When you went into labor with your first

[bcarp30]

We just told my mom because she took our dog. We didn't tell anyone else, not even friends. I'm not sure why though. With the second I was texting friends while in labor, after the epidural and it was much more laid back

[raangoli]

We called after she was born. I distinctly remember telling MH when I was in L&D that I didn't want to call anyone. I was in denial and hoped it wasn't happening.

If she hadn't arrived in dramatic fashion, we probably would have called on the way to the hospital.

[ringstrue]

DD was 10 days late so I called my mom on the way - I had been in labor all morning so I was done being cautious . I agree with saying its depends. You will call them when you can.

[ringstrue]

With DS (#2) I called when I was in the hospital- actually it might have just been a text? It was too early in the morning and I was progressing too fast.

[greycat]

I wound up being induced unexpectedly. We let our parents know. Unfortunately my parents showed up at the hospital (we asked that they hold off since I wasn't sure how long things would take). They came up to the room while I was taking a quick nap (had just gotten an epidural) and left when they saw I was asleep. They stayed in the waiting room until after I delivered and got moved to the post partum unit 7 hours later. I was upset they hadn't respected my wishes but so focused on the birth that it wound up being ok.

[Willis Jackson]

We called everyone after he was born.

I didn't want all that anxious energy out there in the universe.

[gibbinator]

We called our parents to say we thought I was in labour and that we'd call again if we decided to go to the hospital and were admitted.
I don't care about people waiting in the waiting room. They're adults. If they want to spend 24hrs sitting in uncomfortable chairs power to them. Just leave me alone!

[matildasun]

Our families live 400 miles away, my plan was to contact them as soon as labor started so they could make arrangements to come. That failed when I thought I might be in labor, told everyone to wait until morning to arrange flights, and then all contractions stopped around 3 am, and no one had listened and they all showed up that day.

Two weeks later I realized I was officially in labor at the exact moment Everyone told me they would be unavailable. My dad had a retirement meeting with my mom, and my bff, who we wanted in l&d, was at an IEP meeting.

[winemaker06]

I told everyone ahead of time that I would make no promises of keeping them updated. They all live within a 30-40 minute drive.
I called to let them know I was admitted and just started sitting around waiting for pitocin to work. Told them we'll tell them when the baby was born. That was at 5pm.
He was born at 3am. I didn't get finished with 'stuff' and moved out of L&D until 6:30am. My MIL started calling the hospital around 6 trying to get through to us 'because she was worried'. At least they didn't show up, but I was PISSED when they patched her through to our room.

[cincodemayo]

We called my mom on the way to the hospital because she was going to stay at our house with the dog.

Called DHs parents about 2-3 hours after we had arrived.

A few other friends and family members about 7 hours after arrival.

I regret telling MIL when we did. She called and worried the whole time.

[SJ]

I called my mom immediately when my water broke. Like maybe while DH was in the shower?

I don't know when we told IL's.

I was also texting my best friends throughout the day.

I am not a private person....

[katiescarlett]

We called our parents when I was admitted to the hospital.

[yellowbrkrd]

We called my mom as soon as my water broke in hopes that she could get on a plane and make it back before the baby came (she was about 20 mins too late).

We told the rest of our parents after we were admitted.

[Deleted]

Well my water broke in my parent's kitchen, so they already knew! They came to the hospital (5 minutes from their house) after DS was born, as we had requested. The ILs live 8 hours away and never came to the hospital, we just called them.

[krystee]

We told both sets of parents before we left for the hospital.

[countthestars]

The plan was to wait until we thought we were getting close so MIL could come up (2.5 hour drive). We ended up getting excited to tell people and texted when we left for the hospital. People respected our wishes to hold off until we were ready.

[geek96]

Yes, both ILs and my mom. I am very happy I did. I had a super long labor the first time and DH complained of his headache then fell asleep. In the moment I wanted to kill him but both of our moms helped massage my back and keep me company. They also stayed in the hospital waiting area for over 15 hours until DS was born.

[shelbyann]

My water broke after dinner one night and I think we told them the next day? Lol. I had no idea we still had 36 or so hours to go.

No one is local so it didn't really matter from a visiting perspective. Fortunately everyone was good about not harassing us via phone/text. I handed off my phone to H early in the process and told him to deal with it anyway.

[andwhat]

My mom was in the room when I delivered so I told her immediately. Good thing because it was a fast labor. I think we told my ILs at the same time but told them we would call when baby was here. They are local so they came after.

Sent from my SM-G920V using proboards

[booboo173]

I told them before I went to the hospital since they had to take the dog. Everyone else after he was born.

[mcfelix]

We went to the hospital at 3 am. DH called my parents at 7 or 8 am. I can't remember but we didn't want to wake them up. They drove 2 hours to the hospital and waited in the waiting area/maternity lobby. DD was born around 12:30.

[bk1]

I'm really close to my mom. So I told her when I thought I was in labor which ended up being a couple hours before we went to the hospital. We told ILs after we arrived at the hospital. 

Everyone came up to the hospital and waited until dd was born. 

[auntie]

After we went to recovery.

[ryry]

I was induced with dd1 and told our families, so they were all anxiously waiting. Everyone was out of state though, so they weren't waiting in the hospital...but the calls and texts allll day were annoying. With dd2 and DS, we told my sister because she watched the older ones, and then told everyone else after they were born.

Actually-I just remembered that when my water broke with dd2, I called my dad to ask if he could pick up dd1 from daycare that evening because my sister would have to stay at work a little late. I wasn't in active labor and was very calm, and I totally don't think he realized what I was telling him. He told me that he and his wife were headed to cape cod that night so he wouldn't be able to. When we called to tel him dd2 was born, he was surprised and regretted being on the cape. Duh, dad, I told you my water broke and she would probably arrive today!

[arch01]

We locked down FB immediately and just told my MIL since she was taking care of the dog. My parents didn't know until after DS was born.

[somersault72]

I called my parents when I was admitted (I was in triage 3-4 hours before that). I wanted my mom in the delivery room. My mom called my MIL.

[dancingirl21]

DH's parents really like to be in the waiting room the whole time (even though they live 10 mins away). They never came in until we said it was okay after he was born. So they were called when we knew I was for sure having the baby and we had been at the hospital a few hours. We also called my family at that time. They live 4 hours away so got in the car the next morning and were there by about 12:30pm. DS was born at 11:41am.

[tiptoetulips]

We went in during the middle of the night we let them know when they woke up. They are all local so they waited until she was born to come to the hospital

[anna7602]

I said nothing. After arguing with my mother my entire pregnancy about my desire to go med-free, i had zero desire to have her in the room during labor. I called when the baby was here.

I didn't call them during labor the second time, either, and had a babysitter stay with DD.

[aspentosh]

We told family "immediately"- like 7, 8am. Water broke at 6am and she was born at 6:51pm that night.

MIL was a 6hr drive away and worked odd hours, so we wanted to give her a lot of notice. My mom, dad and stepmom were all local but respected boundaries and never asked to come until after she was here.