My MIL Demanded To Be In The Delivery Room – I Told Her No, And She Lost It
So, my (30F) husband (32M) and I are expecting our first baby. We’re thrilled, and most of our families have been supportive—except for my MIL.
From the moment we announced the pregnancy, MIL started acting like this was her baby. She constantly refers to herself as “Mama” by mistake (ew) and insists she’s going to be our baby’s “second mother.” It’s uncomfortable, but I’ve been trying to brush it off.
Then she dropped the bombshell: she fully expects to be in the delivery room when I give birth.
I laughed because I genuinely thought she was joking. But nope. She was dead serious. She said, “Well, I was there when all three of my grandchildren were born!” For context, my SIL apparently let her in the delivery room for all her births, but that’s not my vibe.
I politely told her I wasn’t comfortable with anyone besides my husband and the medical staff being there. MIL’s face immediately fell, and she went on about how this would “ruin the experience” for her. She even called my husband to try to change my mind.
Thankfully, my husband has my back. He told her this is my decision, not hers. That’s when the real tantrum started. She called me selfish, accused me of “shutting her out,” and said I was trying to “ruin her bond with her grandchild before it’s even born.”
I honestly don’t know how to deal with her anymore. She’s been blowing up our phones for days now, and I feel like I’m losing my mind. Am I being unreasonable here?
Redditors Commented:
Comment 1:
NTA. Your MIL sounds exhausting. Birth isn’t a spectator sport! This is about you and your baby—not her feelings. If she keeps pushing, maybe set up some boundaries now before she escalates even more after the baby’s born.Comment 2:
Honestly, you’re handling this better than I would. If my MIL called my husband to complain about me, I’d be LIVID. Kudos to your husband for standing firm. She’s not entitled to anything!Comment 3:
This is a massive red flag for future behavior. Imagine how overbearing she’ll be once the baby is here! Stick to your boundaries now, or you’ll regret it later.Comment 4:
Tell the hospital staff to keep her out of the delivery room. They’ve seen this a thousand times before and will totally back you up.
