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We weren't even in our room yet an hour after I gave birth...we were still in the labor room. I think we got transferred to our private room after 2 hours or so? Our parents didn't come by until about 3 hours after I gave birth. I would just tell her that she might have to wait longer than she expects, due to tests for the baby, your after care, etc. And if you don't want her in the room, just tell the nurses--or the front desk--usually people have to check in, and they can stop your mom if she's headed over to you too early.

Just don't call them until after the baby is born!

I'm worried that Hubs family would want to barge in on my too, so I think I'll just wait until we're done and then call them and say "We're at the hospital and the baby is here!"

We told both of our parents a couple of months before I gave birth that they weren't going to be allowed in the room at least an hour after my LO was born so I could do skin to skin and we could bond as a family of 3. They were all very understanding about it and of course still chose to come to the hospital as soon as they found out I was in labor to be in the waiting room for the whole thing. DH sent them a picture of her right when she was born so I think they spent that hour sharing that picture with friends and family and calling everyone.

My parents were in the waiting room all night waiting for DS to be born. I felt bad since my labor took forever! I think we waited an hour before they came in. Obviously I wanted to be cleaned up before they came in. However, it's different when it's your parents vs your in laws. Do what makes you feel comfortable!

DH insisted his MIL come in after an hour. I was still shaking pretty bad from epidural and teeth were chattering so hard that I was uncomfortable with anyone seeing me like that but I'm close to her and now 8 months later I dot care. But next time, I'm going to be showered at least!

I fully intend to utilize the nurses or our doula to help with this without hurting anyone's feelings.

I had more written then this and then realized it probably won't matter for me because I have to deliver in the OR even if I have a regular birth and our babies will each have a NICU team there to evaluate them, so I think that pretty much solves the problem of right after the babies are born. Depending on how chaotic it is, I may ask the nurses to tell our parents they can come visit for X amount of time after we are back in the regular room and then there are some things they will need to do with "just the mom and dad and babies." Our hospital's childbirthing class leader, said the nurses are pros at handling grandparents, etc., if you just let them know what you want.

Our hospital has a one-hour skin-to-skin policy, so I have no compunction about asking our nurse to tell waiting room visitors that they can go in after an hour. Make them the bad guys! They don't mind

My dad and stepmom already told me they want to know as soon as I go into labor, but I'm going to revise that plan and tell them once I'm admitted to the hospital. To be fair, they live about an hour away, so I understand they're anxious to see us and would rather be on our side of town than at home worrying and anxious. We'll have to extend the same policy to my FIL, who will be in town for 3 months when I'm due. I've already told DH, though, that I don't want anybody in the room until I have an epidural and/or feel like it, that they can't be there when I'm delivering, and that they can't come in for an hour afterwards. I don't feel bad about it at all -- I'm giving birth to our son, our first child, and I don't want to feel weird or awkward with people in the room at inconvenient times, or feel stressed out by their questions. DH agrees wholeheartedly, especially after our childbirth instructor told us that every distraction can delay labor by up to an hour, and shared stories of crazy family members asking all sorts of questions! He looked at me and said, "OK, my dad isn't allowed in the delivery room at all."

I am so worried about this. I know my mom will want to be there IMMEDIATELY. I can't even tell her after it's born because she would be so hurt. I am hoping our hospital has a 1 hour skin-to-skin policy! I might make it up!

I've given way more thought to this than someone who is not even pregnant should probably give! I, too, would like to have "the golden hour" just me & DH, but I know that will really hurt my mom's feelings. I also think I might want support from her during labor. Still, I feel like if you let one parent in, it's not fair to keep the others out... so I don't know what we will do! Honestly, I am hoping DH's parents won't be waiting at the hospital, so we just have my mom to contend with. My stepdad and siblings will be understanding and willing to wait. But if DH's parents want to come earlier, I don't think we would be able to tell them no... it's their grandbaby!

I gave birth at 7:48pm and I don't think anyone who hadn't been in the room came in until like 10 or 10:15. My recovery lasted a while and then I made it known that I wanted to do skin to skin and try to breastfeed. When they were done stitching me up, they had to give me a catheter to see if that was hindering any clotting and my mom was about to go get everybody! I told her no and that I'd tell her when I was ready.

I know my parents will want to be in the waiting room. We will call the Inlaws since they will have a 4 hour drive. I am assuming they will come up right away, they haven't said anything to us about it yet. DH and I agree only parents and siblings will know when we are in labor. I know my whole family, aunts, cousins will want to be there but I want to avoid that at all costs. I want some time with just the three of us especially if I am not in a recovery room yet.

My biggest concern is my SIL posting something on FB. I told DH I want us to make the announcement when she gets here and announce her name, not his sister who can't keep her mouth shut. But that is really a whole another story.....

My parents, DH's parents, my sister, her husband and DH's sister were all in the waiting room for quite a few hours waiting for me to deliver and then waited the almost hour it took for our skin to skin and nursing after she was born. I was excited to share her with everyone.

My parents waited the waiting room. We called them when she was here and said we would invite them in when we were moved to the recovery room. I didn't want anyone in the delivery room. We were moved 1.5hrs after she was born. I know they were going crazy waiting!! As soon as we were in that room, I called them and told them to come.

@Smurfette: they've caused so many other issues lately that he decided he's just not talking to them anymore until they mature more..I could go on for ages about how nuts it is! They wouldn't care if they knew, unfortunately - they always need drama so they'd move on to something else (which then became how horrible I am for not letting ILs hold her at the hospital. We were there 1 day and she was so overstimulated from visitors and drs that she screamed for hours, by the time they showed up she had just stopped so I told them i wasn't pushing my luck. Apparently mil cried all night and its all my fault! Umm..baby's happiness trumps your pictures, sorry!)