https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 12 May 2026 08:37:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537690 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 12:37:15 +0000 mrsrain 2537690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: I made arrangements with a friend to come over and watch DD when I went into labor. At that point I planned to call my sister (who lives about 2 hours away) to come take over DD's care.</p> <p>I ended up going to the hospital in the middle of the night at 38 weeks with hypertension, so my friend stayed the full night with DD. In the morning they decided to induce me, so at that point my sister made the drive to take care of DD. It worked well for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537684 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 11:59:35 +0000 MrsSCB 2537684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My family has made plans to come three days before my due date. It's flexible because they're driving (from VA to TX!) so they can really leave whenever. But their rental is starting three days before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537678 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 11:44:09 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2537678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm jealous of all of you whose parents were around &amp; especially those who had help! We had MIL but it's not the same as having your own family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537677 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 11:43:00 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2537677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. With #1 my mom visited the month after and with #2 they both visited, dad had to be in town for something very briefly and stopped a couple hours a few weeks after lo2 was born and they both came a few days when lo2 was about a month old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537671 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 11:36:27 +0000 cascademom 2537671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. My parents were about 2.5 hours away for my last pregnancy. They came the day after I delivered. We had a babysitter stay with our eldest when I went into labor on a holiday Monday morning/afternoon. My parents took the eldest for just under a week while we adjusted to a newborn and dealt with a small postpartum complication. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537669 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 11:33:43 +0000 Astro Bee 2537669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents live on the other side of the country, and wanted to be there to welcome their first grandchild. My mom flew in a few days before my due date, while my dad was only able to come (due to work) the day after my due date. Luckily, I was 4 days late. My ILs live 2 hours away, and DH called them after we got to the hospital. Next time, my mom will come even earlier, just in case, to help take care of LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537650 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 10:59:22 +0000 Corduroy 2537650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents made the 8 hour trip during my labor both times. With LO1 we told them after I had been in labor 24+ hours and they still made it with lots of time to spare. I had a very fast labor with #2 but a very strong sense of when he was coming. I asked my parents to move their trip up a day three times the week before LO2 was born. The day of I asked them to arrive before daycare pickup at 5:30. I didn't go into labor until after they arrived at 5. I think they were unimpressed that I was sitting on the couch eating cookies and DH wasn't home yet. Then LO2 was born at 6:40 so I was pretty spot on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537644 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 10:37:50 +0000 maddyz 2537644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No family close and the idea of having my mom sit around waiting is horrible. With lo1 I called her when my water broke and she was here 5 hours later, baby came 24 hours later. This time I think things might move a little faster so one of our babysitters will be on call. Her day job is flexible and she is happy to help out. My mom will head up as soon as she can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537613 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 08:59:12 +0000 autumnleaves 2537613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My inlaws planned to arrive 2 days before my due date and stay for a week and a half. If I went into labor early - they would have started the 2 day drive once we let them know the baby was on the way. My parents are in town but are too weak/sick to help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537587 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 07:10:30 +0000 whiskers 2537587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My family is 14 hours away. My mom flew up at about 39 weeks because I wanted her to be there to watch lo. I ended up making it to my induction date so my dad drove up that day and they were both there. My inlaws never came and waited for us to travel back there 4 months later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537581 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 06:43:54 +0000 BelugaBean 2537581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our family is 2 hours away. The first time, no, they didn't come beforehand because we didn't really see a point. Everyone just headed to he hospital when we did. The second time I ended up being induced. My MIL came the night before so she would be able to stay with LO1 in the morning when we left. My induction was supposed to start at 7:30, was pushed back to 10:30, and my mom got there at about 11. My dad came later to see her after she was born.</p> <p>I had a couple of friends closer that told me they were 100% okay taking LO1 at any hour of the day until my MIL could get her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537575 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 06:26:37 +0000 looch 2537575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, they came at 5 weeks pp. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537376 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 18:16:31 +0000 tysonja 2537376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my parents live across the country, but they both managed to make it before LO#2 and LO#3 arrived. it was definitely a guessing game when we booked the flights months in advance. LO#2 was 2 weeks late so my parents were here almost 3 weeks before he arrived (thankfully they had planned to stay 6 weeks in total). and for #3 they arrived 2 days before she arrived (day before her due date!). so... it could've gone either way, but it worked out in the end! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537327 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 16:53:09 +0000 Pumuckl 2537327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No they came after the babies were born. We were lucky that my sister lived close to us at the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537322 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 16:47:06 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2537322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents drove ten hours when I was in labor with my first. They got here with 47 hours to spare.<br /> They came a couple days ahead of birth for my next two, but they were scheduled sections. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537315 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 16:39:45 +0000 pregnantbee 2537315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope! Everyone would require a plane, and I didn't want any pressure while everyone was waiting for baby to arrive. This time, I think we'll ask a local friend to be on call to watch DS and then ask ILs (who live a shorter plane trip away) to come once we see how far I'm progressing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2537308 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 16:34:02 +0000 caterw 2537308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I plan to be induced a couple days before my due date so my mom can come stay with DD. If I end up going into labor early, my amazing friend who lives 15 minutes away said she would be happy to have her spend the night until family can get here (our daughters are best friends so this would be a treat for both little girls). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2536885 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:23:55 +0000 lamariniere 2536885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't want anyone there, so no one came. My MIL wanted to come but the idea stressed me out so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2536883 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:21:46 +0000 MamaBear87 2536883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom is farthest and drove down while I was in labor. I was in denial and didn't let dh tell her until 8 am, started having contractions at 1230 am. She missed baby being born but arrived right after golden hour and got to meet lo first. Worked out perfectly as I would have kicked her out for pushing anyway </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2536875 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:15:46 +0000 mamabolt 2536875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We relied on a neighbor until my mom could get into town. I definitely had some anxiety about potentially disturbing them in the middle of the night, but I realized if the roles were reversed I wouldn't be upset at them and it was better than having my mom there watching me for signs of labor for who knows how long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2536870 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:11:23 +0000 PawPrints 2536870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, nobody came early. But DD is our first/only kid. So all we had to worry about was getting a friend to come grab our dogs. When we have a second baby, I imagine we might ask DH's mom to start spending the night with us close to the due date. (She will live 40 min away by that point, BUT my first labor was only 2 hours long, so there might not be a lot of lead time.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2536868 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:09:45 +0000 sslm 2536868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, but one set of grandparents has always been nearby (in-laws for DD, my parents for #2 coming any day!!). If we didn't have anyone around to watch DD this time I probably would've asked my mom to come beforehand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2536853 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:01:55 +0000 runnerd 2536853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: your mom is amazing lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2536849 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 10:58:02 +0000 808love 2536849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a week after my due date. I gave my mom the call I was having serious contractions at 3am and she hopped on a plane within 4 hours. After she flew 7 hours, she arrived in time for us to pick her up at the airport on he way to the hospital. I didn't end up getting admitted until later that night but yes, she was there - just in time!!</p> <p>I would be ok waking up the neighbors or kids in your situation. It is an exciting, once in a lifetime moment and everyone will adjust. Having someone stay over for a week seems like a bigger adjustment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2536848 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 10:57:44 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2536848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. My mom came about a week before I delivered DD and my MIL came the day before. I was induced so it was easy for them to plan when to come. My mom came earlier than she originally planned because she could tell I was having a hard time. &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-parents-dont-live-close-did-they-come-prior-to-labor#post-2536843 Fri, 29 Apr 2016 10:51:55 +0000 Maysprout 2536843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have 2 older Lo and the closest family is about 3 hrs away. For both births I've left for the hospital at 4 am. We have friends and neighbors here that would watch them but it would be a bit tricky if it happens again at 4 am. It'd be fine but def a nuisance for someone and depending on the day might require waking LOs up and taking them over to a neighbors. I'm tempted to just have family kinda rotate staying over for a week or so prior to the due date but that doesn't seem ideal either. </p>