so taken aback that she would actually want to be there.

She just assumes she's coming and will be there for EVERYTHING. And she's lovely and I'm glad that she's so happy/excited but I'm a private person. I've even told my mum she can't come and she's asked a couple of times. The MIL is a more delicate person...
DH is on my side but also dosent want to have an awkward convo with her. He's normally really good and will tell MIL when she's overstepping the mark so I don't want to cause problems between them if it can be avoided.
Telling her only one person is allowed may work but I'm just worried shel find out its a lie

Well they do change the rules all of the time so if that's the fib you want to tell and she catches you out just say "really, gosh I really do wish they'd make up their minds, they seem to change the rules every week"

Haha good one jilted

You need to start to be more straightforward with her. I wouldn't start making excuses just be honest with her. There is nothing wrong with telling her that you only want DH with you at the next appointment. If she feels hurt it's NOT your problem.

It would be nice if your DH dealt with this but if you doubt he will do it then it might be best to start 'training' you MIL yourself.

Or you could blame miscommunication if she does find out? "Two people ARE allowed?? But the person I spoke to said only one...." TBH though she'd make herself look a bit odd if she went behind your back to check what you told her!

Seriously however, it might be a bit awkward but you're far better off telling her the truth and setting limits to her involvement now rather than later in pregnancy or after the birth when she'll probably be even more keen to invite herself around!

Your DH needs to stand up and tell her it's not your job. My MIL had a strop because my mum was coming to the birth o our DS but she wasn't!!!! This is the same MIL who didn't talk to me till I was 6 months pregnant because she believed after 7 1/2 years together we were rushing things lol.

Honestly don't make up excuses as it will only get worse and harder once the baby arrives.

Your amazing for letting her be at the firt one I would have made her wait outside lol

Your husband needs to man up.

Tell her you'd like just your husband at the scans but maybe offer to get her a photo? I know I could get copies of scan pictures for grandparents at mine.

Don't lie with "short notice" appointments or "just one person" because you really shouldn't have to. Otherwise you're setting yourself up for a lifetime of white lies to her every time you want to do something that you're worried will upset her - and you will get found out in something which would be much worse than honesty from the start.

Finally - if she's disappointed or upset - don't make it your problem. It's her disappointment therefore it's her problem to manage. Feeling guilty and making managing your MiL's feelings your problem will lead to a lifetime of low level petty resentment.

This is what you need to tell your dh if it's your 20 week anomaly scan - you all need to bear in mind it's a serious medical procedure not an entertainment event.

A number of very important checks will need to he done on the baby and the medical personnel won't want granny withering on in the background. Only once all the checks are done and everything is ok do they turn the screen round. It's quite likely they only allow mum plus one anyway.
On very rare occasions they do suspect serious health concerns for baby and need to convey those to the mum. It's not appropriate to have an audience for that.

You can lie and tell her theres a limit to the number of people allowed in, or lie about the date but that won't solve the problem of her expecting an involvement.

Your dh needs to tell her it's only going to be the 2 of you otherwise you're going to be in for more of the same further on down the line.

I think you both need to overcome this now and tell her firmly but kindly. otherwise like others have said she will be turning up when you're in labour and banging on the door at 9am when you're in your pjs with a newborn and had no sleep. make her understand it's you and dhs baby and your special time or she will be taking over and even more hurt when you have to tell her then.

my exMIL walked into my 20 week scan & the midwife let her!
I was fummmmmiinnng!

It was my ds1 & we were meant to be finding out the gender. didnt in the end as she was there. We dont get along.

Mine is gagging to come to the 20 week scan too but she won't dare ask (that's how you need to get her lol). I had a few early scans and actually asked her to come to an internal one that I didn't want to go to on my own and she was 'too busy' so she knows she has burned her bridges now.

You need to be clear and nip it in the bud or she will only get worse. I'm really quite direct and my DH backs me up (which my mil knows means it's non negotiable, if he didn't she would sniff it out as a weakness). At the weekend it emerged she is expecting the baby to stay with her overnight next Xmas (Xmas eve and Xmas day) - we live about 200 metres from her, she can forget it!!

Totally agree with Ironing - your trump card is that 20 week scan is a serious anomaly scan, not a meet & greet with baby.

I've got mine in Thursday & no way on earth would I want anyone but DH in there with me at such a tense time. I'm horrible when I'm nervous & Even my own DM, let alone my MIL would get on my nerves with constant wittering.

If DH really won't man up, tell her you're sorry but you're very nervous, it's a serious event & your MW has advised its best if just you & DH attend. But promise to come over that evening with the pics

Best of luck with MIL and your scan!

I had this with my MIL, she asked when the 20 week scan was and then said "oh I'm off that day I will come too"! I was too surprised to say anything but when she left DH and I agreed it was something special for us to share and also if there had been any anomalies found MIL would be the last person I would want there, she is just a tad over emotional and it wouldn't have been helpful!

In the end I spoke to the midwife who said that it was hospital policy to only have one person with you unless it was special circumstances. MIL accepted this and I felt better as I didn't have to lie, if I had been honest she probably would have had a breakdown!

I would ask your DH to speak yo her. Would hate my MIL to be there for scans & labour.

MIL and FIL (!) were supposed to come to one of my scans. My DH invited them and I sort of went along with it. They didn't come in the end, and it was just as well because I ended up having an internal ultrasound (i.e. naked from the waist down). I'd like to think they'd have just left when that started happening but they're totally unbothered by nudity, so I'm not so sure...

My 20 week anomoly scan was awful and we were told some pretty scary stuff about our baby - if my Mil had been there she would have made it so much worse.
As a previous poster said, its not just a scan for entertainment, its a real medical proceedure. Your dh needs to tell her to back off.

In this situation I would firstly ask DH to have a firm word, but second option would be to fib about the amount of people allowed in the room. I've only ever known one person to attend scans with any of my pregnant friends (but that may be out of choice rather than rules) but I imagine it can vary between areas/hospitals