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Parents Lash Out At Expecting Mom For Not Wanting Them In The Delivery Room, Drama Ensues
Pregnant woman wearing headphones, holding her belly and looking out the window, related to dad front-row seat delivery topic.
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Parents Lash Out At Expecting Mom For Not Wanting Them In The Delivery Room, Drama Ensues

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Voluntarily involved grandparents are in fact an incredible gem for any parents, and it’s really hard to disagree with that. Perhaps, only with one important clarification: if these grandparents understand that they won’t be the center of the situation, and perceive themselves as assistants, and not leaders of the whole process.

The story we’re going to tell you today, from the user u/raindrops_dropping, tells about a similar case. The author is a mom-to-be, and she has been desperately trying, before the upcoming birth of her baby, to escape undue attention from her own father. However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, and tell you everything in order.

More info: Reddit

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    The author of the post is a mom-to-be and the only problem she has been facing before childbirth is her dad’s relentless attention

    Pregnant woman standing near window, wearing headphones and casual clothes, anticipating her upcoming delivery experience.

    Image credits: pikisuperstar / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    The man is overly excited about having his first biological grandkid – and he wants to insert himself literally everywhere

    Text about a daughter’s delivery wishes and dad’s desire for a front-row seat causing family tension.

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    Text discussing a dad wanting a front-row seat to daughter's delivery and her firm refusal to allow it.

    Text excerpt about dad wanting a front-row seat to daughter's delivery and feeling upset over her refusal.

    Text excerpt discussing a dad wanting a front-row seat to daughter's delivery and being refused, leading to conflict.

    Image credits:

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    Pregnant woman sitting on bed holding a smartphone, representing a dad wanting a front-row seat to daughter's delivery.

    Image credits: EyeEm / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    He desperately wants to come first to hold the baby and to kiss his forehead – even despite the daughter’s wishes

    Text excerpt from a daughter explaining her birth plan requesting minimal people during delivery and no uninvited guests.

    Dad insists on front-row seat to daughter's delivery, causing tension after she firmly denies his request.

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    Dad reacts with anger after being denied a front-row seat to his daughter's delivery during childbirth.

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    Text showing a message about not risking being at the hospital and concerns about people showing up during daughter's delivery.

    Text post about a dad wanting a front-row seat to daughter's delivery and ignoring her clear no.

    Image credits:

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    Middle-aged man and woman sitting on a couch having a tense conversation about front-row seat to daughter's delivery.

    Image credits: minervastudio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    The author, however, wants to spend the first 12 hours after the childbirth with the baby and her partner only

    Screenshot of a family text about a dad wanting a front-row seat to daughter's delivery and turning off location.

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    Text excerpt discussing family members stopping location sharing after dad's front-row seat request to daughter's delivery is denied.

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    Text expressing disappointment about a dad’s behavior and refusal to seek help, causing family tension.

    Text of a hopeful parent expressing excitement about their precious baby and peaceful home before delivery.

    Image credits:

    So the mom-to-be said no to almost all of her dad’s ideas, making him offended and even livid

    So, the Original Poster (OP) is about to give birth to her first child, and everyone in the family, of course, is more than excited about this. It’s usually believed that the expectant mom should remain as calm as possible on the eve of childbirth – however, our heroine’s own father obviously doesn’t think so.

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    Despite the author’s desire to spend at least the first 12 hours after the birth with just her husband and the newborn, her dad literally wants the front-row seat. This will be the man’s first biological grandchild, so he’s basically demanding to be allowed to come over first and hold the baby. Well, and to kiss his forehead. Even though the OP doesn’t want to allow it, especially after he did the same to her half-sister when she recently gave birth too.

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    The man, apparently, considers himself the center of attention during labor, and his wife supports him. In a recent convo with her mom, the OP stated that she isn’t worried about dad’s feelings, or anyone else’s, for that matter. Only hers, her partner’s, and their baby’s – that’s what the author believes. But the mom criticized her in return. Then she even said that the dad wanted to bring them breakfast – but the author, again, said no.

    So now, just before one of the most important days of her entire life, instead of concentrating on the most significant thing, our heroine is forced to bicker with relatives and think over plans to avoid any overly intrusive attention from her own dad. For example, she and her partner are seriously considering not sharing their locations – and the OP is, of course, very upset with how things are going here.

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    Pregnant woman in labor with a concerned dad wanting a front-row seat to daughter's delivery in hospital room.

