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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Who and when do you tell you're in labor?

49 replies

SunnySideUp2020 · 13/02/2021 14:43

Wondering if you told anyone or are planning to tell anyone when and what regarding labour?

Or you just say baby is here when baby is born and everything is settled?

🤔🤔🤔

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Original poster

SunnySideUp2020 · 13/02/2021 14:43

I mean telling family/friends!

OP posts:

Chelyanne · 13/02/2021 15:03

My parents only. With our 1st I was admitted to hospital with high blood pressure and kept in for induction so my mum would have been worried sick if I hadn't kept her updated. Number 2 onwards was because they were babysitting older ones and will for this one. Our twins were elective cesarean so we knew 9 days before, only told immediate family.
People tend to pester about how long it takes to labor which can be annoying so the less people that know the better imo.

Luckyelephant1 · 13/02/2021 15:12

Probably won't tell anyone at all, would rather they not worry or constantly text/call DH as it will just stress everyone out. Will let people know once baby is born and settled.

Pol96 · 13/02/2021 15:20

I told my mum and that was it, and not till I was being kept in hospital.. I was in labour for 43 hours and she'd have known something was up if I wasn't replying, so told her and my oh gave her updates as and when

eternalflame2020 · 13/02/2021 15:49

Following this as we had this conversation a few days ago! I would prefer not to tell anyone until after the baby is born as I think it will cause me a bit of extra pressure knowing everyone is waiting for and expecting news.

Am interested to see the positive and negatives for both

Mummyof2Terrors · 13/02/2021 15:52

Nobody. You don't need the pressure during labour to give updates. Phone call to reveal once baby is here is lovely. With subsequent children only person who needs to know is the person looking after your other child/children

Wnikat · 13/02/2021 15:53

No one until afterwards, unless needed for childcare. Too much fuss otherwise when focus just needs to be on getting through it.

Esssa · 13/02/2021 15:57

Going to have to tell my mum because she is on pet sitting duties (2 dogs 1 horse) It'll be obvious to the ladies at the stables when mum goes without me but I'm not telling anyone that doesn't need to know. I can't be doing with the constant nagging for updates.

AdriannaP · 13/02/2021 15:58

Nobody. Labour can take ages and you don’t want parents waiting anxiously next to the phone the whole night

annlee3817 · 13/02/2021 16:01

My parents because we were living there at the time, and mum was my other birthing partner, and my DH messaged his parents, but that was it, no one was expecting any updates.

Chanel05 · 13/02/2021 16:11

I only told my sister, 3 hours into contractions. I then text my mum and best friend at 4am the next morning, 22 hours into labour, as I was bored and dh was catching up on some much needed sleep! Didn't give birth until 33 hours, via emcs.

Luckystar1 · 13/02/2021 16:15

I have 3 DC. With DC1, we told no one until baby was born. With DC2, we told our neighbour who was looking after DC2. With DC3, my waters broke and so I had to go into hospital. Told my parents and one friend who were going to look after children (this was during COVID so husband wasn’t allowed in all the time). It was a fucking nightmare as they didn’t leave me or my husband alone.

So in summation, tell as few people as you can get away with, ideally no one, unless you want to be tormented on ‘progress’!

Maybemay123 · 13/02/2021 16:15

Only my parents knew but as I was single dm was my birthing partner and ddad was childcare second time around.
My mum actually said after my first birth (which was traumatic and she nearly lost me) she was so glad she didn't have to keep giving updates and she could come round from the shock and compose herself before she rang people (which was many hours after dc1 was born). I think it's really important to think of the birthing partner and what support they may need, I was glad my mum had my dad to talk to update /support but also didn't have the stress of updating everyone too. I think with every aspect of childbirth you need to go in with an open mind and understand things may change. Also if you decide not to tell anyone that your birth partner is able to reach out for support if needed.

ineedaholidayandwine · 13/02/2021 16:17

We told no one, for a couple of days before I was getting texts asking if anything was happening, can’t imagine how bad it would have been if anyone knew labour had started!

WeeDangerousSpike · 13/02/2021 16:23

My family and DPs family are lovely and we have good relationships.

When I went into labour we just went to hospital and told everyone when everything was all over. I did go into labour in the evening though, and mw had said to head to hospital when contractions were 5 mins apart (hour journey) which my first contractions were. DD was born mid morning the next day so nobody 'missed' us, as it were. If it had been a several day long labour I'm not sure what we would have done. I purposely didn't tell anyone as I didn't want them to worry between being told and baby arriving, and I didn't want DP to have to deal with texts and phone calls for updates if they did worry.

mamaduckbone · 13/02/2021 16:29

Ds1 - no one. We told family in the morning when he'd arrived.
Ds2 - my mum, because she needed to look after ds1.

ChocOrange1 · 13/02/2021 16:31

My mum was there when I went into labour with DD1. She knew before I did

DD2 we told my parents as they had to come and get DD1 as I ended up having to go in to the birth centre

Everyone else didnt find out until after.

AnnaSW1 · 13/02/2021 16:38

No one!

PurBal · 13/02/2021 16:43

I'm planning on not telling anyone so we can have our space. Brother kept us all in the loop when his wife was labouring but his father in law ended up posting all the details including photos of the new baby on Facebook.

Superscientist · 13/02/2021 16:50

When my sister had my niece the family knew she was in labour and for 2 days I was fielding calls from extended family asking for updates. It drove me nuts so I knew the odds were I wouldn't say anything.

We told family when she was a few hours old. I went into labour at 4 am on a Sunday morning and she was born by lunchtime so not a time of day where we were in frequent contact with family! She was also a 38 weeker so the count down to due date hasn't started. I had a video call booked with my parents at 3 on the Sunday afternoon, I called them and said I wouldn't make the call as I now had my hands full.

NeverWillIEver · 13/02/2021 16:57

Both times I was already in hospital (6 weeks and 1 week before birth) so people knew rough dates but I didn't tell anyone when I went into labour.

Parkandride · 13/02/2021 17:04

My hospital has zero phone signal, no one is getting updates!
Might have to let inlaws know so they can come and collect the dog though.
Definitely think the fewer the better

FTM91 · 13/02/2021 17:05

No one if I had my way, but we'll need to leave the dog at the in laws!

Sailor2009 · 13/02/2021 17:10

Will tell my parents but my family are all very strict about not hassling for information so I know they won't be bugging us for updates. If I thought they would then I wouldn't tell them.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 13/02/2021 17:11

In my experience (4 children) don't tell any anyone else until you want to be bombarded with people wanting to see the baby, not you, just the baby 😬

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