My sister, for a week, from the West Coast. She was super helpful.

Yes my MIL stayed for a few weeks because my own mom was undergoing cancer treatment.

With my first, I had no idea I would want my Mother to help. I think I said to her, beforehand, don't come to "help" but wait a few weeks and please come to visit! When I was in labor, surprisely, I really wanted my Mother there. I called her mostly just to announce "in labor" but she could tell I was serious and about wanting her. She flew that day and arrived before the baby was born! Turned out to be a very good thing. I was not well, and turned out DH needed all the help he could get with our newborn while I remained in the hospital.

Second baby, I anticipated I might feel the same. So she planned on coming once I was in labor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I had no idea others had this kind of help. My parents are older and were past wanting to help at that point.

The key is to have kids when your parents are retired, but not 75+. My parents were still working when my first was born, but my mom retired soon after.

+1 My mom was 61 when my first was born and came from CA to visit multiple times a year. My brother now has little kids but mom is in her late 70s, dad mid-80s with health issues, so they did not come help when his babies were born and he has to travel to them. But, his MIL is younger and lives with them half the year so they get a lot of help from her so even if my parents were younger I don't know that my mom would be there as much, not wanting to step on SIL and her moms' toes.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I had no idea others had this kind of help. My parents are older and were past wanting to help at that point.

The key is to have kids when your parents are retired, but not 75+. My parents were still working when my first was born, but my mom retired soon after.