    Image credits: New Africa / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    “There is a popular saying ‘more Catholic than the Pope,’ and some people do everything to live up to that definition,” says Irina Matveeva, a psychologist and certified NLP specialist, whom Bored Panda asked for a comment here. “Despite the fact that the birth of a child is, first and foremost, a day for the parents and the baby, many grandparents in fact try to insert themselves there more than is actually needed.”

    “From what this woman says, her father’s behavior was similar in previous such situations too – so he obviously prefers to put himself and his own interests and wishes first. Even in cases where he is obviously wrong, and this contradicts the wishes of people close to him.”

    “In this case, if persuasion and explanations don’t really work, and are fraught, in the case of a late-stage pregnancy, with possible complications, it’s actually better to delegate disputes to the spouse, or just do as this mom-to-be plans – just go no-contact until they’re ready to meet all the rest. So this is in no way an overreaction,” Irina sums up.

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    As for the commenters to the original post, they completely agreed with our heroine, and gave her a lot of advice and support in this situation. Probably the most useful advice was this – just to warn the hospital staff that she feels anxiety over having other people around, and to ask them not to let anyone in the delivery room except her partner. So do you, our dear readers, also agree with this?

    People in the comments sided with the author, and suggested she ask medical staff to just not let anyone in, except her partner

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    Screenshot of an online discussion about a dad wanting a front-row seat to his daughter's delivery and her refusal.

    Text advice on dealing with a dad wanting a front-row seat to daughter's delivery and being denied access.

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    Reddit comment advising on dad's reaction to daughter's delivery, discussing boundaries and newborn care concerns.

    Comment discussing hospital policies and personal boundaries on a dad wanting a front-row seat to daughter's delivery.

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    Comment expressing support for a dad wanting a front-row seat to daughter's delivery and respecting her wishes.

    Comment discussing dad wanting front-row seat to daughter's delivery but respecting her boundaries and postpartum wishes.

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    Comment providing advice on handling family and hospital access issues during daughter's delivery with dad wanting front-row seat.

    Reddit comment discussing family boundaries and privacy concerns during daughter's delivery and location sharing issues.

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    Comment expressing frustration over dad wanting a front-row seat to daughter's delivery despite her clear refusal.

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    Oleg Tarasenko

    Oleg Tarasenko

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

    Read less »
    Oleg Tarasenko

    Oleg Tarasenko

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

    Read less »

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

    What do you think ?
    ElfVibratorGlitter
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What becalmandkind from Reddit said, I had an issue when I gave birth to my daughter and I had to have security involved. They were great, my daughter even had her name changed in the nursery to the security guard on duty's name "Baby Dalton" to protect her identity and mine. :)

    Sarah Belt
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's a clever idea having her listed under the security guard's name!

    Load More Replies...
    Serena Myers
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Birth should be a private affair, a mother doesn't want her entire family peering at her bits, while she is bearing down, that's disgusting. Seriously, yuck and ewwww

    Sarah Belt
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OP's dad sounds like my mom to the extreme. My sis had to lay down the law telling my mom that she can't force my sis' kids to hug/kiss my mom. My mom pulled the 'I'm the grandma, I do what I want' card. It REALLY made my mom think when I supported my sis telling her absolutely no. I'm so proud of my sis teaching her kids their body/their choice so early and being so consistent about it. Was not how we were raised, unfortunately, and it had some negative impacts on my life.

    Mel in Georgia
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a kid who really hated unwanted hugs, I appreciate this practice now. I'm glad my grandkids give me hugs, but I would never force that on them.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    ElfVibratorGlitter
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What becalmandkind from Reddit said, I had an issue when I gave birth to my daughter and I had to have security involved. They were great, my daughter even had her name changed in the nursery to the security guard on duty's name "Baby Dalton" to protect her identity and mine. :)

    Sarah Belt
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's a clever idea having her listed under the security guard's name!

    Load More Replies...
    Serena Myers
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Birth should be a private affair, a mother doesn't want her entire family peering at her bits, while she is bearing down, that's disgusting. Seriously, yuck and ewwww

    Sarah Belt
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OP's dad sounds like my mom to the extreme. My sis had to lay down the law telling my mom that she can't force my sis' kids to hug/kiss my mom. My mom pulled the 'I'm the grandma, I do what I want' card. It REALLY made my mom think when I supported my sis telling her absolutely no. I'm so proud of my sis teaching her kids their body/their choice so early and being so consistent about it. Was not how we were raised, unfortunately, and it had some negative impacts on my life.

    Mel in Georgia
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a kid who really hated unwanted hugs, I appreciate this practice now. I'm glad my grandkids give me hugs, but I would never force that on them.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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