07 February 2024 , 19:26
533
0
The only person deciding who should be in the delivery room when you give birth, is you.
But one mum-to-be was left gobsmacked when her mother-in-law sent her a text message demanding to be "the first to hold" her impending arrival without even asking the expectant mum what she wanted. Text messages between the woman and her husband's mum went viral after they were shared online, as others were outraged on the woman's behalf.
In the blunt message exchange, the woman's mother-in-law texts her to ask: "When are you going to have the baby?", to which the mum-to-be replies: "Not sure, why?".
The messages - which were shared on Instagram by @teachingmotherhood - then show the mother-in-law stating that "we", seemingly being herself and her husband, would like to "be there for the birth and help". She then brazenly adds: "We want to be the first to hold her."
Gobsmacked by the woman's attitude, the mum-to-be tried to politely indicate that she and her husband don't want anyone else in the delivery room as they want it to be between "mum, dad, and baby", but the woman won't take no for an answer, as she immediately branded the decision "disappointing".
Mum's touching gesture to young son who died leaves Morrisons shopper in tears
The mother-in-law wrote: "That's very disappointing. Why are you keeping her from us? [Your husband's] cousin let her parents come and the new grandma even got to cut the cord." Still trying to keep her cool, the mum-to-be then responded: "It's not a spectator sport for everyone to watch, I'm sorry! I'll be spread east and west and probably pooping. I'm not comfortable with anyone being there!"
At this, the grandma-to-be finally backed down - sort of. Instead of insisting she's there for the birth, she pivoted to demanding she be allowed to visit as soon as the family returns from the hospital, and begged the expectant mum not to "make her wait" to see her grandchild.
She said: "Then we will wait to visit until she's born and then come. We want to see her right away, please don't make us wait. Just let us know when you head to the hospital so I can head to your house and start tidying up for you. No rush, we know where the guest room is!"
The screenshot of text messages ends there, and the Instagram account who posted them wrote in the caption: "WHY ARE PEOPLE LIKE THIS! I see so many stories where grandma nudges her way into the delivery room ... and sometimes grandpa too! I personally (after three kids) don't even want visitors after the birth! It's all personal preference - but truly I do not understand the absolute need to be in the delivery room and claw the new baby away from mum and dad!"
Commenters were also in agreement, with many saying the mum-to-be should keep her baby's birth a secret from her mother-in-law until at least a week after she gives birth.
One person wrote: "Guess who's not finding out when the baby's born until a week later. And people wonder why couples don't tell anyone when they're heading into the hospital!" Another said: "I was home for two months before anyone knew we had him," while a third added: "Imagine prioritising yourself in someone else's most intimate moments."