Pre-covid: did anyone’s parents or in laws fly across country to help with the baby?

[Anonymous]

If yes, how long did they stay?

[Anonymous]

My mom came for two weeks after each of my babies were born. For #2 she actually came a few days before the birth (it was induced) so she could be there to care for #1.

For #1, my sister came for a week right after my mom left.

[Anonymous]

^^^both of them came from CA to DC

[Anonymous]

From France. Can't remember how many weeks, but perhaps a month each time.

[Anonymous]

MIL came for two weeks. FIL was here for a week of that two weeks. My Mom is gone and my Dad and Stepmom we’re here for the actual birth and stayed a week then in laws came

[Anonymous]

It wasn't across the country, but it did involve a plane ride. My mom came for 1 or 2 weeks after my first kid was born, and I think my in-laws came for a week afterward. It's so long ago now that i forget the details. My mom's health was much worse by the time DC2 was born, so she couldn't come. My MIL came for a week after DH returned to work. I think DH took off two weeks.

[Anonymous]

My mom, sister, and aunt each came for about a week with about a week in between

[Anonymous]

2 months, but it was an exceptional situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 months, but it was an exceptional situation.

Adding to that:
And it was pretty miserable to have her around that long, but it was necessary under the circumstances. We were all ready to go our separate ways after that.

[Anonymous]

Yup. 7 hour flight. A week or so with kid #1, about a week After he was born.

Kid 2... a long time. Complicated birth situation. She was here about a week around the birth, and came back a week later for another week. Lifesaver. Couldn’t have done it without her.

[Anonymous]

My mom is a nurse and has to schedule time off in advance. We decided to have her come for a week when I would have been 42 weeks, because I wanted to a) be absolutely sure I'd have a baby when she showed up and b) wanted at least a week before visitors. This was planned for a week, and my dad came too. I wouldn't have minded having her longer, but not my dad. Definitely not my MIL, who is basically great. You really need someone who is going to be helpful in the way you need it, and who you feel comfortable with.

Then,I got an induction scheduled at 39 weeks for IUGR, so I bought her a ticket for a long weekend because she really really wanted to be there for the birth. I ended up being induced early for other reasons. This was about a 3 day visit, and it was SO helpful, and also nice to know she was coming back relatively soon.

My parents and in laws all still work full time, so anything longer wasn't an option.

[Anonymous]

My mom was here for four months with each child. In-laws a few days and my dad never came here (doesn’t fly).

[Anonymous]

My parents aren’t much use with newborns. My mother in-law (a nurse who is still working) was super helpful with our first when she was born in DC. We didn’t plan for her to come but she was born early with some minor health complications and we were overwhelmed. She flew in from New York for 4 days. So for our 2nd, who was born aster we moved to California, we planned for her to come but she kept waiting to buy tickets because the most time she could be gone was 2 weeks. Finally on a Weds (I hit 39 weeks) she made tickets to come on Sunday, and I went into labor Weds night! The two weeks was great - she slept in a double bed with my then 4 year old so it was “cozy” but worked. Less fun was my father-in-law insisting for coming out for about 5 of those days. I tried to get my husband to tell him no - he’s not helpful and nursing, bleeding etc is all hard with a man around. They were in a hotel for those nights. It was fine but not what I or my mother in law wanted. He made this big stink about “she’s my granddaughter too” and yet, despite being retired, has never visited since (4 years). Anyway, with the right person I’d take all the time I can get!

[Anonymous]

Yes, Mom from the West Coast - three weeks with #1 and five weeks with #2 (she's a homemaker). It was super helpful which is why we asked if she could stay longer the second time.

[Anonymous]

My ILs were on the east coast for a quick visit before my FIL went overseas for a few weeks for work when I had my first. FIL met baby in hospital and flew out. My MIL stayed with us from when I came home from the hospital after the C section for two weeks. It was heaven. My FIL visited when he returned for a few days and then they went home.
With my second, unscheduled C section, they arrived the day I was released from the hospital and stayed for three weeks. Again, it was heaven.
My parents were both working and couldn’t come stay with me for extended periods. I was lucky my MIL could.