Hubby's parents in the waiting room during labor

[Anonymous]

Hi, OP here. Just wanted to say thank you for all your helpful and thoughtful replies. I really appreciate it!

While I feel it would be easiest to just say "Sure, they can sit in the waiting room" the truth is I really would prefer no one comes to the hospital until we are ready. But, while that is my preference, I feel there are 10,000 other things to worry and think about right now so if this is going to be a Battle Royal, I'm not sure I care enough to fight it...Hubby knows my feelings on this, and if he insists on having his family there, I think I will take one poster's suggestion and make it clear that he is NOT to leave my side without permission, and the family can expect to wait not just until the baby is born, but until we are ready to receive them.

[Anonymous]

You sound very accommodating and that seems like a nice compromise, if it's one you can live with.

Personally, the real issue for me would not be, how will I handle my in-laws in the waiting room, but instead, why won't my husband support me in this? I would be asking myself, why does my husband respect his parents' wishes more than mine, especially when I am the one who will be experiencing the labor? Is this indicative of how he will always be once our child is here? If so, I think this problem is more serious than just whether the in-laws will be a distraction during the delivery. I would feel disrespected and would let my husband know that when it comes to delivering (and raising!) our child, I expect us to be a team and that my feelings should get priority over his parents' desires.